Birthday/Pancit

It was a few days before my 24th birthday, and I realized I was at the age when Momma gave birth to me. So at the dinner table, I asked…

“So how did you tell Inang you were pregnant with me?”

“I didn’t.” Momma said almost nonchalantly.

“What?!”

“She found out just after I gave birth…and once she saw a picture of you, she wanted to come to the States right away.”

“How old was I when she arrived?”

“Maaaarch…April, May, June…3 months old.”

“Wow…”

“You and me waited at the airport for her. I put you in your stroller and put the shade over you. When she came to us, she didn’t even look at me. She just asked, ‘Where is she?’ and then I took the shade off you, and she pinched your foot and said, ‘Ukininam! Nag pintas ka!’ She picked you up and carried you out of the airport, and she took care of you ever since.”

“Ohhh, I love Inang…”

“Me, too.”

*****

Ask anyone. Anyone. Ask them what their favorite Filipino food is and most of the time they will say “pancit.” Pancit is a noodle dish that is a staple on a Filipino buffet. It is vital to have it on hand especially on a birthday because the length of the noodles signify a long life for the celebrated.

Inang always made pancit for my birthday. I remember her standing in the kitchen slicing up carrots, celery, and green beans on long, skinny, biases so that they would be easier to eat with the noodles. I remember her sauteeing the onions and garlic. The sound of the onions sizzling with the oil and the aroma of the cooking permeating the air of our modest little basement kitchen.

Back then, life was a struggle. Momma was a single mother. Very young. Inang came to the States to help her daughter take care of me. Our living conditions were not the best either. We lived in my Lolo's (Granduncle) lower level of his house along Mission Street on the border line of San Francisco and Daly City. He made the garage a living room and the in-law had a kitchen and a bedroom. Inang was in that kitchen cooking and making coffee way before I even woke up. She was best at making entrees, and pancit was one of them

I have been told that Inang is a perfectionist. Every vegetable has to be uniform. The noodles had to be cooked to the perfect doneness. I have tasted so many forms of pancit throughout my life, but Inang’s stands out as the best. Yes, I may be biased, but it’s true!

I feel a special connection with my mother and my grandmother because each of us was born in the year of the Rat. Inang in 1924, Momma in 1960, and me in 1984. Each of us is a Pisces because Inang was born on March 8, Momma on March 7 and Me on March 16. See that little trend we got going here? Every birthday is special. Every year lived is a blessing, and I hope I get some pancit on my next birthday.

Inang cooking for another celebration in our tiny kitchen.