...hairloom.
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by Philipina A. Marcelo
This photo was taken exactly 40 years ago! :) It was the day my Nanay - my late maternal grandmother - gave me a "huge" haircut. I say "huge" because I had a very long, very thick and very black hair before this photo was taken. I was shy and I used my long hair as a shield from the world. And Nanay said she didn't like how she couldn't see my face through all that hair. And so, when my parents left me to her care while they worked in Manila, Nanay cut my hair! I cried, of course, afraid that my parents might scold me for letting Nanay cut it... and worst of all, my shield was gone! Nanay appeased me by taking me to our town's photo studio - the only one in my then very rural place of birth. And she had this photo taken - as a late birthday present. :) While nothing could make me smile that day, Nanay promised that one day, I would look at this photo and would realize how "pretty" I was with my hair worn short... with my face accessible to the world's eyes... and the world accessible to me. I'm still waiting for that day, of course! =) And Nanay made sure that I'd always remember her words and that I'd keep waiting, and hoping... she passed away on my birthday seven years ago. I was in Cornell then... still waiting for that day, but hardly in need of a shield anymore. And so, I dedicate this, the 100th entry of my blog, to her - my Nanay - the woman who didn't leave me an heirloom, but she left me with a "hairloom"... a lasting gift where most of what I have now are hinged to.
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