A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 11-G)

It was December  of 1973. My very first time to go home since I transferred from Marbel to Manila. Will be spending my 2-week Christmas Break with my dear Tatay and Nanay. In my excitement to buy Christmas decors, food, and gifts, I realized too late that I already spent all my money! 

Before I could even think of a solution to my problem, my aunt/guardian told me she and my uncle will fetch me at my Dorm and bring me to the airport. Bless them! I didn’t have to worry about my transportation expense anymore. I already had the airline ticket so no need to worry. 

Or so I thought. 

The plane landed in Davao City. Nanay was supposed to be there waiting for me. We will ride the bus going to Dadiangas (now GenSan) then ride another bus going to Marbel. 

Guess what? There was no sign of Nanay among the people waiting in the Lobby. Instead, there was a number of fellow kababayans (townmates) who were shrieking like they won the loterry upon seeing me. I had no idea why my presence made them so happy. It turned out that they were stranded in Davao City because they already spent all their money so they couldn’t leave the airport anymore. They were waiting for a fellow kababayan whom they can borrow money from. And they thought I had money to lend them so they were jumping with joy! 

You can just imagine how disappointed they were when they learned that we shared the same fate. Our only hope was my dear mother who was nowhere in sight.

So there we were, exhausted like refugees in an Evacuation Camp, wondering if we will ever be rescued. After waiting like eternity, Nanay suddenly appeared. Everybody at my left and right rushed to her and enveloped her. They were crying and laughing at the same time while having a group hug. They explained their predicament to Nanay and my mother generously distributed cash to each and everyone of them as if she was a representative from DSWD. They promised to pay her back in Marbel. 

After the commotion subsided, I told her I was dying of hunger so off we went to the first restaurant nearest the airport. There, I stuffed myself to my heart’s content. I was free to eat anything I want and I wasn’t the one paying heheheh…

When we finally arrived at the Bus Station, we were informed that the last trip already left. We had no choice but to stay overnight in a nearby hotel and return first thing in the morning. The following day, we received the shocking news that the last bus was ambushed at the outskirts of Davao City. We thought we were unlucky to miss the last trip but we were  actually the lucky ones!

I wondered how much money Nanay brought with her. She practically fed a small village in a manner of speaking and she still had money left! I shivered at the thought of what might have happened if she didn’t arrive to fetch me. But I was more scared thinking that we nearly lost our lives on our way home.

Nanay could no longer remember anyone from Marbel and anything that happened there. All she could remember was her being the Rural Health Midwife of Marbel.

I just hope those people whom she helped in their times of need did not forget her. And I wish they include Nanay in their prayers.

To be continued . . .

Lunch Break at 12 Midnight!

Eversince Gio accepted an online job based in the US, my schedule has been erratic. It took me weeks to get used to it but thank God I finally got the hang of it!

Gio works 9PM to 6AM with Lunch Break at 12 midnight. We would happily eat together and enjoy 1-2 episodes of The Golden Girls during his Lunch Break. Because of this, I stopped weighing myself everyday heheheh…

After dinner, I attend to Nanay’s bedtime rituals. When she gets to dreamland, I then turn my attention to Eia.  After our evening prayers, I get to sleep @10 PM then Gio wakes me up at 12 midnight.

I hit the sack again a little past 1 AM, setting the Alarm @5:30 AM to get ready for my run. But first, I join Gio for his breakfast. This is the time that he shares stories about what transpired during his 9PM - 6AM work. I don’t eat with him but just listen. He then sleeps after that and wakes up @ 2PM to have his daytime lunch. He teaches at his Piano Studio from 3PM to 9PM with Dinner Break at 7 PM.

Based on the length of Gio’s story telling in the morning, I make adjustments on what type of run I should go for. I need to adjust because I have to be back @7:30 AM to attend to Eia, then Nanay.

We requested Coach Emy to move our Yoga practice from Friday to Monday so Gio could still join us. He can wake up early on Monday because he is free from work Sunday night unless he went out on a date and slept late.

Sunday is still the perfect day for Long Run because I have a straight 6-hr sleep during Saturday night. Gio only works Monday to Friday for his US-based job.

Based on the above scenario, I should be doing the following:

Monday — YOGA

Tuesday — Speed Interval Workout or Tempo Run

Wednesday — Speed Interval Workout or Tempo Run

Thursday — Strengthening Exercise

Friday — Groceries or Marketing

Saturday — Hills Training

Sunday — Long Run

Ideally, an Easy Run follows a Long Run but I cannot do that anymore. At 67, I can no longer run and practice YOGA on the same day. If only I were 10 years younger!

