My Mom: Third Year in Tontology but a PhD in Life

My Mom's name is Anastacia "Tas" Mendoza. She never finished High School and she claims to just have reached Third Year that's why whenever she's asked about her educational attainment she proudly says:"Third Year in Tonto-logy!" (tonto- Spanish for "stupid,""dumb,""uneducated") But Mom was far from "tonto." She could talk about any topic under the sun...she had varied interests...she read the news and when she talked you wouldn't believe that she did not have a College degree.

I guess that's because she possessed a degree that many don't have...a PhD in Life.

She possessed what many men would desire of their women: beauty and brains. When I show other people the picture of my Mom specially during her younger years they always remark that she looks like this and that actress. I took pride in the fact that when I was in Grade school I had one of the prettiest moms there was in the campus. No wonder Dad fell for her.

My Dad, the late Col. Jose Mendoza, a romantic by heart wrote many a composition and even a poem about her. Our favorite was " Copper Old Gal..Can You Keep A secret?" where he talks to his horse Copper about having fallen in love with Mom.

I remember when I was still a 4 year old kid residing in Bangkok where my Dad had been assigned as an aide-de camp for the Commander in Chief of the AFP; my mom would often go to cocktail dinners dressed in an elegant cocktail dress...and she looked to me like the most beautiful woman there was.

Her being intelligent had nothing to do with getting a College degree because she never even entered College. But she extraordinary "common sense," and raising seven children with a military man's salary must have given her an education in life that one does not get from lectures or books.

I remember Daddy telling me that whenever he had to make a major decision in life, he would confer with Mommy and more often than not he would go with Mommy's instincts...and he claims Mom turned out to be right!

When I was about 8 or 9 years old, I noticed a laminated certificate hanging on the hallway of our house. It was awarded by the Philippine Army to Mom for "Pushing Hubby Through Course." I didn't understand what it was then and when I asked Mommy about it she just smiled. It was only when I was older that I learned that Dad had been going through the Adjutant General's Course and completed it. The certificate for Mom was a token award for providing Dad with moral support.

It was Mom who coaxed the best out of me. When I was in Grade 1, she noticed that I was starting to excel in academics so she encouraged me to participate in contests that were held in school. So I joined in Declamation contests, Spelling bees, and even a contest on Religion. She was may coach in all these and she worked me hard! Second best was not the object...I had to win the gold.

When I started winning medals and certificates of achievement, my confidence grew and I started gaining recognition. Of course, when I received those awards Mom was always around.
I know I made her proud and I felt good seeing her that way.

My Mom died of cancer in March,1983. She never saw me get married, and didn't get to see my kids,whom I consider my proudest achievements so far. I named my youngest child and only daughter, Natasha,a "modernized" version of Anastacia. She has taken up gymnastics and has won numerous medals in various competitions. Symbolically, I have come full circle because I am now always around during these events,the way Mom was when I was competing in contests during my elementary days.

Now I can feel what she must have felt back then.

Thanks Mom!