*This is a contest entry to Goldilocks: Ang Pagbabago
Good morning sunshine!
I woke up today with a smile on my face. Thankful that life still breathes into me. I look around and appreciate my living presence in the world. It’s still the recognizable ceiling, fluffy pillows and sturdy bed… and some usual noise outside my door. This day seems to be the same as any other day in the life of Jane. There are responsibilities in tow and work to be done. And like any other day, it smells so afresh with hope.
I woke up today with a smile on my face… even if this day seems to be different like other past days in the life of Jane. There’s no mom banging on the door to get ready for school, no afternoon siesta forced upon me on weekends and no more eagerly saving chump change to buy a Nancy Drew pocketbook. And like any other day, it smells so afresh with old unforgettable memories that stay alive in the heart.
Press Rewind
Rewind to the good old days where our simplest worry is what time we will be allowed to play. I hurriedly go to school in the morning, eager to raise my hand up and recite in class –oh the joys of learning and not being afraid to commit mistakes. When the grade card or result of an exam is released, I anticipate going home to a loving reward my mom always has waiting for me.
The prize comes in different variety, but when the prize comes in the form of food, there’s only one brand that my mom has always trusted –that shade of yellow and blue and the name Goldilocks. Back then it still had that image of little Goldilocks famed as a children’s storybook.
I get quite excited to open the treats –it’s either Polvoron, fluffy mammon, sliced marble bread or ensaymada… wrapped delicately in crackling wrappers that I fancy crumpling after I stuff my little mouth with the last bite. Sometimes, it’s the mocha or chocolate roll that gets me all giddy with its luscious icing, flavor-filled and moist cake. Evidence of my “katakawan” is my sticky hand that gets cleaned with a damp hand towel by a caring mom.
When the special day for moms comes every year, with meager allowance, I couldn’t buy a decent gift to give her. I resorted to, as most kids do, creating colorful cards with a heartfelt dedication –sometimes with a flower crisply picked out from the garden or old flower petals we’ve hidden in pocketbooks to go with it. One Yuletide season when we were young, I taught my sisters a simple dance routine so we could give that as a Christmas gift to my mom.
Life’s Simple Joys
Life was simple then. Our days were filled with simple joys –and uncomplicated dreams. I was happy with the straightforward treats my mom provided me with while she gave a lot of attention to the efforts my siblings and I creatively put out for her with our limited resources.
Time was also well spent. Every Sunday, a favorite family-bonding activity is to go grocery shopping together. We used to buy our weekly groceries from Cherry Foodarama along Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City. Once in a while, I would sneak a quick visit to the Booksale corner and looked at books I can read. Right after filling the grocery cart and lining up in the cashier, it has become a delicious habit to grab a Sunday lunch at Goldilocks.
The first time I was there was a revelation. Back then, I only knew of Goldilocks as a bakeshop and not as a restaurant but my mom explained patiently to my simple mind that it has grown to become a food shop as well where we can get and eat Filipino favorites.
She always ordered dinuguan (pork blood stew) while I get the semi-sweet spaghetti or their tasty pork barbeque that leaves sauce stains on both my face and my sister Joyce’s shirt. Other days of the week, a visit to Goldilocks became a regular routine for us especially when we need quick bites of delectable Filipino dishes, whether for lunch, merienda (Filipino snack time) or an early dinner.
In high school, when we were off to watch movies at SM Centerpoint, a usual stop for us is in the same floor as Gift Gate where across is Goldilocks (now Goldilocks has moved nearer the entrance door). That’s where we grab our tummy fillers before heading to watch something in the big screen.
Transition
As I added on the years, my preference on gifts/rewards shifted (changed). It’s become a drum set, a Sony playstation among others. Later on, grocery shopping became a chore that my mom was left alone to do. My participation, if any, is to hand her my grocery list once in a while. Leisure time turned out to be spent more with friends, thinking about crushes and getting absorbed with my interests in music, dancing, playing video games or getting dibs on the latest in the fast-paced and ever evolving pop culture. I was engulfed by the MTV era.
