Photo by Cely Milleza
Published: May 16, 2008 Author: Krystina Orozco
Total Views: 939 Philippine News
SAN FRANCISCO- “Lintek tong batang ito,” screams my mother with steam literally puffing out both her ears and nose as if those four, foreign words spurred straight from the depths of her uncharted, hidden soul, a place so far and too extrinsic for me to comprehend, nevertheless, to ever accept and digest.
The horrendous phrase must have been said to me probably more than a million and one times over various stages of my lifetime, some in which I am not so proud of and in some, until this very day, still have an unsettling query behind the reasoning of receiving such a foul phrase. And in juxtaposition to all other FilAms, do we truly understand the exact translation of the remark, let alone, the connotative meaning behind it, a question for which although a nag to my curiosity, is quite frightening to even bring to attention?
I’ve attempted to scratch the surface of cultivating this dying-to-know question by asking a few friends of mine their thoughts to although of Tagolog roots were in fact, alien enough to be a completely different language. I knew for a fact Filipinos were very keen to taboo topics such as pregnancy, religion, and sex, but as a phrase commonly said to probably all Filipinos nationwide, I’m surprised it fails to strike as one when the majority of my research reveals a sufficient number of kids failing to put a meaning behind the phrase, let alone was ever given the opportunity to question their parents about it. “I think it may translate as, ‘May lightening strike this child,’ says a son of a Filipino mother, Leo McGivney, still in a questionable tone of voice.
“I say this to my child all the time,” giggles Filipino mother, Sharon Dahlen. Whatever this mysterious message may be from either the delivering or receiving end, the importance of it lies in the significance behind the clueless statement that is certainly and most clearly recognized and to the very extent, appreciated, on that one favorite, flower-giving, card-sharing, hugs-and-kisses-showering, warm-in-your-stomach feeling holiday, Mother’s Day. A hero, an inspiration, a mother. How can such aspiring words be a conclusion in part to the overused statement, “Lintek tong batang ito”?
One answer can be found within the buried leaves of my story. As an only child, my mother raised me as a single parent throughout her life as she gradually sprinkled layers upon layers of strong values and beliefs over my head whether I stood about two feet tall back then or about five feet now; on every timeless occasion, there was always a lesson to be learned.
The horrendous phrase must have been said to me probably more than a million and one times over various stages of my lifetime, some in which I am not so proud of and in some, until this very day, still have an unsettling query behind the reasoning of receiving such a foul phrase. And in juxtaposition to all other FilAms, do we truly understand the exact translation of the remark, let alone, the connotative meaning behind it, a question for which although a nag to my curiosity, is quite frightening to even bring to attention?
I’ve attempted to scratch the surface of cultivating this dying-to-know question by asking a few friends of mine their thoughts to although of Tagolog roots were in fact, alien enough to be a completely different language. I knew for a fact Filipinos were very keen to taboo topics such as pregnancy, religion, and sex, but as a phrase commonly said to probably all Filipinos nationwide, I’m surprised it fails to strike as one when the majority of my research reveals a sufficient number of kids failing to put a meaning behind the phrase, let alone was ever given the opportunity to question their parents about it. “I think it may translate as, ‘May lightening strike this child,’ says a son of a Filipino mother, Leo McGivney, still in a questionable tone of voice.
“I say this to my child all the time,” giggles Filipino mother, Sharon Dahlen. Whatever this mysterious message may be from either the delivering or receiving end, the importance of it lies in the significance behind the clueless statement that is certainly and most clearly recognized and to the very extent, appreciated, on that one favorite, flower-giving, card-sharing, hugs-and-kisses-showering, warm-in-your-stomach feeling holiday, Mother’s Day. A hero, an inspiration, a mother. How can such aspiring words be a conclusion in part to the overused statement, “Lintek tong batang ito”?
One answer can be found within the buried leaves of my story. As an only child, my mother raised me as a single parent throughout her life as she gradually sprinkled layers upon layers of strong values and beliefs over my head whether I stood about two feet tall back then or about five feet now; on every timeless occasion, there was always a lesson to be learned.
