Si Lola Apura at si Lolo Un Momento
HAVE you thought about your grandparents lately? What memories do you have of them?
At this day and age when modernity favors the young and frowns upon the old and the weak, a delightful story about an old couple changes the way we perceive old people.
Published by Adarna House, the story, Si Lola Apura at si Lolo
Un Momento would make you smile upon reading its title.
Apura is a Filipino term which means “to be in a hurry” while Un
Momento means “wait a moment.” Immediately you get the idea that these two people are vastly different, like two ends of the pole. The concept of the “stop and go” cover design also runs along the same line.
Character-wise, it is not your typical story for children because the characters are two elderlies, which makes you ask yourself: what could be interesting in an old person? Would a child be interested to read about them?
As you open the pages and get introduced to the characters, you realize: they are old but charming at the same time!
The main characters — Lola Apura and Lolo Un Momento — each has unique attributes. One is thin, the other is fat. One is fast and agile, the other is slow but sure. Each has his/her strengths and weaknesses, which prove that each one is special and neither is better than the other.
As the story unfolds, you see them as opposites and you anticipate this may be a recipe for disaster or conflict. But later on, would prove to be complementary to each other. Their bond made even stronger by a sense of gratitude and an attitude to help.
The story strongly reflects the Filipino culture of religiosity among the elderly, wherein the characters went to church to hear Mass. Again, while religion may not be a popular topic among children’s stories, the publisher gave due respect to the characters who are Catholic. Toward the end, the scenario inside the church becomes a perfect symbolism of the beauty of marriage — the joining together of two vastly different individuals who complement and complete each other.
Wonderfully written in verselike narrative, Si Lola Apura at si Lolo Un Momento is a fitting reminder to love and care for our grandparents especially now that they are in their twilight years. The story also makes us think: Are there conflicts from different parties that cannot be resolved? As long as there is love, respect and gratitude, there will always be a way.