My Google phone shows me a memory reminder with a question: Remember this day?
It was taken in 2010 when mom and I travelled to Leyte so she could visit her mom (my granny Cresencia) at the cemetery. On the way, mom showed me how to sew Nipa leaves together which is what she did as a child so she can buy a small bread.
Granny Cresencia married at the age of 13(?) because she thought it will save her during the Japanese war. Not sure how exactly it will save her but that is her thought process. Then she had 9 kids in total with my mom as the second from the youngest.
Life was not easy.
My mom worked and fought through life to leave the island of Leyte. She does not want her kids to be stuck in that place sewing nipa leaves like she did.
Of all 9 kids, only two studied. The older brother named Roberto became an engineer because he got adopted. Mom enrolled herself and studied to become a Medical secretary while working at the same time. It was just a two year course but it was all that she could afford on her own.
Fast forward to 60 years and she got three kids. Me in Germany, sister in Belgium and youngest brother in England. And no, none of us ever experienced sewing nipa leaves just to fill our belly.
Greetings,
Karlota
