MANANG LUZ

Have you ever experienced saying goodbye to your kasambahay of many years? I have, and it does hurt much. Manang Luz has been with the family for 52 long years. She was just 16 years young in 1968 when my mother took her to be part of the household. She was family. When she retired last year at age 72, there was a sudden feeling of emptiness that I felt, for how does one really part with someone who has already been a member of the family for decades? She took good care of me beginning at age 10. She was the best cook and prepared for us delicious meals. Her morcon was one of our many favorite dishes, not to mention the croquetas and almondegas which she picked up from my mother. She would even join the family in the evenings watching television. She was a big fan of local basketball and Ginebra was her fave ball club. In summertime, she would join us for our trips to Baguio City and would do the marketing chores with my mother. Today, a year after she has left our home to return to her place in Capiz to spend her days of retirement, the vacuum still grows even larger. I miss her home-cooked meals and her presence in general. Her distinctive voice and speech carrying a strong Visayan accent is one I shall never forget. So how does one forget a Manang Luz in your life? Never. I pray she is well and strong in her days as a senior citizen and will forever be grateful for the services and care she has unselfishly given to us.