“Let the merry sunshine in.” “Such optimism was a source of strength for us when we were faltering and doubting our abili- ties,” Telly says. “On my third year in high school, I was crying, telling her that I was failing in Pilipino. I couldn’t accept that I was failing, but she didn’t get angry. Lola was very understand- ing. She told me not to worry because I could take a remedial class in summer. In the end, I didn’t have to take summer class because I studied harder and passed the finals.”
Lola taught us the beauty and intimate
connectedness of letter-writing, at least, letter-writing addressed to her.
Lola ’s piano occupied a place of honor in Lola ’s living room as it does in mine today. I look at my daughter Bianca enjoying her piano lessons, and I am thankful that Lola had instilled in me a love for music. It was part musical instrument, part family altar. Lola stood our pictures on that piano through the years—instant conversation pieces for the streams of visitors that she entertained even on her last birthday when she was in pain from cancer. When my cousins and I reminisce about Lola , it is of a woman who gave without counting the cost, a woman with eyes shut so tight, you could feel the intensity of a prayer flowing through her, a woman with veins so pronounced on both hands, they affirmed her belief that “if you rest, you rust.” She also taught us generosity and frugality (her frugality was legend: at night she’d shout “ Diay silaw yo! ”, a stern reminder to turn off your light when not in use). Both Rose and Beng had accompanied Lola on several occasions to the Baguio public
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