I was a queer then (still is actually). 99 lbs, always with a short hair 2 inches from the scalp and a gold streak at the sides, converse high-cut sneakers, plain black or white t-shirt, faded jeans with knee tattered. Pretended to be a fine art student carrying bags that went down from hips to knee, huge bangles, exotic shell earrings, a skipping kind of walk and a bored look. (and I always carried a charcoal pencil, too)
I was an engineering student but squatted at the architecture and fine arts floor. That was how Roland found me. He waited until our Manila tour to find courage to introduce himself. We both had gay friends. He hates math which I helped him with and I loved to paint the background colors of his artworks, which he didn’t have the patience to complete. Opposites!
Graduating year, Advertising thesis year, I volunteered to paint his art work backgrounds. I painted it the perfect black. Deadlines almost nearing and hiding from classmates who were competing for 1st place, we did the art work at his house.
I met his mom. She looked at me (converse, faded jeans and all). She did not have second thoughts of serving me her famous sardines with tomatoes and onions. Instinctively, she knew me like she did her own daughters. I won her heart and she won mine. She served me sardines every time I visited and she served it with lots of love.
6 years after, she became my mother in law.
She left us on a bullet train to heaven 4 years ago. She was my mama Corazon. She was all heart. It would have been their 50th year wedding anniversary with Papa this 20th of February. I’m lucky to have had a mother in law who can read heart wishes beyond queer outfits. We miss you, Mama Azon.
