Saturday 25 February 2017

Maiden's Dream

MAIDEN'S DREAM
(Mimi's Story)
by Konted








For the Orioles, Kingfishers, Fairy Blue Birds, Finches and Hanging Parrots of the Sierra Madre.





___________________________________________



My hats off to you Konted, for chronicling the testimony of your mother. She will always remain in the memories of the people she touched. But as memories can, and will fade, your faithful recording of her life's story will remain intact.


What an incredible woman!


- Nonoy Quimbo
Founder & CEO
Calabria Company Limited 
Makers of Novellino Wines


___________________________________________


A pile of photos, some faded, some covered with dust. Scribbled notes on scratch pad. Old diaries and planners. Old documents, well kept and sorted out. Face-to-face exchanges. My own memories, lots of them. A bantam car for trips to ancient places. Long talks with the old folks. Banking on these, I wrote Mimi's story. 


- Konted

___________________________________________



Chapter 1

Sta Maria, Northeast of Manila




        Everyone has a beginning. And Mimi, for sure, was no exception. She didn't come into this world through a bolt of lightning that flashed across the sky. Curiosity or the deep desire to know Mimi's origin leads us to hitherto unfamiliar places and takes us back to the distant past. We trace back, we travel a thousand country roads.

        Mimi first saw the light of day, some 98 years ago, in a quaint house in the quiet town of Sta Maria in Bulacan. Sta Maria is about 32 kilometers northeast of Manila. It was relatively so peaceful then as it was still lightly populated. Vast tracts of land were intended for farming and animal raising. The Spanish colonizers established the town of Sta. Maria in 1792.

       With the family comfortably settled in Poblacion, which was the town center, Mimi was close to her mother Felicitas. On Sundays and religious holidays, very young Mimi and her other siblings, wearing smart casual attire, would make their way, with mother Felicitas leading the pack, to the old baroque style church named La Purisima Concepcion Church. One trait Mimi took after her mother was that of being deeply religious.

       In summer, when there was much time to spare, Mimi would tag along whenever her mother would hie off to a very wide farmland owned by Mimi's maternal grandfather Jose Serapio. The place used to be a bush land but through clearing operations by skilled farm hands, it became a leisure farm. Soon, fruits such as Siniguelas, Duhat, Caimito and Balubad, which were abundant in that area, could be harvested.

       One summer day, when the sun was at its brightest and the wind blowing gently, mother Felicitas, with light frame and frail-looking at that, mounted an Appaloosa-like horse and, with body and legs firmly and rightly positioned, rode through the paved portions of the farm. She was holding a whip. Mimi was stunned, really stunned. Only then did she know that her mother was formally trained to ride a horse at an early age by grandfather Jose.

        On moonlit nights, Mimi, under the tutelage of her mother, would break the placid silence by playing the piano. She would play well known musical compositions. She was a sight to behold, with her hands stretching gracefully on the keyboard. She had a calm and neat playing style that was complemented by her pretty face. This would serve her in good stead as she would show off her exceptional playing skills on social occasions and during special events. Her preferred ones, as the years progressed, were Maiden's Dream, Over the Rainbow and Autumn Leaves.




Chapter 2

Mimi's Rebel Grandfather





       Mimi's maternal grandfather was an insurgent. He was a colonel in the revolutionary forces of General Emilio Aguinaldo. His name was Jose Serapio. He was from the town of Sta. Maria and was capitan municipal or town mayor for many years. He was an uncle of Aguinaldo. He was always in the thick of the battles in and around the towns of Bulacan.

       Colonel Serapio and his men, and other rebel groups as well, employed the guerrilla tactic of attacking the enemy by surprise. The invaders were waylaid on deserted roads and in rugged terrains which were unfamiliar to them. The road leading to San Jose Del Monte, Sta. Maria, Norzagaray and, ultimately, to the other towns of Bulacan was called "Daang Tulisan" as countless ambushes were carried out by the insurrectos against Spanish soldiers along this dirt road which is now known as Quirino Highway.

       The rebel forces had their strongholds in subterranean caves, notable of which were the Biak na Bato Caves in San Miguel and the Pinagrealan Cave in Norzagaray. The caves were their hideouts as they seemed impenetrable and undetectable. Aguinaldo and his men conducted meetings at Pinagrealan Cave during their fight against the Spaniards.

