I am tasked with a great but daunting job, that is, to give a little speech about my Manang Janette. A mounting task it is, not only because I am talking about a great person but also because she is one multifaceted personality. But what made this truly a mounting task now is the fact that my talk will come after these great speakers who have all given a beautiful and factual account about our birthday celebrant.... here I have to revise my speech to avoid being redundant, and be the least memorable SPEAKER... that I dread. I have been revising this over and over that I can not stop....
So, flashback to hs, my public Speaking Coach once told me, I am better off focusing on one beautiful topic that I can deliver with all my heart than have multiple topics and all half heartedly discussed. So, yes Sir... I was listening.
I am not going to sugarcoat anything in our lives, our family. Our family has been through a lot, yet we stayed afloat, with intact principles. That is very well manifested with Manang Janette, her life and all that she is. With all the trials and tribulations that have come her way, she has emerged victorious, maybe a little bit frazzled, shaken even but always, always victorious.
Somehow in life, when it rains it pours. With Manang Janette though, she sees it as an opportunity to grow and devour in the presence of a higher power when all else fails her. I, for one would have succumbed to the easy way out, not her, she continues to propel herself to a higher level of understanding, grasping along the way what life has to offer. For I don't have the pure and personal relationship she has with her creator, it is easy for her to bow down and say, I surrender, because only in surrendering to our God we can let his powers take over our humanity.
We have a big family, parents were not educated academically speaking), were struggling, nothing and no one else to depend on. Yet, they were so determined to give us a different life in any way they could, even if it meant smelling like salted fish or dried aramang , waking up at wee hours in the morning with 2 hours of sleep, working like horses. What with many children to rear, somehow life was still difficult. The difference I can proudly say is the fact that we have siblings who are responsible , clamouring not for the luxurious life but a life worth living. This I can truly say to all of you, is the pride we have in our family.
Not to water down the hard work our parents did, but great part of our triumphant rise from ignorance, exposure to a world more embracing to all, is because of Manang Janette. She has sacrified a lot for all of us, nevertheless, not without falling and rising and falling again, but all the time with our heads up high, not letting go of the values and principles our parents instilled in us.
Oftentimes misunderstood, sometimes used, or should I say, the opposite, Manang Janette is always a joy to be with. For the good in me, I can not fathom how she can juggle so many things at the same time. A good friend, always there to support, a great worker, a devoted Christian , spotless homemaker, a loving and understanding wife. No words can do justice to describe her as a mother, with all the pains and joys of motherhood. A lot of you may have been touched by her loving embrace and welcoming smile and may have a thing or two to describe her, but I guess for all of you, she probably is the most accommodating all, in time, effort and presence. For what are words when you are not in action, Manang Janette is that, many of you maybe buoyed towards new friends later as we all journey in life, but I dare you, no one will be as “ family” as Manang Janette.
But then again, I can only speak from the heart if I speak as a sister. With her warm embrace and strong grounds, I feel so secure and safe. Many times we agree on a lot of things , sometimes clashing in principles, but never understimating the respect we have for each other. She is one generous sister, never selfish, I don't think she has a jealous bone in her . A supportive sister, that I can be a monument for her being supportive. She will give her opinion but will always be enduring in her support inspite of. Recently, I took a licensure examination for Medical Technology in the US , and did pass, mind you. I was ecstatic, crying, laughing , thanking, reflective , jubilant, proud, content and fulfilled. With all the craziness that was surrounding me, there was a lot of people I prayed for that night. I offered it to my parents, who wanted me to be a doctor, I failed them but with the test, i felt at least I eased a little of their discontent. I asked the Lord to bless my bestfriend, my husband, children, siblings and friends for I know I am who I am because of the great love and support they have for me.
Why am I telling you this? I am telling you this because when I was getting married, I wrote Manang Janete to ask for her blessing, because she was helping my parents with my schooling. I thought it was just proper. She was not happy, my family has always grand plans for me, we exchaged hurtful words and a shouting match, but in the end she was supportive, telling me that, she was not against me, my future husband or me being happy, but she was disappointed because she thought I could do more with my life - be a doctor, a lawyer or a journalist. But mind you, she came home for the wedding, was in all the planning stages,telling me what to do, even bought me a diamond and pearl earing stud. But most of ALL,NEVER MAKING MY HUSBAND FEEL UNWANTED.
So, after so much reflecting, I realized, I did not take that test for anything. I realized I did it for my parents, my husband and just pure personal fulfilment, for I do not need it for propesterous and ambitious gains. Then, like a eureka moment, I realized, this is for my loved ones especially people I have disappointed getting married early in life. It was for Manang Janette for believing in me, trusting me, letting me know that I can be anybody I want if I put my heart into it. I am now Bernadette Ambiong LLaga, MT ASCP, but my Inang should be too, so is Manang Janette, same with my husband, my sisters and brothers, and my children. Thank you Manang Janette, we share my license to pratice Medical Technology anywhere in the US.
I try not to be superflous with my description of her, but that would be a disservice to a great person.I have come to admire her, for all that she has been through, I do not know if I can even endure half of it. But I am confident in the thought that I do have her when darkness do come. I will have a guiding light and leading hand ushering me towards the light .
Family and friends, I share with you the joy of having a wonderful person in our midst. I am vey happy that we all can be touched by a loving sister or friend. Life would never be the same if we do not hear Manang Janett's thunderous laugh, her signature smile and not to mention, her " tayo-tayo" lang parties, which turns out to be 100 people or more. Yes, in deed, we all go on with our busy life but one in a while we get calls from her, nothing important, just dropping by.So, this is the night for Manang Janette, an opportunity for us to savor the moment with her, so that in our solitude, we relish about how she can make us all laugh and cry at the same time.
To you Manang, my family loves you, you are Mamu Janette. "Can we go see Mamu Mommy?" is always a question whenever we have a three day weekend. Thank you for your unending love and support, may your blessings continue to fluorish and life be good.
I never intended to make my speech longer that 1 minute , so bear with me. Thank you Manang for being my sister, they say you can choose your friends but not your family, but if I have to choose, I will still choose what I have now...., we may not be a lot of things but we are family, always knowing who we are and never embarrased of our humble beginnings.... but most of all, I will still choose the the same family simply because I have a Manang Janette......
Thank you all and I love you Chris!
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