QUEZON City, Philippines (October 5 ) -Grandparents: the people who taught us great life lessons, cared for us like we are their own, and loved us deeply aside from our parents. The wisdom and experience that they imparted on us had helped us grow into the people we are now.
By virtue of Proclamation No. 470, the first week of October has been designated as Elderly Filipino Week.
This is in recognition to the selfless efforts of our grandparents and their contribution to the raising of the new generation of Filipinos.
Here are some accounts that show the impact of grandparents in their grandchildren’s lives”
Carissa: I grew up without my grandfathers because they died long before I was born. The only grandparent I have left is my grandma from my father’s side. Her name is Amelia De Olazo Lazaro. She is of Spanish and Chinese descent. I must admit, because of her bloodline, she sometimes comes off as a strict and uptight grandparent. But she really have a big heart and great soul. Every time I pass by her house, she always asks how I am and if I already ate. If I say no, she will force me to come in her house to eat. She is also a very hardworking woman when she was still younger. She raised my father and his siblings by selling different things because they are very poor back then. They lived at the cemetery and often have no food to eat but she still stayed strong for her family. Because of her tough personality, she rarely showed weakness to the people around her until now. She became deaf because of old age but she never grew tired of hearing from us for she loves us dearly. Her only source of entertainment is reading pocket books while guarding her mini sari-sari store. I could not imagine life without my grandmother because she really taught me a lot in life. How to be a strong and independent woman and not let life pull me down even when the going gets tough.
Alanna: Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children” said Alex Haley. Like my Lolo and Lola who possessed a unique magic power which can turn my gloomy day into the most glorious one.
They’re a living history, a walking dictionary and my own bakery. They told me stories of them conquering the hardships of life with tears of joy in their eyes that only shows how proud they are to have survive. They taught me words and phrases of wisdom that I can use as my map to find my own path. Although my parents is against it, my lolo and lola still gives me unlimited supply of cookies, bread and candies to satisfy my sweet tooth.
I am not who I am today without them. They are the one who helped in cutting and molding me into the person I am now. They told me dos’ and don’ts, which is which and right from wrong. They sound so certain with everything they say that makes me feel safe and sound.
A time may come where I might make mistakes and wrong decisions in life, but one thing is for sure, that no matter what I do or what I become there are people who will continue to adore and support me throughout my journey, my grand grandparents.
(written by Carissa Lazaro and Alanna Marie Ambi, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz)