The usual became a bit boring. My predictable self did not want to be stuck in the same old same old. My adventurous spirit wandered and on a voyage to discover.
They say Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations. And boy, was my life completely altered when my mom kept complaining of pains in her right side. Suddenly I was accompanying her back and forth to the hospital for examinations and constant consultations. It took some time to figure out what must be causing the pain.
Back to the Past in the Future
It felt like time was in slow motion. And I badly wanted to press fast forward to the moment where my mom is no longer suffering and things are back to normal –in whatever “back in time” that might be… whether it’s the time I was pushing cart in plain grocery shopping or still getting scolded for reading under TV lights or memorizing tons of stuff for class the next day.
Things turned into worse emotionally when the doctor said that they found a small tumor inside her kidney. A thread of hope was nearly snapping. Thank goodness that the days were somehow getting better and my mom appeared to grumble less about pain but obviously, the fighting spirit was lacking. There was fear in her eyes and no matter how I tried to hide it I felt it reflecting in mine. The doctor said she had to undergo endoscopy to see if the tumor was serious.
The sleepless nights summed up but a lot of those were spent praying or spending time beside my mom, watching TV, talking or being still. Right beside her, I curled up like a child again yearning for her warmth and steady presence in my life, which was once a partner of my youth. All of a sudden, roles changed and I was playing the role of being her pillar of strength and courage. This big news struck our lives unexpectedly and changed a lot of my life’s perspectives.
Hand in Hand
The findings were finally out. My mom and I trooped to the hospital with anxiety in our throats that was hard to gulp down. Before going to the doctor’s office, we stopped by the chapel first. I sensed that my prayer was going to take forever. I gave my mom a meaningful hug of hope and proceeded to hear the outcome.
It’s benign. The doctor said there was nothing serious to worry about. A dozen of questions escaped my mom’s mouth –an early sign of things slowly returning to normal (haha). I didn’t mind the loud, high-pitched voice (that can honestly get to my nerves at times), both of us in happy disbelief. The doctor further explains that there’s no need to take the tumor out and will only be relevant for removal when it grows in x number of centimeters. It was still in the “safe zone” centimeter measurement but needs to be monitored once in a while if it’s enlarging. I restrained myself from yelping and hugging the doctor but I did hold my mom’s hand tight as both our eyes brimmed with tears. We were really relieved beyond our wildest comprehension.
There was a ball of renewed energy between us as we walked back towards the chapel… an enormous sense of gratefulness within us that we can’t even begin to mouth out. We prayed fervently thanking God for another lifeline. I was on the other end of the aisle and heard someone sobbing uncontrollably. I looked around and saw my mom still kneeled in quiet prayer on the far side and realized that it was me who was in tears. I was crying tears of humility, humbled and amazed at how God, in an instant change, can give/return something so precious to someone like me.
Many Returns to Where We Belong
After praying, I walked to where my mom was seated and gave her a tight squeeze. She embraced me back and once again our existence was unified. I didn’t have to ask where she wanted to get a merienda cena since oddly, Goldilocks, an old favorite, just popped into my head. After breaking the news to the rest of the family via phone, Goldilocks was where our duo headed.
It sounds cliché but I cannot remember a sweeter memory than that phase in my life when my mom would thoughtfully always bring home (bitbit) Goldilocks cake rolls for the family to share… or bring home simple Goldilocks snacking treats for me as a reward for good hard work done in school.
At that time, the treats didn’t only produce a sense of delight in my mouth from the tasty delicacies but it also came with a sense of comfort –reassuring little me that I did something right to make my mom happy. In the same token, it was my mom’s small way of showing me her appreciation for my efforts and that she thinks of me. Goldilocks in some way has been that tie that bonds… a means of communication… an expression of love.
A Change of Heart
Our team of two that day went back to the place where a lot of family time was spent for so many years –where we spent the good old days. And just as swiftly, we’re spending a brand NEW bonding day there. It was a turning point in our lives and we knew exactly where to go, like our hearts just led us there… not to mention the hungry tummy *grins*.
