The sun wakes up angrily at 6 AM and doesn't calm down until 5:30 PM. It goes berserk- pouring all its heat and brightness on us, like it wants us to feel its rage.
Especially at noon- the house was like an oven toaster. Even the ceiling fan gave up on its duty. The air inside the house forgot how to be air. Lol.
The roof felt like there's a lava flowing. The cement felt like a curse. Even the bamboo sofa felt like a bath of boiling water. Everything around the house was a total disaster. Wherever we went, the heat was there- lurking, turning every corner of our home into an uncomfortable, hellish shelter. We were being cooked alive- with no fire or stove.
We ran. We found a safe and comfortable place to to ease the heat, the hellish feeling inside our home. And so, the Mango tree become our ultimate hero.
That was mama, papa and the youngest among my siblings- all finding relief under the Mango tree. We didn't have chairs or benches to sit or lean on, so they put temporarily the (karosa)- a bamboo farm cart pulled by a carabao.
A letter of Appreciation to the Mango Tree in our backyard.
Your shade becomes my family's shield against the scorching heat.
Your dark shadow becomes our shelter.
But you asked for nothing. No fee for electric bill, no rent or doesn't ask for something in return for all your hardwork. You just stand there- vibrant, strong, durable, and healthy.
Your fruits fulfill the wish of hungry, growling stomach. You become even more useful to kids, animals and pregnant women with your unique sour flavor. The kids climb you for snacks. The animals- especially our pet chicken- Jorge wait patiently for the fallen ones. You feed us when the budget for snacks was short. And you feed us when the heat kills our appetite.
I guess everyone craves a sour mango- either with a pinch of salt and soy sauce,or paired with (bagoong).
But it's not just our resting place- it's also our pets' comfort zone since the surroundings are super hot. Our dogs and the chickens are always under that mango tree.
We survive- together- under the the same dark, cool shadow.
You're trunk was the only chair that didn't boil. My siblings climb up and down to play on your branches.
You hold us when we're tired and sleepy. You hold my siblings when they're playful. Even the birds most likely to make their nest above. You hold the bird when they need a home.
If it weren't for you my blood pressure would rise first. Our skin becomes dry, and our brain will not function properly if it's too hot. Thankfully, under you the air is genuinely comforting. The area wasn't perfect- the bamboo cart for a couch and a hammock for a bed- but the feeling of being able to sit and sleep peacefully was absolutely awesome.
Rain or shine you always prove your worth. Your leaves, trunk, fruit, and roots become the shield and comfort that we never thought we needed.