Taking the BAR: My mother’s day gift for my mom in heaven

The month of May had been one of my favorite months of the year since I was a kid. It’s not because it is a summer month, but because it is when we celebrate the mother’s day. And while on the 18^th is the special day of my mom.

Tomorrow, the second Sunday of the month May many sons and daughters in the whole world will greet their mom a Happy Mother’s Day. This would be the very special day for every mother on earth. I used to greet and celebrate the same occasion with my mom before the tragic event happened in my life.

I’m very proud of my mom. She is very industrious, kind-hearted, caring, loving and liberal mother. She raised me all by herself after my father had abandoned us. While she works as a teacher, she made san ice candy every night just to augment our daily needs especially that I am in my high school then.

I watch her carefully on how to make it so that I could help her in doing it after my assignments. I am her only child and been her companion for 24 years then. When I entered college, she decided to retire at the age of 60 and put up a small store to send me to school and even in the College of Law.

I saw all her sacrifices and pains raising the two of us. She’s a picture of a strong woman that could face any challenge in life. I never saw her frown despite the problems thrown to her by her brothers and sisters. I promised to myself that one day I can show her the fruits of her sacrifices for me. But this moment never came. My heart bleeds every time when I realized that my mom was gone.

I cried every night I saw her picture smiling at me as if saying that everything will be alright. If I have a big problem, I cried and asking her to go back to my life. Life has never been easy after she left. I never celebrated my birthday at all and any other occasion of the year. There’s no more reason for me to celebrate life I told to myself. Her loss was still painful.

I was walking in downtown Tacloban when I saw a cute stuff toy bearing a Happy Mother’s day card. I smiled and slowly walk down closer to it but at some point it seems that my soul reminds me that I don’t have a mother anymore. My tears ran down to my cheeks. I should face the reality. I’m still proud of my mom.

She made me strong. She made me taste the life of independence even when I was still a kid. She taught how to do the household chores. She readied me for the future.

Now, more than a year after the storm and her sudden death I had made a life-changing decision. My mom never witnessed my graduation. She never also saw how I work hard just to help other people. 

I’m happy that the people I have helped before were now getting back on their own feet after their livelihoods were destroyed by the storm.

It’s time to think for myself. I am taking the challenge of reviewing for the bar and for taking it this year. Sounds easy right? Yes, but it’s not how you think it is. When I decided this, I used to cry in front of my calculator calculating the expenses that I would incur for 6 months.

I readied myself of not eating thrice a day. I had experience lots of sacrifices in life so the things I will encounter will not be any more an alien to me. But I still pray for strength and good health. I knew that this would not be easy for me especially that no one is supporting me.

I want to try taking the bar exams for my mom. I know she’ll be happy with my decision. Whether I will make it or nor at least I’m gonna try it. I know someday that I will be writing a story having its positive aura.