Happy Birthday Mother,You Turned 70 Today

Today,  is my mothers 70th birthday. She grew in Cavite. Tried her luck in the big city. Fell in love, got married and gave birth to 7 children. I remember how she struggled to make two ends meet .Poverty was not a  hindrance from sending all her children to college.

Here are the short descriptions of her in Tagalog for my mother to understand better what I wrote. 

1. Lumaki sa hirap pero hindi tumandang mahirap.
2. Hindi nakatapos ng elementarya- tamad daw kasi siyang mag aral at lakwatsera.
3. Matapang at matigas ang ulo (fyi: may nagmanang anak sa kanya)- hindi sya basagulera pero hindi pwede loloko loko sa kanya at makakatikim ng pagka Cavitenya nya.
4. Lumuwas ng syudad para makipagsapalaran
5. Namasukan sa isang restaurant at nainlove sa isang costumer na 1 beer lang palagi ang order-hindi raw kuripot si papa, wala lang talagang pera.
6. Hindi kagandahan pero nakapag asawa ng pogi -lakas ng appeal nI madir, long hair pa, di ba?
7. May 7 anak- uso na family planning noon pero ayaw nila makiuso.
8. Masarap magluto.
9. Negosyante- dahil sa hirap ng buhay at sa dami ng anak ay nagtinda ng mag ulam,meryenda at kakanin dati.
10. Mahilig sa bingo,sakla at tong its - yon ang naman nya sa nanay nya , buti na lang walang anak na nagmana sa kanya.

The Woman I Know

I know of a woman -

          a woman so strong yet so gentle,

          a triumphant warrior of life's immense battles,

          an affectionate mother to us - 7 in all.

I know of a queen -

         a queen so tough yet fragile,

         a conquering heroine of assets worthwhile,

         a mother whose nurturing touch never fails,

I know of a woman -

a mother so dear,

I'm glad I came to know her,

I thank God she's my mother,

GABRIELA is her precious name,

God's greatest gift to all seven,

More than gold or gem so rare.

 I would like to thank enzo's point for allowing me  to repost this poem dedicated to his mother.