Anyway, last Sunday, as we all know, was Mother’s Day. It is on that momentous day that we honor and remember our beloved mothers, especially for their hard work in raising us to become responsible and God-fearing individuals.

Our mothers marked the very first events and played significant roles in our lives. They are our first haircutters, who, even without style, trim a portion of our hair here and there to make it seem new. They are our first nutritionists who delicately prepare our succulent meals and ensure that we eat the best. They are our first ego-boosters who taught us how to be a fighter while being gentle and polite at the same time.

Moreover, they are our first teachers who patiently instilled in our minds the ABCs and 123s, as well as ethics and good morals. They are our first spiritual leaders who taught us to revere the heavenly beings and thank the Supreme One for the blessings we received.

They are our first nurses and doctors who never grew tired of watching over us especially when we were struck by fever, cough or a simple toothache.

Most important of all, our mothers are the very first people on Earth who are there to listen tirelessly to our never-ending troubles, or join in our hilarious laughter – they are our best friends.

For nine months, they struggled to keep us healthy and safe while we were still in their tummy. It must really be difficult to carry a life inside, and personally, I am not really sure whether I am capable of doing that.

One day, I asked Mom how it was to carry us in her womb, and I was surprised by her answer. She said, "When I had you and Rich in my tummy, I didn’t feel any fear. What I had felt then was joy…that I felt I am the luckiest woman on Earth to be graced by God with a beautiful life inside me."

And so the day before Mother’s Day, which was the 10th of May, Rich and I prepared a surprise for Mom. After a meeting in Makati (work-related *sigh*), I went to the mall to meet Rich. We were very excited with the simple gifts we had for Mom – a China vase for her collection (we bought that on sale, so we’re kinda lucky!) and an eclectic table lamp (for her reading desk, as what she had was rusty).

Actually, it was Tatay’s idea that we give Mom a new lamp (and we purchased it with Tatay’s funds.. *grin*). We brought with us old photos of Mom, all while nursing us, or rocking us to sleep when we were still little, fragile babies. I asked a dear friend to help us create an artwork out of those photos and wow, it came out gorgeously fantastic.

The next day, M’s day, Rich and I prepared Mom’s fave pesto seafood salad (and Rich did the quality control! *rolls eyes*).

By 9 a.m., while Tatay was still distracting Mom in the veranda with made-up stories, Rich and I hung the artwork at one side of our parents’ bedroom. We signaled Tatay that we’re through and he escorted Mom (as if they were young lovers in a junior prom) to the sunlit room. Mom stood still and tears rolled down her cheeks while her trademark "quivering" smile appeared across her lips.

Enough said… She loved it!

"In" jobs this May

Being a very resourceful people, Filipinos find sources of income in every occasion or event around them. Candles are "in" every November; chocolates, flowers and anything red are a boom when the calendar flipped to February; florals and flip flops are super "yes!" once we feel the summer sun. And how about the feast month? Nothing can be more versatile than the festive month of May.

Jobs and businesses appear/surface here and there, and you just couldn’t imagine how plenty they could be. Here are some.

Combo, Musikero. The gay and loud Filipino fiesta is incomplete without the active participation of our so-called local bands or orchestra, or simply, musikero.

More often, local musikeros are called upon for funeral services, but they become more in demand during this time of the year. This band, usually composed of about 20 individuals, does the banging and hitting of the drums, the continuous blowing of trumpets (gigantic and minute), and the gentle striking of the lyre as they march across the streets of different barangays and towns. They are properly uniformed, sometimes adorned with garlands and head dresses, and are joined by street dancers. More than for entertainment, the musikeros also show how innovative and talented Filipinos are.

Lechon Makers and Sellers. Pinoy fiestas are not only religious celebrations but also grand displays of local culture through the truly Pinoy dishes served in the feasts. As the most popular specialty food, lechon has traditionally been the centerpiece meal of every handaan, particularly the pig’s head which actually gave me sleepless nights in my childhood years! Its juicy meat and crispy, crunchy skin, which are by the way my super-duper favorites, are really irresistible, making all sorts of handaan special with its presence. This month, the La Loma area, and other lechon districts will be "business as usual" as they busy themselves even more in roasting pigs, cattle and chickens. In the provinces, the local people from a barangay help the host of the celebration in preparing this festive meal as they alternate in rotating the pig over the heated charcoal for hours.

Catering Services. Since one of the highlights of fiestas is the handaan, some hosts seek the help of catering services not just for food but for the entire crew and staff that goes with it. That includes the meal personally chosen by the host of the event, party accessories (tables, chairs, utensils, decorations,etc.), staff that will assist the visitors and serve their food (the count depends on the size of the party), and an audio-operator in-charge of the music. For feasts with relatively lesser budget, the host commissions his relatives and close neighbors to help in the food preparation and in serving. These people may be paid in cash or in kind (e.g., a portion of every dish is packed for them).

Flower shops. It is in the month of May when hot sunshine and unpredictable rain showers meet up, and as a result, flowers all over the archipelago start to bloom and perfume the air. All of this natural beauty is dedicated to the Blessed Mother of Christ, Mary, who, in this month, is honored through offerings of the best and most compelling flowers that can be found. Flower shops, especially in the popular Dangwa area, become highly populated with buyers. Rare and imported flowers are displayed everywhere, and the parokyanos just can’t help but become even more excited over the choices. Of course, these flowers are not only offered to Mother Mary, as some of them are used to adorn the carosa and arko for the Santacruzan.

These are but few of the jobs "in" this May. Have I missed some? Feel free to share some more and email me at mindy@wikipilipinas.org.ph. Take care now! Till next time!