Lutong Nanay

We went to my in-laws in Pasig for a Sunday lunch. Ayoko sana because mom was busy cooking and feeding hordes of guests who came at different hours that day. Pagkatapos nyang magligpit ng kinainan ng isang grupo, eto't parating na ang susunod. Whenever she runs out, she had to cook again, sometimes in the middle of serving her guests. Ibang klase kasi ang pagkain ng byenan ko. World famous wika nga. The care and detail that she put into every restaurant-quality dish is enjoyed  by us who continue to surround her and is missed by those who have lived far.

Hesitantly, I agreed to go. Through the years, habang papalapit kami sa bahay nila to eat, palaki nang palaki ang espasyo sa tyan ko to receive the feast I anticipated to devour. On that day, kahit mas gusto ko na sanang wag dumagdag sa hirap ng byenan ko, that space in my stomach started to expand. May sariling pag-iisip talaga tong tyan ko :)

We arrived to a sweaty mom, donning her usual apron, and flashing her million dollar smile. Para syang restaurateur na nakakita ng dalawang siguradong pampadami ng benta. She was obviously tired, but her bounce as she laid the lunch dishes down on the table never missed a frolic. While we ate, she updated us with the family goings on, her other eye attentive to whether or not a dish needed replenishing, when the juice and water pitchers needed to be refilled, and when it was time to offer dessert. The usual mom :)

Ang pagkain niya - laging mainit. Even if the dishes were already laid on the table and acceptably room temp'd, she would reheat them "ay hindi pwede, ipapa init ko muna".  The drinks - laging malamig. Even if the pitchers still had some ice, she would take the pitchers and put some home-made ice "ay hindi na malamig 'yan akina."

I love my mother in law for her food, for the way she serves her food, for the company she gives while she watches you eat, for the attention she unselfishly gives to you as you eat, for the love she expresses through her food.

Nung malakas pa ang mommy ko, she had my byenan's exact energy and attitude about food and serving food. Mommy only stopped cooking when she became bedridden 5 years ago from her long battle with Parkinson's Disease. At her condition, Mommy still shows us her love in many many ways. Isa na don ang pagtitig nya sa mukha ko dahil kamukha ko ang asawa niya :) Miss na miss ko ang luto ni Mommy! Miss ko din nung tinitingnan nya ko sa gilid ng mata nya pag kumukuha pako ng rice hahahaha.

Buti nalang anjan byenan ko twing nagugutom ako sa masasarap na lutong nanay.

Pati atchara home made :)

Calamansi juice na si mom mismo ang pumiga. At nang naubos? Hep! "Meron ako ditong napiga na" :)

Gawa din ng nanay to, kamag-anak nila mom