Growing old gracefully: Love and kindness of 3 generations POMPOSA De Veyra Musca turned 97 last September 19, 2014, with a big celebration organized by her children, grandchildren, and members of the Musca-De Veyra clan of Tanauan, Leyte. One of the oldest survivors of Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda, Pomposa is the grand matriarch of the De Veyra clan, she being the only surviving offspring of the eight children of the late Vicente De Veyra and Apolonia Akang de Veyra. A former town librarian, she and her late husband, Rosendo Musca, a school teacher, raised their surviving nine of 10 children in a strictly religious and loving home environment. The children – accomplished professionals, entrepreneurs, civil servants and homemakers – have themselves raised their own families in the same closely-knit and supportive family tradition they’ve learned from their parents. In turn, their own children – the third generation – have done the same, most of them raising their families in the same hometown of their birth. Nanay Posing with 9 of her 10 children: Reynaldo, Raul, Asuncion, Loretta, Ma. Lourdes, Sheray, Lilia, Rodolfo and Rolando. (Leah, working abroad, not in photo) Nanay Posing with 9 of her 10 children: Reynaldo, Raul, Asuncion, Loretta, Ma. Lourdes, Sheray, Lilia, Rodolfo and Rolando. (Leah, working abroad, not in photo) In the process, Pomposa, now has 22 grandchildren of her own, and eight great grandchildren, with another one coming this mid October. As the matriarch of the clan, she is the beloved Nanay Posing to her 10 children — Reynaldo, Ma. Lourdes, Raul, Rolando, Rodolfo, Leah, Loreta, Lilia, Asuncion, Sheray – and their spouses, as well as to 26 direct nephews and nieces and their spouses; Lola Posing to 79 grandchildren altogether; and 37 great grandchildren. No wonder she received tons of well-wishes from family alone, including from those living aboard. Any family member who visits Tanauan makes sure he or she drops by the ancestral home to visit and pay respects to her. To everyone, Nanay Posing or Lola Posing, is the paragon of virtue and kindness. She has opened her home to many people in dire need of food, comfort and love. Despite her already huge brood, she has in recent years taken into her home – the de Veyra’s ancestral abode – an adopted daughter, who herself is a mother of a prodigious little girl. Her secret to a long, healthy, happy life? “Damo ha ak it nagpapaura ngan naninimangno (Many love me and take care of me), a great faith in God, and being thoughtful and generous… amo it Ginoo gin gragrasyahan ako hin hilaba ngan malipay nga kinabuhi, (that’s why God blesses me with a long and happy life),” she tells The Philippine Reporter. And she adds with her brand of humour: “ngan waray ko anak nga pasarawayon (and I don’t have a child who gives me problems).” Her children say it is indeed her strong religious faith, her love for family, and a great sense of humour that keeps her full of life at her age. During the height of Typhoon Haiyan, they recall, when they feared they would all perish in the lashing winds and surging waters, it was Nanay Posing’s admonitions to just pray and keep calm that helped them weather the storm, so to speak. (See story ‘How our family miraculously survived Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) - by Mila Astorga-Garcia (Philippine Reporter) 10/10/14
Posted on: Mon, 20 Oct 2014 01:10:52 +0000
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