Myla Katzav

I remember her in her 30's.  She was beautiful period. I often asked her why she never entered any beauty pageant because she's got the look.  She's got sexy lean fair legs which she only showed-off at home and at the beach.  Nice medium-sized boobs and small waist line.  She used to weigh 80 lbs in college that was why she maintained such a figure even after 3 kids. But its her face that was a give-away...soft features: small thin lips with well maintained set of teeth, smiling eyes, cute mestiza nose and jet black hair. 

Every week, I saw her sporting different shades of red on her long well-maintained nails.  And she loved to dress up...shoes and bags always terno and if it came with a belt, she would take it as well. Too bad she needed to wear uniform at work except on Fridays. Oh and she loved to change her hair style...either a bob, big curls or boy cut. I saw one of her pictures when she was much younger and was sporting a long thick straight black hair...I thought, again, she could easily have won in a beauty pageant.

Even when she got pregnant with her youngest son, she never let go of her looks and style...always buying new clothes with matching shoes and bags.  And she never missed out on her nightly beauty routine.

She was born in a very poor condition because of war...a nipa hut measuring 2m X 2m with no electricity and water.  Her father had to cross mountains and rivers just to have her baptized.  Her mother used to pay a woman for her breast milk because she hadnt any. A small portion of their lives was spent in a boat.   

As a child, she wanted to be a nun.  This explained why she never thought about beauty pageants or having hard, hard fun (plus there were the strict, serious parents).  Growing up, this desire changed to that of becoming a teacher.  I guess she got it from her mother who was an educator all her working life. But then, in college, she took up economics and had to leave home.

She remained conservative and a devoted Catholic that was why she never really went out on dates except for those few times and with a chaperon (her younger sister). Her first suitor was a guy whose family name was like hers and just because of this, she turned him down.  He became a priest.  There were others but somehow, they never got to second base..probably she was just too naive to acknowledge their interest on her or she was just too blunt in telling them off. 

The only guy who won her heart eventually became her husband.  At first, when he came to visit (this was after getting permission from her father), she would read a book in front him in the hopes that he will go away..but he still persisted..and she continued reading.  Finally, her aunt confronted her..telling her that the guy must really, really like her and thought he was a good catch because he was a professional. Even when she attended college in the metropolis, he was around..fetching her from school.  Their dates were mostly spent in the bus and in parks with him carrying a portable radio so they will have music along the way.

So they got married.  On the morning after her first night with him, she woke up to find kids peeking at their windows...they were her husband's nephews and nieces.  After a month, she got pregnant...gave birth to a son...nearly died a few days after from exhaustion and fatigue.  But had three more kids after.

She worked most of her children's growing up years and was a devoted wife.  Her children, specially her daughter, adored her like there was no one else in the world. I always thought how lucky her husband was because during mealtime, when he was not around, she would keep the best part of the meat for him.  She also didnt have friends whom she could go out regularly with....because all her time was spent with the family.

Now she is a retiree, a grandmother and a friend.  And still beautiful period...inside and out. 

I am her daughter.