The mothers we love

MOTHERS are very special and most powerful beings in many life stories. Ancient Oriental Greco-Romans had a Great Mother of the gods named Cybele, Cybebe, or Agdistis as the Greeks had their own goddess Rhea. The Great Mother was characterized by being the great parent not only of gods but also of human beings and beasts.

Modern humanity celebrates motherhood and Mother’s Day. The clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday” in the UK. In the US, Ann Reeves Jarvis helped start “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs” in the 19th century. In 1870 Julia Ward Howe wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation.”

The official Mother’s Day holiday arose in the 1900s as a result of the efforts of Anna Jarvis, daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure that proclaimed the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day. Jarvis later denounced the holiday’s commercialization and spent the latter part of her life trying to remove it from the calendar.

Mother’s Day Philippines

Mother’s Day in the Philippines used to be celebrated on the first Monday of December when the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed a proclamation in 1980.

President Cory Aquino later changed the date to align with the American tradition of having Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May.

The dates were changed back to the first Monday of December under former President Joseph Estrada in 1998. But everyone in the Philippines continues to celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May, just like in the United States.

The untold story of May celebration

Samie Lim found himself soul-searching as a young idealist. Surviving the turmoil of his journey as a young man, he found inspiration from his mother (Mary Co-Lim), sister (Elena), and the Virgin Mary.

To pay tribute to these mothers, he met with then Cardinal Sin to lobby that the Mother’s Day celebration in the Philippines be moved to May. With the Philippine Retailers Association, he influenced retail brands, hotels, restaurants and others to have special offerings during the celebration. With the help of Ms. Alegria “Bing” Limjoco, they influenced Malacañang to officially declare the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day in the Philippines.

Some mothers in herstory

Laureana Novicio y Ancheta was the mother of Juan and Antonio Luna. She wrote: “I have no ambition of making the names of my sons appear side by side with that of Rizal. I only wish that posterity would do them justice and that their memory would cause a tear to fall from the bottom of people’s hearts. I will die in peace, perhaps pardoning in my last moments their murderers.”

Teodora Alonzo was the mother of Jose Rizal. In 1907, when Dr. Rizal was declared the national hero, the American authorities offered her a lifetime pension as a token of gratitude. She politely refused it, saying, “My family has never been patriotic for the money.”

Trinidad Famy y Valero was the mother of Emilio Aguinaldo. She was widowed when Emilio was nine but was able to send him to study. She was known as “Kapitana Teneng,” a former cigarette maker who rose to the position of teacher and directress of the factory. She sat in on important meetings of Aguinaldo’s government, a woman Aguinaldo could not refuse.

Melchora Aquino is regarded as the mother of the KKK. She was 84 when the Philippine Revolution of 1896 broke out. Her son, Juan A. Ramos, was associated with the Katipunan, the members of which were the ones who gave Aquino the nickname “Tandang Sora.” The American government offered her monetary rewards for her sacrifice but she declined them all, content that she had contributed to the revolutionary cause.

Purificacion Garcia Villanueva was the first beauty queen of the Philippines and the mother of Pura Kalaw, who organized a suffrage group, the Asociacion Feminista Ilongga. Her efforts led to the first suffrage bill reaching the Philippine Assembly in 1907.

Trinidad Tecson was known as the Mother of Biak-na-Bato and Mother of the Red Cross in the Philippines. She also fought with the revolutionaries in 12 battles and organized groups of women to nurse wounded Filipino soldiers. During the Philippine-American war, she joined the revolutionary forces. She also served in the Malolos Republic and was designated as the Commissary of War.

Other mothers in our history are Gabriela Silang (early revolution), Gregoria de Jesus (Revolution), Teresa Magbanua (Visayan Joan of Arc), Marcela Agoncillo (Philippine flag), and more.

In the culture and the arts, regarded as mothers are Francisca Reyes-Aquino (folk dance), Alice Reyes (contemporary dance), Leonor Orosa-Goquingco (theater dance), Cecille Guidote Alvarez (theater), Damiana Eugenio (folklore), Engracia Cruz Reyes (Filipino cooking), Leonora Florentino (literature), and more.

In the professional world, also regarded as mothers are Anastacia Giron-Tupaz (nursing), Clare Baltazar (entomology), Mercedes Concepcion (Asian demography), Raquel Fortun (forensic pathology), Honoria Acosta-Sison (obstetrics), Fe del Mundo (pediatrics), Nelia Maramba (herbal medicine), and more.

Show business mothers

Licerna Abunda was a teacher and served as a councilor and vice mayor in Borongan, Samar. She was the inspiration of Boy Abunda in writing his book Make Your Nanay Proud. Maria Lea Carmen Imutan Salonga is the mother of Lea Salonga and a meticulous manager of the Broadway icon. Nanay Chayong was the laundrywoman mother of former Manila mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso whom he cites as a source of his wisdom.

Jose Marie “Vice Ganda” Viceral would frequently mention his mother Rosario, like the boxing champ Manny Pacquiao does his Nanay Dionesia. Coco Martin’s mother is Maria Teresa but he grew up under the care of his grandmother Matilde.

Asuncion Balita is my loving mother who coached me at a young age. Dr. Lyne is my family’s superwoman whose strength propels my wings to soar higher and my children’s nurturing to become the best of who they are. My mother in law is Baby Medina whose strength strengthened my wife.

To every mother, in any of its essence and form, you are loved. Be happy.