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 11-F)

It was 1971. My dear Tatay and Nanay asked me for my heart’s desire. They wished to reward me for being the Valedictorian in our school. I told them I wanted to see Guy and Pip (Nora Aunor and Tirso Cruz III) in the Parade of Stars during the Manila Film Festival. I thought I was asking for the moon but they just couldn’t say NO because it was gonna be in June, my birthmonth when I will be turning 13.

We positioned ourselves at the Ospital ng Maynila and waited for the incoming arrival of floats. I couldn’t remember the other stars who passed by because I was only interested in seeing Guy and Pip in the flesh. Then there it was, the float I was waiting for—right in front of me. I was screaming at the top of my voice while trying to reach the hands of my idols. We couldn’t get out of the flood of die-hard fans so we just walked beside the float until it reached Cinerama Theater along CM Recto Avenue (more than 5 kms away from Ospital ng Maynila).

We hurdled the long queue to buy tickets at the booth and luckily, we were able to sit at the middle row in the Orchestra area. It was like a Grand Picnic inside the theatre. We could hear the clinking sound of spoons and forks of the people eating in the dark while watching Guy and Pip heheheh . . .

It was a very rare occasion that both Tatay and Nanay accompanied me to watch a Nora Aunor film. I was ecstatic to say the least. However, I was sad not being able to rewatch it because Tatay insisted that we leave immediately after the first screening to fill our hungry stomachs. What a pity. Back then, we could have stayed inside the cinema from opening until closing without anyone forcing us to leave.

A lot of people surmised that Nanay named me after Nora Aunor. That’s not true at all because Ate Guy was only 5 yrs old when I was born. But Nanay was extremely elated that from poverty, Nora rose to fame as the Philippines’ first and only Superstar. Nanay kept reminding me that she did an awesome job naming me Nora. In 2022, Nora Aunor was conferred as National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts. She was regarded as the most awarded Filipino actress in history.

In a way, I was relieved that Nanay could no longer remember Nora Aunor when the latter met her untimely demise last April 16, 2025. Thank God my mother was spared of the terrible anguish and pain I went through with my idol’s passing.

During tragedies like this, having Alzheimer’s Disease is a gift.

To be continued . . .

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 11-E)

Nanay was born in Pampanga but her adventurous Tatang and Ima tried their luck in South Cotabato during the Magsaysay Admistration. Back then, Mindanao was dubbed the Land of Promise because of its fertile soil and rich natural resources. They were given free land to farm and initial support to economically settle in their new dwelling.

Tatay was born in Naic, Cavite but was assigned to South Cotabato where he was promoted as Operator-In-Charge for the Bureau of Telecommunications.

Nanay easily learned to speak Ilonggo, Cebuano and Ilocano. But Tatay remained loyal to his native tongue, seeking the help of an interpreter whenever he encountered someone who couldn’t communicate in Tagalog.

They met in Marbel (now Koronadal City, the Capital of South Cotabato) when Nanay was serving as a Rural Health Midwife. Call it fate or destiny or whatever but their respective offices were just beside each other.

We were always on our toes around Tatay because he was a strict disciplinarian. If we wanted to keep secrets from him, Nanay would talk to me in Kapampangan while I respond to her in Ilonggo. We did that to confuse Tatay when we didn’t want him to understand what we were saying.

One time, I was watching TV and the 2 actors happened to be talking in Kapampangan and Ilonggo. I almost fell on my chair laughing. I didn’t realize that listening to an exchange of conversation in Kapampangan and Ilonggo could be so hilarious!

Nanay is still fluent in Kapampangan but I am now struggling to catch the meaning of her words. I am still fluent in Ilonggo but Nanay seemed oblivious to it now.

Now here’s the clinch: Just recently, Nanay shifted to English!

To be continued . . .

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 11-D)

Nanay was a born dancer. She did not take any formal dancing lessons but she could sway like a pro. 

Philamlife hosts an Awards Night every year to acknowledge its top producers and Agencies. At the end of the program, several DIs (Dance Instructor) appear and choose from the crowd whom they will dance with first. I try my best to be hidden but God works in very mysterious ways. More often than not, A DI will approach me and ask me to dance. My reply has always been: “Could my mother dance with you instead?” The DI then turns to Nanay and she immediately goes to the dance floor with him. 

Year after year Nanay would tell me: “You just need to be obedient inorder to dance with a partner. Just follow what he wants you to do. Do not go against his will. The reason why you can’t follow is because you are disobedient. You are a rebel.” Well, I agree with her. I prefer dancing my own way—no rules, no inhibitions. I want to dance just the way I’d like it to be.