       During the Philippine American War, Aguinaldo again sought refuge at the Pinagrealan Cave on his way to the North as the American Forces under General Henry Lawton and, later on, under General Frederick Funston were relentlessly pursuing the rebels. Pinagrealan Cave was Aguinaldo's sanctuary. There, he and his men rested, planned their moves and called the shots. Colonel Serapio was one of Aguinaldo's conduits in that eastern part of Bulacan.

       While the Americans were continuously spreading a dragnet, Colonel Serapio saw it unwise to continue fighting in the face of insurmountable odds and decided to surrender to the Americans. This angered Aguinaldo. He wanted Serapio to continue the fight. But Serapio was steadfast in his decision to give up to avoid further loss of lives.

       Now here was what Mimi would recall time and again. While in custody, Serapio endeared himself to the Americans. He was knowledgeable and could speak English and Spanish. Not only was he released, he was, after several months, appointed Governor of Bulacan by the powerful Taft Commission. It was a unanimous choice. Serapio was Bulacan Governor in 1900 and 1901. Aside from the transfer of the seat of government from Bulakan town to Malolos, his legacy to Bulacan was the establishment of town councils which we now call as Sangguniang Bayan.

        Mimi was very proud of her grandfather and held him in high esteem. As described by a Malolos paper, Serapio was a "towering disciplinarian, imposing leader and romantic adventurer". Pampered by the Americans, he had vast landholdings in Catmon, Poblacion, Gulod, Pulong Buhangin, all in Sta. Maria, and in other parts of Norzagaray. At a time when horse-drawn carriages were used by the privileged few, he had an elegant limousine. Whenever Mimi would be at the Provincial Capitol in Malolos, she would look at the huge framed picture of her grandfather and would point and say, within hearing distance of everyone: "He's my grandfather."





Chapter 3


Near The Ridge Of Bayombon





         Bayombon, an area situated at the highest peak of the town proper of Norzagaray, was then sparsely populated. Strolling near the ridge where Santol trees grew in abundance, one could see a very wide open space with the famed Angat River, with clean and clear waters, flowing over and around boulders and grey pebbles. He would feel free and lighthearted, what with the beauty of nature unfolding before him.

         To the right of the river were large parcels of land planted to corn, systematically arranged and neatly aligned. In between were string beans growing on vines through poles or stakes. Near a dirt, lonely road were camachiles that grew naturally. Animal-drawn implements and a few mechanical equipment were used. Farm hands were paid according to the concept of "a fair day's pay for a fair day's work." A great portion of the land was owned by the Serapios.

         Mimi's father Eustaquio grew up in Bayombon. He belonged to the De La Merced clan. Always chomping around with a cigar, he was partly bald but, for convenience's sake, he would have his head completely shaven. He was a patient man, not one easy to get irritated. He had that ready smile when seeing friends or acquaintances. Though a brother became town mayor and he had lots of friends, he was not inclined to politics. When he married Felicitas, they stayed for awhile at Sta Maria and, later, moved to Norzagaray, a neighboring town.

          Eustaquio was a math master. Throughout school, taking mathematics was a breeze. Classmates and friends would consult him or ask for help when it came to numbers. And he was willing to assist. When the time for him to work came, he was hired as accountant by Manila-based Helena Cigar Factory which was owned by S. Frieder and Sons of Ohio. With a good-paying job for the head of the family, they relocated to San Miguel District in the heart of Manila.



Chapter 4


San Miguel District: In The Heart Of Manila




         Moving to San Miguel District in Manila was to Mimi's liking. She was very pleased. Her siblings--Linda, Pepito, Nitang and Totoy-- liked it too. San Miguel then was a decent and serene community. Huge acacia trees lined the streets with their yellow flowers adding vibrancy to the surroundings. Mimi, strolling around the neighborhood, would pick a fallen flower and, like a child at play, would look at the five petals. In summer, she was thankful for the shade the acacia trees provided.

          Malacanan Palace, the official residence of the American governor general, was only a few blocks away. San Miguel Brewery, Inc. was on Calle Aviles. Mimi would spend Saturday afternoons looking at the regal houses of the rich and famous. And early Sunday mornings, without fail, Mimi, and the entire family, would hear mass at the old Church of San Miguel de Manila. Sometimes alone, before sundown, she would pray at this ancient church asking for a particular intention or seeking divine guidance. It was her firm belief that prayers would give her inner strength, a clear and open mind and the courage to stand up to pressure.

         Mimi, through diligence, finished her secondary education at the  Manila East 
High School, which had jurisdiction over San Miguel District. For her tertiary education, she passed the entrance examination at the University of the Philippines on Padre Faura St. in Manila. She took up law and hurdled the bar examinations in 1941. UP was only several rides away from San Miguel District. Life was getting better but the challenges were getting harder.



