Helen (Angie ) Generoso
I'd like to share this memory of Auntie Minang the way I would express myself freely and to interpret the best way I can on how she made a big inpact on my life. Please understand that I can relate my stories better not because I can't express myself in English but it's more interesting when said in tagalog,,so please bear with me.
Late na po akong mag-enroll sa Manila noong grade four po ako and my Mom, sister po ni Auntie ay hindi nakarating para ako sunduin in time for enrollment. To make the long story short I stayed with Auntie for a year sa Paoay. And I know I shared most of her headache to say the least. Kasi matigas daw ang ulo ko, umaakyat ako sa mga punong matataas and one time nahulog ako at nagkapilay. Ang takaw ko sa mga maasim, gaya ng santol, tamarind, carmay, mangga at iba pang prutas na hindi ko na matandaan ang pangalan and that led me to have my apdo overflowed. She took cared of me, kasi kargo niya daw ako kay Mama pag may nangyari sa akin.
Pag summer time, maaga pa ginigising na kami ni Auntie para manguha ng sundried tobacco na sa hapon ay maipagbibili namin. Natuto rin akong mag gatud at magtuhog ng tabacco na may bayad din siyempre kung ilan ang matutuhog mo. Napakabait ni Auntie, although sometimes nagagalit siya sa kakulitan ko, alam ko naman na mahal niya ako. Tinuruan niya rin akong mag abil ng bathrobe at towel na ipinagbibili niya sa market although hindi ko masyadong natutuhan, the experience of knowing how to do it is there. Isinasama din niya ako sa Vigan pag ipagbibili niya ang kanyang mga bawang na tanim, and mind you ang lalaki ng kanyang mga bawang. And the funny thing, bago kami umalis ng bahay, sisiksikan niya ako ng mga palito ng posporo sa buhok para wag daw akong mapaidaman. LOL,,daming bawal noon, na kahit hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin maintindihan ang logic. I can say na ang pag stay ko kay Auntie is more than just an experience but it's a way to show how you live in the province compare to Manila, natuto akong mag Ilocano kahit bakwet hanggang ngayon. And to all that I will be forever be grateful to her.
Nang dumating kami sa Hawaii 1975, siyempre happy na naman kami kasi together again, with just one house in between, I can visit her anytime. She would make me dresses for special occasion, in fact she was the one who made my dress when my husband Lito and I got married. Nakikikain ako sa kanila especially pag ang ulam nila ay pinakbet, so you see, Auntie Minang is not just my Auntie but she was my mentor too. I can't tell you enough story about her kasi baka sumakit ang mga mata nyo.
I wish I would have given her more than what she had given me. But I know deep in my heart napasaya ko siya kahit konti sa tuwing dadalawin ko siya sa Hawaii. Kahit malayo na kami, a phone call here and there to say hello, I know that made her happy too.
Kaya Auntie, kahit hindi kami makakarating para sa huling hantungan mo, alam mong mahal na mahal kita, at hindi kita makakalimutan. Kahit saan ka man naroroon ngayon, I hope you follow the light to our Lord's everlasting kingdom. Rest in peace my ever loving Auntie.