Childhood Memories - Father and Mother

Father and Mother did not seem to have high ambitions for us. They lived very simply, had simple pleasures, peacefully and managed family affairs effortlessly. Loud arguments and harsh words were virtually unknown at home. I don’t remember having heard scoldings but we all felt it when someone needed disciplinary action.

Father was particularly irked by below average studies. Assignments had to be done on the long dining table. The multiplication table had to be memorized and recited or else the “sintoron doble” would be rattled. All of us however were good students from Grade One up and didn’t really need prodding or a stick. In fact, if there were records, we would be proud to show that we all graduated with honors.

Our family loved life in the way our parents showed us how. There was sincerity, dignity, humor, humility, and respect for one another.

Father loved to go fishing, not only to catch fish for the table but more for the wholesome joys he got in it. For one, there was the lasting camaraderie of his “partners”, Tata Jose Corpus and Jose Encarnacion, they would go to distant waters like Look Lake in the afternoon with baon, fishing gear (kitang) in two rattan baskets, the “alat” and “sagupit”. They would return the next morning.

Father would play jokes on some occasions, he would show the small climbing perch on the way (ar-aro) in the alat; these he would open and show to curious people on the way. When he reached home, he would open the sagupit and reveal the big “hitos” and super big dalag with a head as large as our knee. We enjoyed that! Of course Mother was happy - the big kettles would hold the live catch, enough viand for a week or more.

Another joy which we remembered vividly with was Father’s unlikely hobnobbing with the acrobats, stuntmen and roving entertainers during the town fiesta. He would go to the plaza and come home with them, urging them to help themselves to caimitos, tiezas and whatever. One could see his happiness with them. Then he would tell us how they welcomed him in their tent , escorting him to the best front seat. Was that just for food for the ego?