The Mommy Diaries

I was Baptized in the Manila Cathedral 2 weeks after I was born. My Mom and Dad wanted me to get baptized as soon as possible so that I may receive God's blessing ASAP. James and I wanted to do the same for Jacob. So today, I called the Manila Cathedral office to inquire about their baptismal requirements. The woman whom I talked to told me that we needed to submit Jacob's birth certificate, and our (James' and mine) Church Marriage Contract. She asked me if James and I were married within church rites, I told her, we aren't yet married. The exact words she replied was "Ay, hindi kami nagbibinyag ng hindi kasal." I said okay, feeling discriminated but at the same time accepting because, that was not the first uncomfortable conversation I had about my marital status.

I told this to my Mom and asked her if this was an SOP for the Catholic Church (which I am doubtful because I don't remember Deacon Barth Bracy talking about this in our Theology 131 class). Mom said that that is unreasonable. It was unreasonable to deny our baby the Catholic faith and God's acceptance just because James and I have "sinned." Minutes later, my Mom called the Cathedral and asked about this, trying hard not to shout at the woman I talked to. The woman told her that they actually baptize kids born out of wedlock but they require the parents to talk to their local parish priest first. The woman said that she didn't inform me because I did not ask. Mom got mad at this remark, pointing out that it was the woman's obligation to tell me.

Actually it really was. What if I was a doubtful Catholic? "Ay, hindi kami nagbibinyag ng hindi kasal" would actually make me rethink my faith more. Now, they actually worry that many people are turning their backs from Catholicism? I love my faith, but like what I said during my very last Theology 151 finals, the problem lies on the micro level. In times like these, I appreciate being educated in the Ateneo.

So, oh well, goodbye Manila Cathedral. Good thing San Agustin Church only asked for the baby's birth certificate.

...

I finally had my first real and normal bath today. Abstinence from bathing wasn't my idea, it's an old wives tradition that most Filipinas follow after giving birth. The reason behind it is that they believe that labor and delivery stresses your entire being, thus, being exposed to "lamig" is not advisable as it will form "pockets" in your body. You also have to eat hot soups and drink hot beverages to keep your body warm (and sometimes even hot). After a week (or 15 days for some) you can bathe - not in water, but in tea, in Pito-pito tea, to be exact. Pito-pito is a mixture of seven different medicinal herbs: "alagaw, banaba, bayabas, pandan, and mangga with half a teaspoon each of anis and cilantro" (source). After that, you undergo "suob", a procedure wherein you sit on an arinola filled with boiling Pito-pito for quite some time and let the steam cleanse your womanhood. The whole thing culminates with a traditional post-natal hilot where the manghihilot pushes your uterus to its proper position.

I have undergone all these for the past week. Not faithfully of course. My Mom would pity me everytime I feel icky that she would let me shampoo my hair, of course without having the water touch my body. I also clean myself using a cloth damped with alchohol and lukewarm water, and of course, I clean my you-know-what with Lactacyd.

The pito-pito bathing was surprisingly very refreshing - or maybe I was just too desperate to bathe. But not the Pito-pito "steaming". It was quite painful "down there". And the massage? Oh how I needed that. Thank God the process included massages.

BUT ALAS. I AM FINALLY CLEAN.

Looking back, it was quite an experience. That's why I think my mother had me undergo that procedure - for the experience. It was an experience most Filipinas had undergone, and it would be sad if I didn't have that weird, icky, but wonderful experience.

The Chinese have a similar tradition called Po-Ge-Lai which means "month after". You can read about it here and here.