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Here I'll include a picture of this family member, if I have one available.
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Memories and Stories
No trip to the States is complete without a visit to the City of Lights, LAS VEGAS! Faye/Pepot (or as Wawa called her - Nena) planned a trip to Vegas. Faye borrowed Jun's Suburban, and drove Wawa, Peping, Nita, Mimi, Robin (ask your Lola who else came).
In order to ensure that Peping would not miss his daily mass, it was essential to get a hotel close to the chapel, located in downtown Las Vegas (as opposed to the strip). Because Faye wanted to get the most bang for her buck, she only booked one room and had the group march, two at a time, to the room, with their own pillows and blankets in tow. Why two at a time you ask? Because there was only a twin bed in the room, and certainly, 6 was way too much for a small, dark, dingy room (keep in mind, this was downtown Las Vegas)!
None of this mattered to Nita and Wawa. They utilized only the bathroom in the room. They may have used the bed an hour each of the three weekend days they were there. They were focused on their mission - to break the casino bank, the one-eyed bandit to be exact. Wawa spent 16 hours at the minimum on the penny and nickel slot machine. She emphatically stated that she did not feel hunger or thirst when Faye would ask her to join them for breakfast or dinner in one of the hotel restaurants.
Wawa was sad when it was time to head back to Los Angeles. She complained that time simply flew by faster in Vegas than anywhere else in the world. Faye promised that she would give Wawa other chances to play her favorite slot machine.
Wawa was understandably exhausted and slept the entire 5-hour trip back to Los Angeles. Peping noticed that while Wawa was asleep, her arm would move, like she was still playing the one-armed bandit, even in her dreams. That became a running joke ever since.
In Los Angeles, Wawa saved her money and bought Lotto tickets every week. She did not win anything. When it was time for her to return to Manila, Wawa realized that she could have had $1,000, had she not wasted all her money buying Lotto tickets.
When Wawa was bed-ridden after her stroke, Faye fulfilled her promise to Wawa. She sent Wawa her own one-arm bandit, which stayed with her in her bed until her demise.
Wawa may not have achieved her mission to break the casino bank in Vegas, but she definitely achieved a bigger mission - shaping all 11 Sisons of Diamante into the humane Catholics they are today.
Wawa will forever be in our hearts..until the time we join her in heaven..
From Faye
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Date and place of birth
Date and place of death
Socorro Alit
Names of parents
Single
Immigration information
Places the person lived
Where the person "fits" in our family tree
WAWA, also called Nanay, Wa, Big B, Nanay Bilbil (for
her wide girth) has left an indelible imprint on the
lives of 3 generations. The following is a collection
of treasured memories.
She was less than 5 feet tall, quiet in demeanor.
It was to her that Lolo Fernando "Andong" Manubay and
Lola Melchora "Echo" Ebro entrusted the care of their
only daughter, Ramonita " Nita. Wa was a constant
companion and guardian during Nita's teenage years.
Soon Nita met and wed Jose "Peping" Sison. Becayse if
Wawa's dependable presence, all 11 children received
the best of care. Nanay tacked the day to day
housekeeping activities such as cooking, cleaning,
accompanying kids to school, among other duties.
During the 11 kids' young years, she was ready to
freshen us up once we yelled "Pangole bule" after
dispensing with excretory functions.
Long-haired Nanay was beyond compare when bathing
babies, changing diapers and putting babies to sleep.
Wawa did not finish elementary schooling. But she
possessed a natural financial keenness.
One time while joining Nita in looking around for
furniture at a Chinese shop in Paco, Wa would make
tawad (bargain) at half price from the suki
(retailer). The nex time Ma returned, the Chinese
owner requested not to bring Wawa anymore.
During the kids schooling years, Nanay was generous in
giving extra baon (monetary allowance)
She was famous for her mome-made pancit molo, the
noodles made from scratch. Anyone who sampled this
craved for more. When she cooked, she didn't measure
the ingredients. Yet the outcome was always a tasty
dish.
Mon, the eldest, learned the secret to making good
soft boiled eggs from watching Wa. Nanay took care of
the kids of Mon especially DJ, the sickly half of the
twins.
When the Sison family travelled to Santa Rosa,
Pangasinan or Baguio, Wa would pack all the
necessities including the banig, kulambo, the
declicious adobo as baon.
She would wear herpink dress as bathing suit and sit
near the shallow portion. The wave would sometimes
knock Wawa down Her favorite color was purple.
For entertainment, Wa liked to play mahjong, bingo
(with 6 favorite cards) and pantot.
Bob, the lawyer, would drive Wa to make her pasyal at
Roxas Boulevard. While visiting churches during Holy
Week, Bob passed by Wa's favorite resto KFC. Wa was
unaware where the car stopped and asked what church
KFC was. We chuckled over that query.
Jun accompanied Wa to get a US visa. 60 pls year old
Big B was approved without a hitch. Originally from
Negros, Wa had visited northern provinces of
Pangasinan, Baguio and was moving on across the shores
to Los Angeles, California.
Wa then met, Robin, the only son of Mi and Tony Roces.
She was able to care for and play with Robin while the
couple were at work. While shopping at a mall, Mi
lost sight of Wa and panic-stricken tried searching
for her. At one rack for blazers, she heard a
familiar cough and when they opened the rack, Wa was
there.
My favorite story regarding Wa was when Mi and I were
kids, we would argue. I would call for Wa and Mi
would eventually be scolded. Wa always rooted for the
underdogs. She had a sense for people;s characters.
She was artistic and knitted socks, sewed skirts for
me. Wa had smooth sin and didn't show any evidence of
pockmarks due to pimples. She just tackled life head
on. What amazed me about Wa was when she smoked, she
would also swallow the ash portion of the cigarette.
When I asked her about this, she said it was
medicinal. I asked her if I could try it and she let
me do it once. The taste is difficult to describe.
We'd usually phone her to ask what the food was.
One night, she suffered a stroke while waiting up for
me. Her health steadily declined till she was
bed-ridden. We all tried to assure of our love. She
died a few years later (get the year of death). Nanay
devoted 60 plus years of love and dedication to each
of her wards. I remain ever thankful. A piece of
flooring in LA'S Cathedral of the Angels in Temple St.
is offered to her. She was unforgettable. I'm
confident that she is in heaven watching over all of
us.
From Monette
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