SUPERWOMAN

“The strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.”

- Barbara Kingsolver

What is a good woman? Is this depends on the clothes she wear? On the power she possesses? Who is a good woman?

We were asked to blog something about one woman who made a good impression to our history. The first thing that my classmates thought was that, they will write something about their mothers. For me, I really find it difficult to write something about my mom. I grew up without her.

I am still lucky despite that fact in my life. I may not have a “wonder mom,” but I will always have a “superwoman.” From my very first blog post, I emphasized how great my Lola Nina is. This time, I would like to acknowledge my Lola Abong.

Evelyn Gavarra. She has a short shiny black hair and has big round brown eyes. She cooks the best “sinigang” ever. She is not my biological grandmother—a guardian instead. We call her “Lola Abong.” Lola Abong was my mother’s guardian when my mom was still a child. She has been serving faithfully to our family for more than 30 years. Lola Abong never gets tired of reminding us to be a good person of God wants us to be like. My secrets are safe with her. She laughs with us even with the corniest joke I tell. She also loves to tell stories. One time, she shared something about her life. This how the story goes…

She was bought to the hospital for an operation many years ago, because of Endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition in which the tissue that behaves like the cells lining the uterus (endometrium) grows in other areas of the body, causing pain, irregular bleeding, and possible infertility. The tissue growth (implant) typically occurs in the pelvic area, outside of the uterus, on the ovaries, bowel, rectum, bladder, and the delicate lining of the pelvis. However, the implants can occur in other areas of the body, too. I do not know anything about it; probably I was still an innocent child. She said that she saw herself with two lovely angels on her both left and right sides. These angels brought her in a very white place. “Heaven,” she thought. Her life is in a serious condition. At that very moment, she woke up from the successful operation. She knew that her mission on earth is not yet over. Until we came to her life, she said that God let her continue to live is because we have no parents to raise us at.

Lola Abong is one of my family’s blessings. When I asked her, why is she not leaving this family, the response I always get is, “Naging mabuti ang Lola Nina at Lolo ninyo sa akin. Kahit kalian, hindi nila akong tinuring na iba.”

There are many lessons in life that I learned from her. One is, treasuring the people I love. They will never be at my side forever. I would not be the “Sophie” I am today without her. She proved that, to become a mother, it does not require being the biological one. As soon as, one is giving the love and attention that the child needs, these are enough. Care, share, give, serve, are all under the powerful force, what we call LOVE.