Everyone encounters different changes in their lives –change of social status, change from being a girl to a woman, change from studying to working, change from being a follower to a leader, a daughter to a mother, change from being a student of life to a teacher of life, among others.
For me, it was with a change of heart –a more loving and appreciative one. That day we were at Goldilocks felt both old and new –it gave a sense of belongingness that’s all too familiar and comforting… but with a renewed passion. Fittingly, Goldilocks has been part of the significant years in our lives and it continues to be nearby in new important days of our current lives. Whether we were our old/young selves or our “somewhat new” selves, Goldilocks has its doors always open for us as the home of delightful bonding moments.
That day at Goldilocks MARKED the Change to a Loving Heart that happened in my life. That day meant the birth of renewed love and appreciation for my mom. The celebration over merienda at Goldilocks that day, simple and reminiscent of the loving past, was another meaningful start of sharing moments with my mom.
Mas Gumagandang Samahan
Goldilocks, evolving to a fresh and modern look, remains to be a symbol of comfort –in food, service, ambience and even in unforgettable memories. There are elements within us that change because we make room for growth. Certain beautiful aspects though should remain. And Goldilocks, through decades and decades of being part of Filipino lives, transforms to better serve the people who continue to love their products and services through all these years.
Pauline R. Kezer once said, “Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights.”
Somewhere between scraping my knee from playing in the streets to graduating school to falling in love for the first time to spending critical times with my mom, I’ve grown. I’ve grown a few inches in height from when the time I was still wearing navy blue jumper uniforms (it might be hard to believe because I’m still short haha), I have a bigger waistline/appetite, and now, even bigger shoes to fill.
If there are no changes, there would be no butterflies
Sometimes, we have to go through some sort of inconvenience (changes) to enrich our appreciation for life and the people we love. Goldilocks embarks on a NEW CHANGE too. Fronting the restaurant is still the shade of yellow and blue signage and the well-loved name for 44 years, Goldilocks.
New treats! Luxury in every bite 
As the patrons make their way inside, feel a surge of new energy from the clean, modern and spacious interiors.
Right next door is Luxe – which is a higher end of Goldilocks that accepts orders for designer cakes and pastries like honey almond meringue among others… more like a deluxe Goldilocks or Goldi-Luxe.
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The play on words is so brilliant and cute eh? But despite the new plush looks and expansion of food and service offerings, it is STILL the #1 Goldilocks that we have known and loved for so many years.
Change Not Only for Self
I need to inject that the campaign for change or pagbabago I see around is truly a note of inspiration… the change to a loving heart goes beyond self, family, the home… and should extend to friends and STRANGERS alike. We should all be stirred and motivated to do our part as citizens of this country. Love for family should also mean love for country. A new thrust of hope is brought in. Let’s all commit to be an agent of change for a better and new Philippines.
Pagmamahal –kahit anong pagbabago ng itsura o anyo, ay kilala pa rin ng puso
Mula noon pa, namulat na ako sa pagmamahal ng aking ina na kasama ang Goldilocks. Dito nabuo ang mga matatamis na alala ng aking kabataan at ano man ang dumaan na PAGBABAGO sa buhay, sa Goldilocks pa rin PA TUNGO ang mas sumasarap pang samahan ng aking pamilya, yun ang di magbabago.
Goldilocks, kasabay ko sa paglaki at kasabay ko sa pagbabago.
Sa kabila ng pagbabago, tumatak na sa akin ang Goldilocks… dahil bahagi na ng buhay ko ang Goldilocks. Ito ay naging simbolo ng mas gumagandang samahan…. lalong sumasarap.
My mom changed in appearance, white hair crowns her head that used to be black, wrinkles dawn on her face nowadays, while in my mom’s eyes, I seem to change also, bigger than my baby hands and somehow more learnt. Despite the changes, there’s no love lost between me and my mom. I read somewhere that, Time, which changes people, does not alter the image we have retained of them.
And Goldilocks perfectly reminds me of my mom’s love each time.
Tunay na sa puso ko, you’re the number 1, Goldilocks! :D Ikaw ang Goldi-LOVE ng puso ko.
Life continues to move… in different changing directions but LOVE remains constant.
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