Lani is a city girl, married for over a year. Her husband’s family is in the province of Ilocos Norte, only her elderly mother lives in an old stone house. Lani’s husband Miguel is kind, loves his mother, and sends money every month to support Nanay Lourdes. In fact, she rarely notices her mother-in-law anymore. She is used to the comforts of Quezon City, accustomed to cleanliness and order, sometimes she even despises rusticity and rusticity.
One weekend morning, Lani had just come downstairs, Lani saw a large cardboard box in the middle of the living room, carefully tied with nylon rope. On the outside was written quickly: “To the children. Nanay in Ilocos.”
Lani frowned, annoyed:
– What is this mess?
She approached, a strong and pungent smell came out. It just smelled, Lani frowned:
Oh my God, what does that smell like?
Without opening it, she spoke:
It must be garlic and dried onions. There is so much to eat in Manila, why are you still sending it there to make it miserable?
Miguel had not yet returned from work, and only Lani and the maid Aling Rosa were there. Seeing Lani complaining, Aling Rosa said softly:
– Just leave it there, I will open it and take a look. In the province, whatever people send is from the heart, miss.
Lani removed it:
“Oh, Aling, I can’t stand this smell. It’s all rustic stuff, not worth much. Throw it away to avoid looking at things.
Say that, she told Aling Rosa to take out the box, intending to take it to the apartment’s garbage collection area. Aling Rosa was gentle, half wanting to do it, half feeling sad. She stopped, silently taking out a knife to cut the tape.
After removing the bandages, the room was filled with the smell of Ilocos garlic – strong, but hidden beneath was a familiar smell. Aling Rosa shivered as she pushed aside each layer of dried garlic, her eyes suddenly blurred as she saw small packages wrapped in dried banana leaves and old Philippine Daily Inquirer newspapers.
She opened one of the packages: inside was … A bottle of expensive tonic medicine, the label still intact, and a handwritten note:
“Miguel often has stomach problems, Mom heard that it is good. Lani often wakes up at night, so she drinks it to help her health. Mom doesn’t have much money, so she saves it and sends it. “Don’t pay attention to me, children.”
Aling Rosa was stunned, tears streaming down her face. She opened another one: some dried tea leaves, some ginger (luya), some pastillas de leche, some simple but loving gifts to the country. At the bottom of the box was a thin piece of wrapping paper, on which was placed a savings book in Miguel’s name in a bank, with over two hundred thousand pesos. On the paper clip was a trembling line:
“Mom takes care of it when the children have problems. “Don’t tell anyone, I’m afraid people will laugh at me because I’m too old to worry.”
Aling Rosa hugged the box, speechless. She thought of her old mother in Ilocos, who diligently collected every cent, hid it under the garlic to prevent theft, and then sent it by bus to Manila. All she wanted was for her children to have a little extra for themselves.
Lani stood behind, seeing Aling Rosa sobbing, frowning:
– Why is Aling crying? What is so terrible?
Aling Rosa looked up, her eyes red, her voice slurred:
Miss Lani… This is not just garlic. This is Mom’s love, her whole heart. I… I can’t continue working here anymore. My heart can’t bear to see you treat me like this.
Saying that, she shook her tears, put everything back, and stopped working that morning. Lani was shocked, before she could understand The phone rang. It was Miguel. His voice was very happy:
– Honey, Mom sent the gift box today. Mom has been planning it for you for a long time. Remember to keep it carefully, don’t lose it.
Lani sighed, speechless. As she looked at the carton, tears suddenly welled up in her eyes. In her mind appeared the bent back, calloused hands of a poor country mother, who had probably spent days collecting each garlic bulb, each small package, and then tremblingly writing those words.
She felt how small and selfish she was. For a long time, she had been accustomed to enjoying herself, accustomed to criticizing the rustic, forgetting that love did not distinguish between high and low. A box of wild garlic might mean nothing to her, but it was a whole world of longing and concern for a mother.
That afternoon, when Miguel came home, Lani had already opened the box. She nodded and handed him the savings book and Mom’s paper. Miguel stared, speechless, his eyes red. She squeezed her husband’s hand, she didn’t blame him, she just said softly:
– It’s a good thing you didn’t throw it away. This is your mother’s flesh and blood.
Lani burst into tears, leaning on her husband’s shoulder:
– I’m sorry… I made a mistake…
That night, he nodded and turned his back on her. A determination arose in her heart: tomorrow morning she would return to Ilocos, meet Nanay Lourdes, bow down to apologize and cook a hot meal of sinigang with her own hands. According to her, from now on, the love of family was the most important thing to take care of.
And somewhere, in the evening breeze with the strong smell of garlic, Lani felt the warmth of a mother’s love, immense, simple but sacred.