Chapter 5



UP Law Class '41





       A member of UP Law Class '41, Mimi belonged to another era. A bygone era. It was a time when the prospect of another world war was brewing. And true enough, just a few days after members of Class '41 took their oath and were accepted to the Roll of Attorneys on December 4, 1941, the Japanese forces bombed Pearl Harbor, signalling the outbreak of World War II.

        It was a time when a brilliant, dashing young man named Ferdinand Edralin Marcos was making waves. It was a time when the UP Campus was located, not in Diliman as we know it today, but on Padre Faura Street near Taft Avenue in Manila. It was a time when female students would not look at the Oblation statue, manifesting the high standards at that time. Or rather, how conservative they were.

         Mimi's contemporaries were those made of sterner stuff. To name a few, there were Hermogenes Concepcion and Nestor Alampay, who both became Supreme Court associate justices. And who would forget the bright and beautiful woman, Leonor Ines Luciano, who was appointed as associate justice of the Court of Appeals? And, later on, contributed greatly to the amendment of the Family Code of the Philippines. And another Court of Appeals justice, Floreliana Castro Bartolome. There was Mary Concepcion Bautista who became Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights.

         Mimi would talk, in several instances, about their sophomore class President, sugar baron Carlos Ledesma, who was, in her own words, a true gentleman. She also had fond memories of two classmates who became top-notch legal practitioners, namely, Dakila Castro and Norberto Quisumbing. Some dabbled in politics. There was the longest-serving Governor of Laguna, Felicisimo San Luis. Mario Garcia became mayor of Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija for a long time. Cesar Climaco was Zamboanga City mayor for many years until his untimely death. 
Three other classmates who were close to her heart were Ching Manotok Ibay, Naty Racadio Manalang and Judge Naty Fermin Ignacio.

Chapter 6

Post-war Love



         As General MacArthur and the American Forces began the siege of Manila in 1945, the city was subjected to heavy bombardment by American fighter planes. Fleeing Japanese soldiers retaliated by killing countless prisoners of war, civilians and interns. When the smoke cleared, Manila was devastated. It took almost four years for the city to be rehabilitated. The prestigious University of Sto. Tomas campus in Sampaloc, which served as internment camp, luckily suffered minor damages to its buildings. Soon the old Dominican-run university was back to normalcy.

         At the north side of the UST campus, which served as the rear gate, was a street called Asturias. Named by the Spaniards after a beautiful region in Spain, Asturias was between Dapitan and Laong Laan streets. It ran perpendicular to the back gate of the campus. One of the few houses along that street was a Spanish colonial type one, similar to the house of Jose Rizal in Calamba.

         Almost everyday, a young man, dressed in all-white attire with pomade applied thickly in his hair, would emerge from that house. He was a doctor and the eldest son of a brilliant lawyer, prolific writer and poet-lauriate. His name was Dante Gener. He was Mimi's boyfriend. Theirs was a doctor-lawyer tandem. If Dante was an extrovert who loved telling stories to everyone including strangers, Mimi was the reserved type. She partly kept to herself. If Dante would occasionally burst into a loud and boisterous laughter even in public places, Mimi would laugh with restraint.

         As Mimi's boyfriend was athletic-minded, he would take her to the ballgames. But Mimi had no inclination to athletics. Even when the game was a cliff-hanger, it didn't matter to Mimi. She was not interested in the outcome of the game. Her mind was somewhere else. She was more interested in the beautiful flowers that grew outside the gymnasium.

         When watching movies at the Ideal theater, the two would stay at the orchestra, for Mimi did not relish seeing the movie from the balcony. While Dante would be engrossed when John Wayne was about to shoot the villain in a western cowboy thriller, Mimi would be fast asleep. When dining at Toho Antigua on T. Pinpin Street in Binondo, Dante would eat to his heart's content while Mimi would savor the food lightly. She would eat a little of this, a little of that. Despite the disparities, they enjoyed each other's company and tied the knot on December 28, 1947.


Chapter 7


Finding Work






          When God created the world, His first commandment was: Take dominion of the material things of this world, and make this world productive. Simply put, God wanted each and everyone to be productive. He wanted man to work and not to be idle. With this in mind, Mimi set out one sunny day looking for employment. World War II had just ended and Manila was still in shambles. Times were tough and the going was rough. But Mimi, still single then, was determined.

