It was grandmother’s birthday last week. She would have turned 105. That day brought about something as I recalled the things she often spoke to us when she was still alive.
These four lessons from my Lola Azon really stuck to my memory since then and later as a youth and adult. They have been a part of me and has served as a moral compass.
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Grandmother taught us to pray.
My Lola Azon was the one who sowed the seeds of faith. She introduced me to the world of visiting churches and reciting the Basic prayers and Rosary. I have childhood memories of participating in Church activities such as …..(being an angel at Lourdes Parish Church, lighting a candle at the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino and early morning mass on my 9th Birthday at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel -Recoletos)
Since I was born, she made prayer a part of my life. She taught me and my siblings the basic concepts about receiving blessings every time we pray and especially when we visit and hear mass in the church.
I remember her saying that if we are feeling sad or get sick (which I did often) that we always ask assistance from Jesus, Mary, the Saints and our Guardian Angel.
Lola often sternly warned us that if we do not pray, the “Panulay” will come to us. I asked her what’s a “Panulay”? She described them appearing to look like nuns but having tails underneath their robes. “Really Lola? No kidding.” She often said to me “Palayo mo sa panulay!” (translated as “Stay away from evil.)
In the real world, those “Panulay” would come in different forms like the wrong crowd, vices, playing hooky in school. Anything that does not lead you to the right path.
Grandmother was our first teacher.
My grandmother was our first tutor. She was also a primary school teacher. It probably was her only profession until she retired.
She mentioned some of her former students grew up to be a successful orthopaedic surgeon and another was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in the Philippines for a time.
Writing
Lola always carried a pencil and pad of paper on hand and let me write the alphabet. She’ll correct them and show me the right strokes uppercase and lowercase letters, capital letters for my First name and Last name.
Nursery Rhymes
Traditional nursery rhymes like Dandansoy, Balanghoy which had a 20’s kind of tune to it we all learned to sing with her. Most of these songs were silly stories and we would act out these songs guided by our creativity and imagination.
Lola introduced us to literacy, language, arts and math concepts. These early exposure probably stimulated an interest in reading.
Grandmother was the first to teach us about minimalism.
Commute
She either walked or travelled via jeepney. No personal nor service car on hand. She was still able to go overseas to visit her children once or twice.
Cooking from Scratch
There were hardly takeaways, except when she buys bread from her favourite bakery or rice cake from the fresh markets.
Her favourite recipes were Champorado (chocolate rice porridge), rice porridge with egg, stewed veggies which were mostly natural and healthy.
Sewing
I remember we had an antique Singer sewing machine which Lola Azon uses to make our bed sheets, pillowcases and simple house clothes.
Natural remedies
Warmed “Tiesa” leaves for a stomachache, boiled “Gabon” leaves for cough. These were some of my grandmother’s natural remedies for common aches and ailments.
Grandmother taught us to love with no ends.
When we wake up , she invites us for morning prayer or mass (when it was a special day or occasion).
She helps prepare the meals, taught us to write our names, advocated afternoon rest (although I did not find this fun).
And before bedtime, it was story time and prayer from Lola. She told us parables and her childhood stories with a moral lesson right after.
When mum and dad was away from work, she was there to comfort us and support us. Singing and acting out those silly traditional rhymes helped me forget the times of loneliness and sadness.
It was not in grandmother’s words that we knew she loved us. I believe it was when she was with us. Her care was holistic and in a way instrumental in shaping our identity and connection to the world.
What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humour, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies.
Rudy Giuliani
