Remembering Marilyn Tison
Donation protected
Writing a cohesive story of someone you love is really difficult to do in a few paragraphs. Instead, I am going to write a list of reasons why my mom was a m*therf*ckin warrior queen.
1. Money never came easy for my family. Because of this, Mama had to be a hustler. She was a secretary, ran her own business selling soda and eggs to neighborhood stores in the Philippines, took care of elderly folks, and was even a house-keeper for a hotel. When I was in elementary school, she and I hustled Pampangga's Best (really, the best) tocino to my teachers. She trained me to market them and distribute them.
2. She made sure her babies were always taken care of. When we lived in the Philippines, she would make sure to wake up way before us to boil water so we did not have to shower with cold water. She also made sure that every day, my hair was looking cute-- pigtails, pony tails, braids, etc!
3. She helped shape my passion for education. She helped buy my first black board and chalk so I can play teacher with my neighbors. (I'm a teacher now.)
4. She always advocated for better opportunities for us. Despite the very confusing educational system in the US, she still made sure that we were getting the best. Without her, I would not have known about Magnet Schools or would not have gotten into one of the best high schools in South LA.
5. She was selfless. When Tita(Aunt) Marissa was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, my mom did not hesitate to be her caretaker. She even traveled to the US so that she can help my aunt get care, even if that meant leaving her family behind for a little while.
6. She was an amazing cook. Every time I came to visit, she would ask me (and Mike!) what we craved for. She made sure there was always sinigang for me and asado for Mike. On special occassions, she busted out her famous bbq and leche flan. OMG. We're still trying to recreate her bbq.
7. She was an amazing karaoke singer. She loved her Magic Mic and singing to anything by The Carpenters. Our song was "Top of the World" by the Carpenters.
8. She kicked 2 out of 3 cancers in the butt. When I was 11, both Mama and Papa moved to the US to work to send money so Peter, Camille and I can continue going to private schools. That same year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, underwent a mastectomy, underwent chemo and radiation. She beat that and rocked a fab wig. In 2016, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer, underwent surgery and another round of chemo and radiation. She beat that and got a new wig.
This list can keep going. My mom was a fighter and sacrificed so much to make sure that every one else was okay. In her last month with us, she asked to for her ashes to be buried back home in the Philippines, next to her mom.
Your contributions to this fundraiser will help with the following: 1) expenses for my mom's final arrangements (funeral, cremation, US embassy fees to take ashes back), and 2) arrangements for my dad to take her ashes home by January (flights to Philippines, lodging, burial in the Philippines).
We appreciate your love and support.
Alyssa (and Peter, Camille, Papa)
1. Money never came easy for my family. Because of this, Mama had to be a hustler. She was a secretary, ran her own business selling soda and eggs to neighborhood stores in the Philippines, took care of elderly folks, and was even a house-keeper for a hotel. When I was in elementary school, she and I hustled Pampangga's Best (really, the best) tocino to my teachers. She trained me to market them and distribute them.
2. She made sure her babies were always taken care of. When we lived in the Philippines, she would make sure to wake up way before us to boil water so we did not have to shower with cold water. She also made sure that every day, my hair was looking cute-- pigtails, pony tails, braids, etc!
3. She helped shape my passion for education. She helped buy my first black board and chalk so I can play teacher with my neighbors. (I'm a teacher now.)
4. She always advocated for better opportunities for us. Despite the very confusing educational system in the US, she still made sure that we were getting the best. Without her, I would not have known about Magnet Schools or would not have gotten into one of the best high schools in South LA.
5. She was selfless. When Tita(Aunt) Marissa was diagnosed with cancer in 2000, my mom did not hesitate to be her caretaker. She even traveled to the US so that she can help my aunt get care, even if that meant leaving her family behind for a little while.
6. She was an amazing cook. Every time I came to visit, she would ask me (and Mike!) what we craved for. She made sure there was always sinigang for me and asado for Mike. On special occassions, she busted out her famous bbq and leche flan. OMG. We're still trying to recreate her bbq.
7. She was an amazing karaoke singer. She loved her Magic Mic and singing to anything by The Carpenters. Our song was "Top of the World" by the Carpenters.
8. She kicked 2 out of 3 cancers in the butt. When I was 11, both Mama and Papa moved to the US to work to send money so Peter, Camille and I can continue going to private schools. That same year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, underwent a mastectomy, underwent chemo and radiation. She beat that and rocked a fab wig. In 2016, she was diagnosed with uterine cancer, underwent surgery and another round of chemo and radiation. She beat that and got a new wig.
This list can keep going. My mom was a fighter and sacrificed so much to make sure that every one else was okay. In her last month with us, she asked to for her ashes to be buried back home in the Philippines, next to her mom.
Your contributions to this fundraiser will help with the following: 1) expenses for my mom's final arrangements (funeral, cremation, US embassy fees to take ashes back), and 2) arrangements for my dad to take her ashes home by January (flights to Philippines, lodging, burial in the Philippines).
We appreciate your love and support.
Alyssa (and Peter, Camille, Papa)
Organizer
Alyssa Marie
Organizer
Hayward, CA