         Mimi found work with the United States Army's Manila Office. From the Americans, she learned what being systematic meant. Everything was organized, everything was in place. Right was right and wrong was wrong. And there was nothing in between. She loved her work and learned new things each day. When Mimi married Dante, she bade the American officers goodbye. This was with a heavy heart.

          Mimi joined her doctor-husband in his provincial sorties, reaching far-away places such as Coron in Palawan and Boac in Marinduque. For Mimi, Coron was paradise. Its pristine beaches would put to shame the much touted tourist attractions in other parts of the country. Birds such as Mynah, Orioles, Blue-naped Parrots and other colorful feathered creatures were a common sight.

          In Palawan, Mimi made her first court appearance. She was handling a land dispute case in Coron but court hearings were held in Puerto Princesa. Mimi solely took the trouble of preparing all pertinent documents. She made a good presentation and her arguments were plausible and strong. In the end, the court ruled in favor of Mimi's client, who later on, became a daughter in law of the influential Reyeses of Malbato in Coron. In Marinduque, her husband worked as resident doctor of Marinduque Mining Corporation owned by the Elizaldes. By this time, they had been blessed with four kids, namely, Rene, Teddy, Nini and Ronald.


Chapter 8


Back to Manila


           While their work was rewarding, Mimi and her husband could not resist attractive offers from Manila-based companies. They found themselves back in Manila. Dante was now working with Universal Textile Mills. It was Asia's biggest textile manufacturing company with a manpower of more than 4,000 skilled workers. He was Chief of Medical Services. Utex's sister companies such as Universal Tricot Mills, Capital Garment Corporation, International Garment Corporation and Melo Textile Printing, Inc were under his watch.

           Mimi was now with the Land Registration Commission (now LRA) on Azcarraga Street in Manila. Land Registration Commission is responsible for issuing land titles and has jurisdiction over all registry of deeds and clerks of court in land registration cases. She was Division Chief. Peers and subordinates would describe Mimi as having a strong work ethic. Throughout her 27 years with LRC, she emphasized the core values of excellence, hard work and discipline. For Mimi, integrity is paramount. For her, integrity means doing the right thing, in the presence of others and, more importantly, when no one else is around.

          For Mimi, any kind of work is a profession and the person doing it should be a professional. The lowly-paid janitor, Mimi would cite as an example, is considered a professional if he reports on time and does his assigned tasks properly. Mimi would stress, from time to time, that work is both a right and a duty. It is one's right to earn a living but it is his duty to work well.

          Mimi was short of being persnickety in her work. She would pay particular attention to small details. For her, a slight deviation from the original could prove costly especially if it would involve legal documents. A slight mistake could decide the outcome of a case. It could be annoying for some, but that was the way Mimi worked. For her, a certain degree of redundancy may be needed to ensure that accuracy would be adhered to and that deadlines would be met. Followup, follow through, reminders and feedback are essential.



Chapter 9


Sta. Mesa Heights: Back In The Day


         Back in the day, houses were still sparse in Santa Mesa Heights, a residential area in Quezon City typified by small hills with gentle slopes. It was bounded by A. Bonifacio on the west, San Francisco Del Monte on the north, Santo Domingo on the east and Quezon Boulevard on the south. Most streets were named after mountains: Mayon, Kanlaon, Apo, Sierra Madre,Cordillera, Sicaba, Pao, Banawe, Tabayoc, Cresta, Lungod, Bulusan, etc. Prominent structures then were the Welcome Rotunda, Santo Domingo Church, Lourdes Parish and Lourdes School, St. Theresa's College, Sienna College and the National Orthopedic Hospital.

            With the tranquil surroundings principally considered, Mimi and husband Dante built a two-storey house on Mayon Street in Santa Mesa Heights. With steady jobs, they were able to send their children to good schools. Even while employed with the Land Registration Commission, Mimi took it upon herself to look after their children's welfare, monitor their standing in school, check their extra curricular activities and encourage them to make friends or form good relationships with others.

           Everybody was expected to be home by 7 p.m. or earlier. Dinner time was 7:30 p.m. Each had a specific seating assignment with assigned glass, spoon and fork and sauce dipper. If somebody missed dinner without any justifiable reason, that would be an infraction of house rules. If by 10 p.m., someone was still unaccounted for, Mimi would call by phone and trace the whereabouts of that family member. If that turned out to be negative, she would continue her search by visiting homes of that person's friends until she would get positive results. It would look embarrassing but, again, that was the way Mimi handled such situation.

