everything i needed to know about life i learned from lola

from lola i learned all the fun stuff:
how wrestling was the coolest sport in the world. when i was a kid, lola would always allow me and my brother deo to stay up late every wednesday night and watch wrestling with her. she would be screaming her head off as we watched our favorite wrestlers like bret "the hitman" hart beat up all the bad guys. she also took me to my first live wrestling show, manila mania, back in july '94. lola was the ultimate wrestling fan.

how reading comic books can get you into the habit of reading. lola gave me my first archie double digest back when i was 7 years old. being a voracious reader, she wanted to instill in me the habit of reading. and looking at my crammed bookshelf at home, i am glad to say she succeeded.

how dancing is the best form of self-expression. lola was an avid dancer, and when my parents first enrolled me in ballet class, she constantly pushed me to practice so i can improve, and didn't mind when i rearranged her living room furniture so that i'll have space to practice. she was the one who encouraged me to apply for a ballet scholarship, and was on my side when i tried to convince my dad to let me accept the scholarship. she was my personal cheerleader.

from lola i learned all the kikay stuff:

the importance of moisturizer. way before belo and botox, i would always watch lola religiously put pond's cold cream on her face every night. she always had supple, soft skin and i always thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

the importance of investing in good, quality shoes. those who read my old entries know that i got my shoe addiction from my lola. to this date, she has 150 pairs of shoes (i counted). she always dressed simply, but her shoes would always be kick-ass. peep-toe, embellished, stilettos... she had it all. and every shoe had its own story. from her wedding day pumps to the peep-toes she wore to have dinner with the president, she told me each and every story behind her marvelous collection. she was a shoe queen.

the wonders of mascara. when i was 12, lola gave me my very first mascara. she told me that i could forget the makeup, but i should never, ever leave home without mascara, because it could instantly open my eyes and brighten my face. hundreds of tubes later, i never forgot her advice.

from lola i learned the tough stuff:

to put myself first before any man. lola was a feminist, and she always taught me that i should always love myself and live my life for me. should i find a partner in life, she told me that i should not base my happiness solely on him. she always said: "nobody could make you happy but you."

to pursue my dreams. lola was a hairstylist and was proud of it. when i was little, she always told me stories on how she was the one who gave former ms. universe gloria diaz her first haircut, and how much she loved her career. she always told me to pursue my passions and always said: "do what you love, and never work a day in your life."

to forgive. lola was the strongest woman i know. there was a time when someone hurt her so bad, and yet i never saw her shed a tear. that is why i was surprised when i found out that she forgave the person who hurt her. when i asked her about it, she just smiled and said: "who am i not to forgive? no matter how grave the mistake, everyone deserves a second chance." she always saw the best in people.

before lola got sick, i used to have conversations with her about life and death. she told me that when she died, she wants to be buried in her oscar dela renta suit and her pearls, and at her funeral, she wants everyone to dress fashionably, as if "going to a party".

we said farewell to our shoe queen last saturday, january 17 at the heritage memorial park in taguig. following her request, we donned our best white outfits and i'm sure we made her proud:

channeling gossip girl: blair and chuck

carmela, sophia and apolonia

fider boys

batangas girls

la familia

if you believe,
you can make it much more than a dream,
when you believe you'll never die.

papa corks (the analog priest) said...

in times of death, we should be happy, because it is the beginning of eternal life.

papa bong (the techie priest) said...

death is not "parting"...it is a meeting, a meeting with God.

i imagine my lola is happy right now, proudly strutting the catwalks of heaven in her manolos.

meeko and me

my mum just texted that my 2-year old lhasa apso, meeko, just died. i felt like i was doused in cold water as soon as i read her message. i am still shaking from shock and grief. i never expected that i would enter this kind of depression from the death of a pet.
of my three dogs, meeko was the most behaved. he would prefer to just lie around and sleep all day, unlike his two poodle brothers who are hyperactive. that's why we nicknamed him "the catatonic dog". but even if he was lazy, meeko was also the sweetest. he was always the first one to greet me whenever i came home, and would always climb my lap for some serious cuddling. and whenever he knew that i was about to leave the house, he would sit on my foot as if to say: "don't go." he was one sweet chubby furball.

now that he died, i don't know how i will be able to move on. it feels like there's a big hole in my heart that will never be filled with another dog. coz' no other dog will step on my foot like he does. no other dog will lick my face like he does. no other dog will ever be like meeko.

i miss you already, meeko.