THE LOVE OF A MOTHER
27 August 2024
Tuesday
From Ramon Tulfo
Caridad Teshiba Tulfo went Home at 12:18 pm today surrounded by her loved ones at her bedside.
There goes the woman whose utmost empathy and generosity towards the poor we, her offspring, inherited.
I recall Mom would let beggars into our home and feed them even if there was not much food on the table for her 10 children.
Mom would pawn her jewelry to lend to the wives of my father’s soldiers who cried for help for their sick children.
Most of the loans never got paid but Mom never complained. She would say we were more blessed than the welshers and that it was our duty to share whatever blessings we had.
So if you catch me or my siblings doing acts of charity or defending the poor and downtrodden in public these are not put-on. Likas sa amin ang tumulong sa aming kapwa.
Mom was a deeply religious woman, a trait most of my siblings inherited. As for me, I’m not religious, I’m spiritual.
When we were children she would lead in praying the Angelus and rosary every night. Those of us she caught nodding to sleep while praying she would pinch or pull our ears. She was always behind us in praying.
During the rosary, Mom would pray out loud to Mama Mary and all the saints in heaven to take away her children who would grow up to be bad. Mommy’s “offering” made some of us restless because we thought we might die in our sleep.
Raising 7 boys and 3 girls was left solely to this housewife as our dad was always out on military missions or performing his duties as an officer.
“Mas madaliay nga magpastol sa mga baka kaysa bantayan ngining mga anak ni Caring (It’s easier to raise cattle than to take care of Caring’s brood),” my maternal grandmother, Lola Carmen, would say exasperated.
Imagine, the little ones—Ben, Bong, Joseph, Raffy, Erwin and Edelle Marie— crying for attention all at the same time or quarreling among themselves while we, the elders — me, Felix, Tuchi and Wanda— either shouting at them to stop or pacifying them because we were doing our school homework!
Looking back, I don’t know how my Mom and the househelp handled the ear-splitting ruckus we made every single day when we were kids.
Caridad, whose father was a Japanese merchant, was a harsh disciplinarian. She used slippers, broom, hanger, latigo ng kabayo (for me especially), buntot ng page (also for me and Felix), sandok as instruments of discipline. She was guided by the truism “spare the rod, spoil the child.”
She was not only hard on us her erring children she would beat up my Dad whenever she caught him womanizing. Which was often. Hehehe! In fairness to my Dad, he never once laid a hand on Mom.
In old age, she would give practically all her money we gave her as her monthly allowance to poor priests and nuns and some orphanages.
Asked why she would not save enough for herself, her usual reply, “They’re all praying for you.”
I once told her in jest that she would overshoot heaven— “Baka lumampas ka sa langit, Mommy—when it was her time to go because of her intense religiosity.
“Ayaw pagbinuangi ang Dios basi muadto ka sa impierno (Don’t fool around with God because you might go to hell).”
Mommy, please say hello to God and all the saints in heaven. Say hello to Dad, our brother Felix, our grandparents from both sides, your brother Yoshio, your sisters Flora and Conching and all your other departed relatives and friends.
From Erwin Tulfo
Bye Mom….
Thank you for bringing us into this world. We will never forget your love and sacrifices for us.
Thank you for teaching us how to help the needy and fight for the helpless.
Thank you so much Mom. We love you. Till we meet again.
From Raffy Tulfo in Action
Dear Mommy,
There are no words to describe how very thankful I am to you for bringing me into this world.
I am not going to be who I am today if not for your love and care that you unselfishly showered upon me since the beginning of my life.
Paalam, Mommy. Mahal na mahal po kita!