6 years ago, our friend Tita Cors celebrated her 90th bday in the ClubHouse. There were only 2 DIs. The first DI approached me and as usual, I directed him to Nanay. I thought I was able to escape the ordeal but heaven was making a joke on me. The second DI also approached me and I already ran out of mother to bail me out. I had no choice but to hold onto his hand while making our way to the stage. Yup. The 4 of us danced on stage!

I recalled Nanay’s words and prayed to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; all the angels and saints; Jesus, Mary, and St. Joseph; and to my guardian angel to help me OBEY the DI’s direction. 

I have no idea what happened next but I just followed the DI’s lead. The song finally ended and with great applause, we descended the stage with utmost grace and poise.

Last year, we celebrated Nanay’s 90th birthday. Instead of ballroom dancing, we had line dance instead. The DI was the only one on stage and Nanay was among the crowd mimicking her dance moves. Everybody was amazed that at 90, Nanay could still dance like before, but of course milder and slower.

My daughter Eia dances everyday at home. Nanay used to join her a few times a week but now, she prefers to sleep on her rocking chair than move her frail body. She completely lost her interest in dancing.

The once “Belle of the Ball” has now taken her Final Bow.

To be continued . . .

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 11-C)

It was 1996, the year before Hongkong was handed over by the United Kingdom to China. It was also the year before my dear parents formally handed me to my supposedly Prince Charming in my dream wedding. Now you know why it was etched in my memory.

We were part of the large Philamlife group tour in Hongkong. I was still in the Garments business  at that time but Nanay was entitled for 2 slots so as her only daughter, I excitedly tagged along.

At 38, I felt like a child again dragging my 62-yr old mother to the most exhilerating rides in Ocean Park. She gladly accompanied me. She happily obliged without any objection. 

We were queuing for nearly 2 hours at the roller coaster ride when we were informed by our Tourist Guide to join the others in the Ocean Theatre for the dolphin and sea lion show. I told Nanay she could just leave me there but she reminded me that we should comply with the itinerary of the Group Tour. Heartbroken, I left the queue and went with her. For me, the roller coaster ride of any theme park was the highlight of my thrilling adventure so you can just imagine my frusttation and disappointment.

I was still bickering while watching the marine mammals show and hearing the screams of the roller coaster riders when we saw the roller coaster suddenly stopped. We heard the announcement that there was a technical problem that needed to be resolved. Nanay couldn’t stop thanking the heavens that we followed protocol. Otherwise, I would be up there fearing for my life in mid air until God knows when.

Sometimes I wonder if I was indeed Nanay’s daughter. She was very obedient while I am a rebel. She was astoundingly diplomatic when she wanted anyone to hear her side of the story while I am brutally frank. She could reprimand someone in the gentlest manner possible while I can be ruthless.

Our current situation is a completely different scenario. I can no longer drag Nanay anywhere, not even to the park or nearby Supermarket. She vehemently defies Doctor’s orders to eat well, play games which stimulate the mind, engage in mild exercise and walk for a few minutes everyday. Whenever I ask her to stand from her rocking chair, she would instantly say “I don’t want”. In fact, that is what she always say whatever it is that I want her to do, like a broken record.

The world’s once most obedient woman is now a rebel just like her only daughter. And I thought we did not share the same blood!

To be continued . . .

A Whole New World With Nanay’s Alzheimer’s (Part 11-B)

A native of Marbel, South Cotabato, I was barely 15 when I moved to Manila and temporarily resided at the Holy Spirt Ladies Dormitory along San Sebastian St. It was just across UE Claro M Recto where I finished High School.

When Nanay is summoned to attend a Conference in Manila, she would squeeze herself in my single bed instead of enjoying the luxury of hotel amenities provided by Philamlife. We would watch a movie together and eat out.

There was a Chinese Restaurant beside Ever Gotesco theatre and so we decided to have dinner there after watching a movie. We did not see each other for months so we had so many stories to share (that was 1973-1975 so no mobile phones yet). We were literally shocked when we accidentally found out that we were the only customers left, the waitresses and staff were half-asleep, the floor sparkling clean and all the chairs were already arranged on top of the tables. They were just waiting for Nanay and me to finish. So we hurriedly got the receipt and Nanay had to leave a hefty tip to compensate for their extended time.

That was then. We could talk for hours non-stop. Nanay never ran out of stories. She would talk and talk as if she swallowed a talking gadget. I terribly miss those days . . .

To be continued . . .