by Mia Rosienna P. Mallari / Intern
AFTER seven decades, Zenaida Parcero has worn countless hats, but one she has never taken off is the humble hat of a devotee of the Black Nazarene.
Zeny was born and raised in Pasay, the fifth of eight siblings. She grew up under the watchful eyes of her grandparents. Unlike other children her age running back and forth the street of Taylo, Zeny was confined in their compound, tasked to help around the household.
“Wala akong kalayaan tulad ng ibang bata. Magbabasa ako ng magazine tapos ang sasabihin sa akin ‘Dasalan ang hawakan mo,’” she said while adjusting her thin-rimmed spectacles.
She ran her hand through her graying hair and recalled how her grandmother used to wake her up at 2 a.m. to pray and how she strictly followed a schedule when going to church each week. On Wednesdays, she would head to Baclaran; Thursdays were reserved for Saint Jude in Malacañang Compound; and Fridays were dedicated to the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.
Churches and cathedrals also served as her primary landmarks whenever she had an opportunity to travel.
Though it may seem like she grew up in a conservative environment, there is no hint of resentment in Zeny’s eyes.
“Okay lang naman kasi halos lahat ng hinihiling ko natutupad at naniniwala ako na ’yung mga bagay na hindi Niya pa naibibigay, may rason ang Diyos kung bakit hindi Niya binigay,” she said.
Her life definitely has never been a walk in the park. Zeny and her family hurdled challenge after challenge, facing their problems head on instead of dodging them.
She claims that her lifelong devotion to the Black Nazarene has changed her life in more ways than one.
Coming from a simple, middle-class family, Zeny never asked for a life of luxury and comfort. She prayed for goodness. At age 21, she married Severino, a carpenter and mason who was then working on a project in Zeny’s neigborhood.
Severino dedicated much of his time and his salary to Zeny, who, at the time of their marriage, had trouble bearing a child. Zeny already suffered two miscarriages and the bills were beginning to pile up.
She craned her neck to see if her husband was listening from the other end of the room before softly saying, “Pinapasok ko lahat ng trabaho noon, labendera, plantsadora, kasambahay pero hindi ko sinasabi sa kanya. Magagalit kasi.”
Having moved to Cavite after they married, Zeny often told Sev that she would be gone to visit her mother in Pasay, but instead, she took some extra work to make up for the meager income they had.
Tough times dawned and the couple almost lost hope. Zeny decided to dedicate a novena to the patron closest to her heart. She religiously traveled to Quiapo amid rains and flood, tight budget and being robbed.
“Nagsangla pa ako ng wedding ring tapos nanakawan pa. Pero nagpapasalamat ako na may natira pa,” she said.
Zeny thought she was going to have another miscarriage but she continued to pray very hard. No checkups, she depended only on the local hilot. She only sought help from the local center once. Exactly nine months later, Zeny gave birth to a healthy girl. They christened her Myra, my mother.
“Psalm 24, iyan ang lagi kong binabasa. ‘They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior.’ Madami pa,” she said. “Masaya kasi kahit hindi mayaman, sama-sama naman kami sa bahay.”
Over the years, she has waded through harsh waters with her head leveled and palms together. With hard work, both she and her husband managed to go abroad for a short time, managing to build their own house and set up a vegetable stall in the public market.
Even now with problems in their family business, she remains steadfast in her faith. “Kaya namin ’to. Hindi kami pababayaan ng Diyos. Hindi Niya kami bibigyan ng problema na hindi namin kaya. Kaya nagpapasalamat pa rin ako sa Kanya.”