by Telly G. Ocampo
Ang Mga Kinugos
Growing up, I observed that my grandparents, parents and Oyong and Oyang were serious about their role as Maninoy and Maninay (godparents). In our Religion class in school, it was always emphasized that the Maninoy and Maninay are like parents to their kinugos (godchildren).
We were also told, that the Maninoy and Maninay must always have a guiding hand in the molding of the Christian values of the mga kinugos especially in their growing up years. Our own Maninoy and Maninay were very close friends of my mother. Some of them were our close relatives. Wala hinuon ko kaila sa akong Maninoy. I only know two of my mga maninay: Maninay Sofing (Sofia Frayles Jaya) and Maninay Poying (Ma. Flores Oppus Uy).
Maninay Poying died young, but there was always Tio Eden who took over. I always treasure the memory of Tio Eden. On our wedding banquet, when caterers were unknown in the sixties, Tio Eden served as the master waiter in the presidential table. In those days, the wedding banquet was in the house of the bride, complete with Despedida the Soltera the night before the wedding. This activity was held to also serve as a venue for knowing the family of the groom. I remember it was Nong Tekyo’s role to lead rehearsal for the wedding entourage in church.
Maninay Sofing helped facilitate in the petromax (lamp) to be used on our yard. And I could not forget the perfume she gave me on my 18th birthday. It was a bottle of Channel.
One time my mother had to go to Trinidad to attend the wedding of her kinugos. Niadtong panahona, ang “Bohol Land” transportation company ra gyud ang nagbyahe alang sa long distance trips. That was the reason that my mother had to wake up very early during the wedding day so she could catch up the first early trip of the Bohol Land transpo. I think there was only one (1) trip per day on a rough and dusty road. Ug dili gani, mangadlawon gyud ang sumasakay ug.didto na lang matulog sa balay sa pagakaslon aron dili maulahi sa santos nga misa. No matter how difficult it was to travel that time, my mother had to go because she felt it was her obligation to be present on the wedding day of her kinugos as she was the maninay sa kasal.
It was also a practice that upon coming home from the wedding celebration, the maninay would bring home ug usa ka luka sa karneng baboy. Ingon ana ang Maninoy ug Maninay.
Ang kinugos sa akong mama, atua na sa maayong pagkabutang gawas sa Pilipinas. Now, she is the mother of a grownup boy and living in foreign shores. But even if she stays afar, apil gyud ko sa ihap sa mga gasa gikan kaniya. Ingon nana ang pribilihiyo sa usa ka Maninay labi na kung pinangga ka sa imong kinugos. As a Maninay, the mere thought of being remembered by your kinugos is more substantial than the actual value of the gift given. In the abundance of America, it’s always in her mind to share.
There’s also another kinugos named Emily, the daughter of Linda and Reggie Francisco of the Fountainhead fame. With both of her parents gone, we have our link on Facebook. She has her own pastry shop now. Fountainhead is owned by the only brother Rex.
Another is Arlene Clarete, the daughter of Evelyn and Erdul Clarete, one of our bestfriend couples in Medina. She is now a medical doctor practicing in Cagayan De Oro.
And my 6th kinugos is Cecilia Gonzales – the daughter of our kumpare in Tacloban: Rolly and Pros Gonzales. They have migrated to the United States and our only link is Facebook.
Christmas is just 100 days away. Merry Christmas to one and all, especially to my mga kinugos.