Motherhood and the Wicked Tortoise

Motherhood and the Wicked Tortoise (May 2, 2012)

Last week, I came across a unique news from the local television channel.  A tortoise was caught in the dirty water of Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila.  Surprisingly, the tortoise was not eaten and was surrendered to the local barangay who in turn surrendered it to the local government.  Long story short, after two days, the tortoise died and when they did an autopsy on the cause of death, it was discovered that it died because of poisoning for its inability to lay 98 eggs in its womb.

Genetically, tortoise, turtles or its specie returns to the place where they were hatched to lay eggs.  Looking back now, with the benefit of hindsight, the poor tortoise was just trying to find a suitable spot on the beach to lay its eggs.  Historically, Manila bay was a nesting place where eggs are buried and unfortunately for the tortoise – the dirty beach and the dirty bay spelled its doom.

The average life span of a tortoise is around 150 years and during its lifespan, an occasional return to the beach where it was initially hatched deserves a visit or two for the burying of its eggs.  With the rate of the destruction of its hatching place, it is safe to assume that within the next 50 years, this specie of tortoise would be wiped out and driven to extinction.  And all of these because we couldn’t maintain and preserve a beach as a turtle/tortoise sanctuary.

My mother arrived last Saturday for her annual summer visit in Metro Manila.  With her 75 summers behind her, the value of her presence and simple advice on parenthood is beyond price.  It is just too bad that my father died five years ago but that is another topic altogether.

My mother is still healthy.  She is capable of walking the entire mall of SM Fairview and more importantly, we could now get along with each other.  In my younger years, there was a constant strain in our relationship, but now – the strain is gone, all strains are gone except love and respect.  A salute to my mother and may she live a hundred years or more….