Ligaya & Growing Up Poor
Tagalog | English
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Susan
The way I know Tita, she doesn’t care about money. She was all about experiences and food. If there's something new, she'd try it. And she’d make sure we also got to try.
For someone who grew up poor, she was never greedy.
Rosie
It's true: as long as it brought happiness, she didn't worry about the expense.
Yes, we were poor growing up. We started working at a biscuit factory at a young age and Gay would bring us our lunch. Then, while we were eating, she would help us pack the biscuits. There were so many of us lined up early in the morning—the factory would still be dark—to ensure we got the most and the best biscuits.
Jayson
Back then, Mama would often say: "We were poor when I was a child," so she gave everything to us kids. That's why she held annual birthday parties for us, including those birthday parties at Jollibee.
Mama showered us with so many things and toys when we were kids. I didn't really want much, but she automatically just bought stuff. Whatever was trending, whatever was new, she would make sure I had it, too. One day I was surprised when she got me a Ninja Turtles backpack for school. I didn't wish for one, but I was very happy to have it. Even when I got into wrestling, she bought me a Hulk Hogan backpack for school.
She's the one who kept buying me G.I. Joe toys. Sometimes she'd give me three at one time.
As my toy collection grew, she also bought us video games. She called the games for the Family Computer “bala” and picked out many of the games herself. As for us, we just kept on playing.
When Mama went to the US or Hong Kong, she would always buy things to give to us. No matter how big the box, she'd find a way to bring it home to the Philippines; sometimes I would just be in awe. My childhood was so memorable.
That's why her name is Ligaya: she would really make you happy however way she can.
Jovert
Mama was a simple person who did not have extravagant tastes.
She said that if there was something she wanted—like a pricey designer purse—she would just touch or hold it at the store, and then she wouldn't want to have it anymore. She wasn't selfish: she was happier buying things for other people. That's why, at Christmastime, she had a gift for everyone: her coworkers, her grandchildren... everyone.
And she didn't do online shopping: she searched for and purchased all of her gifts from a store. She didn't use credit cards either; Mama was strictly "cash only."
Jen
Mama and Papa made sure we had the best childhood. Papa worked on the mountains far away from us and Mama so they could provide us a good life, food, toys, things, school, etc.
They are always thinking of us.
Rosie
Gay was so loving and caring.
Most of my clothes are ones that she bought and gave to me. Whenever she saw something that looked good and fit me—even if there was no special occasion—she would buy it for me. Even now, I still wear them.
Richard
And the Edmonton trip, I remember she gave me the money to get a hat at Hardrock Cafe because I was contemplating to get it lol
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