Kapuso lolas enjoy grandparenting
It’s only been in the last decade or so that Filipinos have been marking Grandparent’s Day mainly because it’s an American “holiday” with roots in West Virginia in the early ‘70s.
Marian McQuade, mother of 15 and grandmother to 43, wanted to highlight the plight of lonely elderly folks living in nursing homes, and encourage grandchildren to listen to and learn from their grandparents when she initiated the campaign in 1970. In 1979, US President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the first Sunday after Labor Day each year as National Grandparent’s Day. (Labor Day in the US is observed on the first Monday of September.)
Any event that honors the elderly and their contributions to society is a welcome one so now, Filipinos also celebrate it.
Three veteran Kapuso stars are grandmothers who are embracing this new stage in their lives. Actress-director Gina Alajar describes it as a “180-degree turn.”
“My grandchildren are the most important people in my life,” direk Gina said. “How funny when I think how these little people control my life. It’s amazing!”
Award-winning actress Jaclyn Jose is also a doting grandma to Ellie. “Ellie definitely changed my life. She is an addition to my family, a blessing from God which Andi, I and my son accepted with all our hearts,” Jaclyn said. “She is such an angel, a loving sweet child. I will love her and stand by her all my life.”
Versatile actress Janice de Belen quipped that her life “hasn’t changed that much except for the ‘grandparent’ label,” adding that “the bulk of the change happened to the parents.” In a way, Jaclyn shared a similar sentiment. “Walang kinaiba ang anak sa apo but a grandchild can give more excitement and joy.”
It’s been said that grandparents spoil their grandchildren, something Gina believes is
100-percent true. “Kapag magulang ka, responsibilidad mo ang pagpapalaki sa mga bata. Pag lola ka, responsibilidad mo to spoil your grandchildren. Yung mga di mo naibigay sa mga anak mo, sisiguraduhin mo na ibibigay mo sa mga apo — kahit araw araw bilhan mo ng laruan, OK
lang,” she said with a laugh. Jaclyn tries to temper the great love she has for Ellie. “I’m between strict and lenient. I don’t want my grandchildren to be scared of me.”
Ever pragmatic, Janice makes no demands on the number of grandkids her children will eventually give her. “I have no control over how many grandkids I will have in total. What is important is that my kids will have as many children that they will be able to support,” she said.
Janice’s only wish is that her grandchildren
“grow up well and still be able to see and experience the beauty and good of the world.”
The proclamation signed by President Carter in 1979 reads, in part: Grandparents are our continuing tie to the near-past, to the events and beliefs and experiences that so strongly affect our lives and the world around us. Whether they are our own or surrogate grandparents who fill some of the gaps in our mobile society, our senior generation also provides our society a link to our national heritage and traditions.
Grandparent’s Day this year falls on Sept. 10 but it shouldn’t stop us from regularly seeking out the elderly, listening to their stories and learning from them.