Abrin was what they called her; ‘mommy’ was it for me. As a silly child and a careless teenager, I never quite fully understood her overprotected tendencies and unusual superstitions. Filipinos are distinctive on a wide range of superstitions; as for Filipino mothers, superstitions, precautions, any kind of forethoughts exerted to guard her offspring was elevated to a whole other level.
“Krystina, linteck tong batang ito, I do not want you going with your friends to Great America! I have a bad feeling in my stomach and don’t want you driving that far and riding those rides,” shouts my mom.
Devastation was an understatement for me at that time when friends and a social life was at the butt of teenage life, but I got over it as well as those other times she refused permission to dances, to driving, and to several other outings with friends. I later understood that it was just her way of showing that she cared.
“My mom would not allow me to decide on a date for my own baby’s first baptism as she began her demand with a ‘Linteck.’ I wanted it in the summer to fully prepare for a grand party, but she put her foot down and set it for the spring. As far as her explanation goes, it was based purely on religious superstitions where the baby should even be baptized as early as first leaving the house,” says newly made Filipino mother, Kathryn de la Rosa.
“As a young mother, this lesson has taught me the beauty of giving life to my child and at the same time, the essence of unconditionally committing your selfless love for a child. The party was then my objective, but my mother reframed my mentality by steering my sole focus on what’s best for my child, no matter how ridiculous her reasoning was,” added de la Rosa.
“Krystina, linteck tong batang ito, I do not want you going with your friends to Great America! I have a bad feeling in my stomach and don’t want you driving that far and riding those rides,” shouts my mom.
Devastation was an understatement for me at that time when friends and a social life was at the butt of teenage life, but I got over it as well as those other times she refused permission to dances, to driving, and to several other outings with friends. I later understood that it was just her way of showing that she cared.
“My mom would not allow me to decide on a date for my own baby’s first baptism as she began her demand with a ‘Linteck.’ I wanted it in the summer to fully prepare for a grand party, but she put her foot down and set it for the spring. As far as her explanation goes, it was based purely on religious superstitions where the baby should even be baptized as early as first leaving the house,” says newly made Filipino mother, Kathryn de la Rosa.
“As a young mother, this lesson has taught me the beauty of giving life to my child and at the same time, the essence of unconditionally committing your selfless love for a child. The party was then my objective, but my mother reframed my mentality by steering my sole focus on what’s best for my child, no matter how ridiculous her reasoning was,” added de la Rosa.
The wrath of a mother could only be explained through the depths of her love, where at the end of the day, despite how terribly it comes out, the truth of it will prevail.
As I grew older, my mother grew to trust me more as an adult, with the exception of a few occasional hindrances.
As I grew older, my mother grew to trust me more as an adult, with the exception of a few occasional hindrances.
She sent me off to England to study journalism and to Italy to study the language, and as of today, fully supports me in my future decision to move out into another country in attempts to explore life. They say when you love someone, to let them go, and bearing in mind how painful it is to let your child venture out into the unknown against your own will, my mother’s content rested upon my very own happiness.
I later came home to find a thick stack of papers on my bed that revealed every instructional guide possible to live and work abroad, and as I slowly scanned the pages, my eyes filled with tears in knowing I had a mother that unconditionally cared that much to let me go.
From every spoon-fed meal, to every lullaby sung, to every boo- boo kissed, my mother has come in complete circle, as wide as her outstretched, always-ready-to-hug arms in loving me. I’m sure every child has their own motherly story to be thankful for, and the truth of the matter is, I guess we’ll never know what exactly that horrible “linteck” phrase meant or was for, but what we as children do know is how much it made us stronger. To every nanay and lola that scolded from the bottom of their lungs, thank you for caring that much.
I later came home to find a thick stack of papers on my bed that revealed every instructional guide possible to live and work abroad, and as I slowly scanned the pages, my eyes filled with tears in knowing I had a mother that unconditionally cared that much to let me go.
From every spoon-fed meal, to every lullaby sung, to every boo- boo kissed, my mother has come in complete circle, as wide as her outstretched, always-ready-to-hug arms in loving me. I’m sure every child has their own motherly story to be thankful for, and the truth of the matter is, I guess we’ll never know what exactly that horrible “linteck” phrase meant or was for, but what we as children do know is how much it made us stronger. To every nanay and lola that scolded from the bottom of their lungs, thank you for caring that much.
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