           Late evenings, as their children would be winding up their studies, husband Dante would play songs of Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Perry Como and Tony Bennett with Mimi comfortably seated in an old armchair, with a foot swinging back and forth. She felt relaxed that way, with the lines, rhythm and melody of old songs soothing her tired mind and body: "Your arms opened wide, And closed me inside, You took my lips, You took my love, So tenderly."

           Sunday was exclusively reserved for church services. One was expected to wear smart casual attire. Definitely, plain T-shirts and rubber shoes were not allowed. Church would either be Lourdes Parish or Santo Domingo Church. Next would be dining out in Binondo, particularly at a restaurant on Carvajal Street where they served good Chinese dishes. Favorite items then were Crab and Corn Soup, Sweet Green Peas, Pork Asado, Camaron Rebosado and Pata Tim.

          Mimi and husband Dante established an exemplary pattern for a simple yet happy family lifestyle. So noticeable were their efforts and determination that it prompted a reputable organization to hand Mimi the Gintong Ina Award, a prestigious and timely recognition. She bested countless other nominees nationwide. It was a crowning glory for Mimi that made the rest of the family happy and proud.


Chapter 10

At The Foothills of Antipolo



         Many summers, many full moons had passed. Mimi and family had relocated to Antipolo, a metro suburb with many areas still uninhabited and undeveloped then. Tall trees lined the dirt roads leading to Mimi's place. Near it was a stream with clean, clear waters flowing gently. Chirping of birds could be heard. Mimi's lot area was quadruple that of the regular size, making it easy and practical to tend to a country garden. The massive colonial type house was very spacious.

          By this time, Mimi's children had all graduated from college, had started working and had families of their own. Nearing retirement, Mimi again took it upon herself to look after her grandchildren, making sure that they had the best education, right upbringing and healthy environment. She was always there to lend a helping hand, even attending PTA meetings at the Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle University and University of the Philippines.

          Summer months were months devoted by Mimi to her grandchildren. During these months, she would tell them to hone their skills or pursue new worthy endeavors. She would ask a grandson to join a basketball summer camp, would ask another to take swimming lessons or take special lessons on acoustic music. And she would personally accompany them. For Mimi, free time should be productive time.

         On special days, Mimi would take her grandchildren to Antipolo Church, which was only half an hour by car. There, they would light special candles, tow the line to the image of the Virgin of Antipolo, buy rosaries or stampitas and say a little prayer. Then Mimi would buy bundles of Rice Cake and Cashew Nuts. On the way home, the group would feast on a bucket of KFC Fried Chicken near the ridge overlooking the Metropolis. And oh, the squabble over the gravy would begin.





Chapter 11


Back To One's Roots





          It was early morning when Mimi and several other companions were cruising the main road of a mountain sitio at the vast Sierra Madre mountain range. Thick fog was hovering over Ipo Dam as trade winds blew from the north. Mimi was there to meet with the elderly. Over a cup of brewed coffee and pastries, the meeting began with Mimi presiding.

         After her doctor-husband passed away and after travelling to the USA, Italy, France and other parts of Europe, Mimi decided to settle in her hometown of Norzagaray. She was now fully retired but would not want to be idle. She still wanted to render service to her town mates and, in no time, she was elected as President of the Federation of Senior Citizens of the town. In concurrent capacity, she was OSCA Chairperson.

          During her term, which was a long one, the organization flourished and became a dynamic one. All these years, Mimi manifested professionalism and dedication to the tasks at hand. With the help of other officers, and the members as well, the federation became well-organized with its yearly goals almost always achieved. Coordination with town, provincial and district officials was smooth.

          Main agenda for that day's meeting at the mountain sitio was raising funds for the senior citizens' program called Damayan. Members would pay a yearly minimal amount which would help defray expenses during contingencies. Discussion was cordial with senior citizens voicing out their take on issues and concerns. That was the way Mimi wanted it. She wanted communication to be free-flowing. After two hours of exchanges, meeting was adjourned with the next one set for the following week at Brgy Bangkal, south of the Sierra Madre.


Chapter 12


Old Age Catching Up





         Mimi tripped once near her front garden. She had another one along the walkway. The impact of the fall was so intense that she was required to wear a cast from the knuckles to the upper arm. After three months, she took a spill at the foyer. It was a consolation that her head did not hit something hard. The home helper, her lone companion in the house adjacent to the town's central school, had to pick her up. Obviously, her legs were not that strong anymore. She was having problems maintaining her balance.

