Mothers’ Day thoughts
Last Wednesday, my two nieces, Mayette and Leah, and their mom, my sister Lynn surprised me with a visit. It turned out to be an advanced Mothers’ Day treat – a sumptuous take-out lunch of Pampanga cuisine!
One of the desserts, maja blanca, which was made of rice flour and coconut milk reminded us of our mother who spoiled us with some of our favorites – malaga fish fried and sauteed with garlic and onions and argao leaves; picadillo, which consisted of either freshly ground pork or beef cooked with the usual condiments and with just enough liquid sauce; beef pochero; binagoongang baboy; and pork or beef estofado. Then there was the special binuburan, made of fermented rice gruel and served either as dessert or merienda fare.
As I look back,
I think that the dishes from the past, whether the
Visayas, Pampanga,
Ilocos, Tagalog, Bicol, or Pangasinan regions, and prepared with similar ingredients, tasted far better than their counterparts today. The secret of course, is that most of the components were organic, and much fresher too. Dagupan, our hometown, is coastal, and we had easier access to seafood. Too, the fact that they were prepared by our mothers, made quite a lot of difference.
Our mother, Paz Zulueta Rosario who was born in 1897, came from the Estrada and Zulueta clan in Calasiao, Pangasinan.
She was a school teacher and columnist of the Pangasinan weekly, “Silew” (light), owned and published by a feisty and talented lady, Maria Magsano. Our mother was quite active in several women’s movements and clubs but she still had time to look after us. She tutored us, her three girls, so that by the age of five, we were able to read and write, and quite prepared to enter school. She made sure we had pretty dresses, and would sew some of them. She also prepared our favorite dishes. This continued even during our college days as she would regularly send us her best dishes. She exerted a lot of effort and sacrifice just to provide us with the best she could afford, often neglecting her personal welfare.
On Mothers’ Day 2024, I would like to remember some women in history who have helped advance the women’s movement and contributed in the building of our nation.
Our Filipino women include Melchora Aquino, better known as “Tandang Sora,” Gabriela Silang, Pura Villanueva Kalaw. Geronima Pecson, Concepcion Felix, Natividad Almeda Lopez, Josefa Jara
Martinez, Pilar Hidalgo Lim, Josefa Llanes Escoda, Cecilia Muñoz Palma, Fe del Mundo, Encarnacion Alzona, Maria Orosa, Paz Marquez Benitez, Corazon Aquino, Leni Robredo, Hidilyn Diaz, among others.
Among women leaders in world history are Susan B. Anthony, Marie Curie, Rosa Parks, Sandra Day O’connor, and Malala Yousafzai.
Our mother was quite active in several women’s movements and clubs but she still had time to look after us. She tutored us, her three girls, so that by the age of five, we were able to read and write, and quite prepared to enter school. She made sure we had pretty dresses, and would sew some of them.