          In her 90s, Mimi had also begun showing difficulty in recalling names, places and events. At first, it was manageable. She would take down notes. She would write the names of the persons she talked to and the date the conversation or meeting took place. She would jot down significant events. But as days and months passed, her condition worsened. She was now having a hard time recognizing what were once familiar faces. She would call a son by another name. She could not remember what transpired a few days before. Clearly, Mimi's memory was slipping away.

         Not to her liking as she wanted to maintain the status quo, Mimi was taken to her eldest son's house in a Metro suburb. The consensus was that she could no longer stay in her place in Poblacion. As a precautionary measure against spills, she was confined to a wheelchair whenever moving from one spot to another. It was advised that home companions should engage her in a conversation as a way of slowing down memory loss. At times, she would have clear memory. But often times, she could not connect.

          In different surroundings, Mimi felt lonely. Out of the blue, she would talk about her late husband Dante. She would tell stories about the Japanese Occupation, of how her family fled to the Sierra Madre mountains to elude Japanese troops temporarily occupying the town proper. She would recall the times when she and several friends would hear mass at the ancient Church of Sta. Monica in Angat. Then she would tell of how she had been missing old friends who had gone ahead. Plainly, these were times when she would feel the keen sting of loneliness.


Chapter 13


Destiny Meets Eternity





           It was a Saturday when Mimi woke up with the sun's rays bouncing off the blue waters of the pool. With the curtains wide open, sunlight pierced through the glass panels, allowing her to catch a moderate amount of sunshine. She liked it, looked at the diagonal wrinkles on her forearms and leaned back on the sofa. Minutes later, she was served a glass of milk with slices of American bread.

           Wiping off the milk residue on her lips with a Kleenex, Mimi asked to be taken to the piano area which was only a few meters away. She had been feeling sluggish for days, complaining of difficulty in breathing. This was diagnosed as phlegm accumulating in her lungs. Seated on the piano bench with someone holding her on the lower back to prevent her from tipping over, she began testing the sounds emanating from the keys, hammers and strings.

          Mimi was asking for a particular music sheet. It could not be found but she started playing that piece anyway. It was Maiden's Dream popularized by Adolph Bauchman in the old days. Mimi was now engaged, with her hands arched and her fingers partly curved. Maiden's Dream  was Mimi's favorite in her younger years. She would do it so well that she would win the accolade of the appreciative crowd. They would give her that thunderous applause. Now nearing the century mark, nothing seemed to have changed. But this time, no one was around to listen. Nobody was there to applaud.

          At a hospital along the highway, after several days, Mimi passed away. At the precise moment when Mimi breathed her last, there was a heavy rainfall. With the grey skies turning black, the rain was relentless, literally with no let-up. In just a few minutes, there was flash flood and vehicles were at a standstill along the highway. The heavens were apparently weeping. The celestial gods were mourning the passing of a woman of substance, a woman they called 'Mama ', 'Abogada ', 'Attorney Mimi ' and 'Pangulo '. She was 98.


Photo Gallery:




Dr. Dante and Atty. Mimi dancing the night away. Photo taken in the late 40s.

Siblings Rene, Teddy, Nini and Ronald
  
Mimi's mother Felicitas
 Mimi with siblings Linda, Pepito and Nitang

Mimi's grandchildren
Ted and family

Ted's eldest son Alex and family

Ted's 2nd son Allen and Kristy

Ted's youngest son Albert and Monette


Mimi's eldest son Rene and family

Mimi's grandsons Argie and Pochi with Abby


Mimi's youngest Ronald and family

Ronald's eldest son Ryan and Bridgit


Mimi's grandchildren Manolet and Melissa Gener Leviste. Manolet is a barrister in the U.S.

Mimi's granddaughter Melissa

Mimi with only daughter Nini

Mimi still physically fit about 5 years ago
Friends and neighbors at Santa Mesa Heights: Rene G., Freddie Reyes, Boy Cuaderno, Ted G, Plenny Cobarrubias, Menggie Cobarrubias and  Bonjoc Reyes

Don Ricardo Silverio, then Bulacan's 3rd District Congressman, with Federation President Atty. Mimi Gener.

Atty. Mimi with Supreme Court Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas and his lovely wife

Bulacan Governor Nacing Santiago, Councilor Ted Gener, Mayor Amading Dela Merced, Atty. Ponciano Hernandez, SMC SVP Rene Gener and DPWH District Engineer Virginio Gener


2015 Dela Merced-Serapio Reunion at Chef & Brewer.  The last Atty. Mimi attended.