Wala ‘yan sa lolo/lola ko:’ Let the ‘yabangan’ of grandkids begin!

Reading the title alone, I know that it brings back a lot of golden times from your childhood… I mean, from our childhood. Before the rise of the game of wit, sarcasm, and editing skills played through submitting entries like memes, vines, hugots, or taking part in social media threads, there was this legendary “lolo/lola (grandfather/grandmother)” jokes that unleashed the “yabang sa katawan (arrogance in the body)“ of Pinoy grandkids. You, my kababayans, can relate how it makes you the brightest, the excellent, and the one and only when you beat your grade school classmate or playmate on this.

Regardless of whether these were heard through radio or television, read on a joke book, or received from a friend’s group message text or ~GMs~ (since group chats on Facebook Messenger were not yet a thing during its reign), beyond any doubt, Filipinos are very familiar with these jokes — well, at least one of it. I remember jotting down these jokes on my notebook then sharing it to my friends through GM. I’ve always felt a simple joy whenever I send messages like those but there’s another level of satisfaction when they reply to it, saying, “Ha ha ha laptrip (laughtrip) xD.” (In case you’re wondering what “xD” is, my dear friends, that’s the ancient laughing emoji).

For some of you who are clueless about what these “lolo/lola” jokes are, don’t feel that you’re being left out ’cause you’re not. Anyone who discovers a national treasure should feel proud, right?

Starting with the phrase “Wala kayo sa lolo/lola ko (Your grandparents are nothing compared to my grandfather/grandmother),” those who jumped on this classic discussion let loose of their top-notched troll side as they talk about how their grandparents are always one step ahead of other’s grandpa and grandma in any aspect. It doesn’t matter whether what they did was sweet, cool, weird, or even unbelievable, but at the end of the exchange of words, you must rebut that ‘theirs are better than yours’ by chiming in, “Wala naman ‘yan sa lolo/lola ko (Your grandfather/grandmother is nothing compared to my grandfather/grandmother),” then brag how more amazing yours is.

Although these jokes may not be as funny to some of us now as it was before due to the upgrade in our sense of humor, I guess it wouldn’t be also bad to somehow bring this to life because after all, you know that our grandparents indeed deserve to be shown off to the world. So right in time for the celebration of National Grandparents’ Day on Sunday, September 8, and with no further ado, let the “yabangan (brag battle)” of these grandkids begin!

A lolo, and the same time, a father

Even though Nicole’s parents decided to part ways, it doesn’t feel like she completely lost a father — thanks to her lolo who stood up to be a dad-figure to her and her brother, JM. Nicole shares how her lolo would always wait for her to come home from work just so they could eat together.

“[May times na] pupunta kami sa mall para lang kumain, basta ‘di siya aalis ng bahay hangga’t ‘di ako kasama (There are times that we go to the mall just to eat; I know that he would not leave the house unless I’m not with him).”

She also recalls the time when she could not construct herself and doesn’t know whether or not she was doing the right thing on her thesis paper, saying it was her lolo who gave her extensive handful support and encouragement as she goes through the deadly process of making that academic requirement.

“Nagte-text lang siya at sinasabi, ‘Galingan mo, apo. Kaya mo ‘yan, Magpray ka lang (He is sending me a message and he would say, ‘Do your best, apo. You can do it. You just have to pray).'”

If there are things she can brag about her grandpa, Nicole says, first, it is her lolo’s unconditional love to his family members.

“Hindi lang sa mga anak at apo kundi pati na rin sa mga kapatid niya. Kahit na may pamilya na siya, ‘di siya nakakalimot sa nanay at mga kapatid niya (Not only to his kids and grandkids but also to his siblings. Even though he already has a family, he never forgets his mother and his siblings).”

But more than anything else, Nicole couldn’t thank her lolo enough for being the “only person” who did not give up and believed in her that she can achieve her life goals.

The over-the-top spoilers

Don’t deny it. When our parents constantly say “no” to whatever we ask them, we all know we can still get it with the powerful “yes” word from our grandparents. Imagine having everything you have wished for at your hands and Elle and Joseph can relate to that.

While some have to burn their eyebrows to get high grades and ask their parents for a prize in return, Joseph, being the “favorite” apo, doesn’t have to demand at all.

“Wala ka sa lola ko… Kahit hindi ako humiling, basta mataas grades ko binibilhan ako ng gusto ko (Though I’m not asking for anything, if I got high grades, she would buy me anything I want),” he proudly says.

Elle, on the other hand, was not born into royalty; she doesn’t acquire a princess status nor a royal title attached to her name. But despite this, Elle is still being treated like a royal highness by her grandparents in their humble palace.

“Pinalaki akong prinsesa. ‘Pag gising ko ng umaga may ‘Good morning, princess’ with matching hugs and kisses, at may masarap na breakfast everyday (I was raised like a princess. When I wake up, I got a ‘Good morning, princess’ greet with matching hugs and kisses, as well as delicious breakfast every day),” she narrates.

Now grown to a fine lady she is today, Elle adds that every time she would portray “Reyna Elena”  in Santacruzan, a procession held every May in the Philippines to commemorate the finding of the Holy Cross, her proud lolo and lola would always “walk beside me, telling our neighbors: ‘Apo ko ‘yan (That is my grandchild)!'”

Young at heart

“You can’t be young forever.” Riza’s grandma asks, “Says who?”

Lucila defies age, proving that an 82-year-old like her isn’t old after all. Most grandparents at her age may have been experiencing many discomfort, aches, and soreness on their body, and tend to get more tired, however, it’s the opposite for Lucila, who just keeps getting more and more awesome.

Riza says her grandma, regardless of her age, can still groove like a youngster on a dance floor and be updated with today’s latest trends.

“My lola can still manage to do ballroom dancing and out of town trips. She [also] has her own Facebook account, though she forgets her password all the time.”

Riza shares that she, unlike other millennials out there who get annoyed every time their elders ask something about technology, did not find it hard to teach her lola on how to use her social media account.

“She is very teachable and she can now do video calls to her sons and daughters abroad all by herself.”

Well, as expected from someone who won in a competition called “Ganda ng Lola Ko!” way back in 2000’s, and an active member of Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA), Lola Lucila indeed knows how to always stay young at heart.

A chaperone granddad

It was her mom’s duty to pick her up at school after classes, Zeena shares as she recalls her elementary days. But whenever her mom could not come, it automatically becomes her lolo’s responsibility to assist her. “Si lolo ‘yung nagpapakain s’akin every lunch [time] and sinusundo ako sa school (My grandfather feeds me during lunchtime and fetches me from school).”

Every end of the academic year, Zeena has always been looked after by her grandpa. One of the best moments she had with her lolo was when it’s her turn to accompany him for his afternoon walk. As they go back home, her grandpa would then cook her noodles a.k.a. “pancit canton” and would start telling her various stories.

“Sinasama niya rin ako sa pamimingwit sa lake habang nagkwe-kwento sa akin. Ibibili [niya] ako ng candy para hindi ako mainip (He would also bring me with him when he does fishing at the lake while telling a story to me. He would even buy me candy so I won’t get bored).”

Zeena grew up being used to having her grandpa by her side. She admits that sometimes, she cries whenever he’s not around for she feels alone and that it seems that the world turns against her.

To get rid of this feeling, Zeena says she would find her lolo in the study hall from time to time to tell him, ‘Dito ka lang lo, ‘wag mo ako iiwanan (Stay here, grandpa. Do not leave me),'” and then she kisses and hugs him.

Selfless, caring human beings

Yes, you may say that you often share your food with your friends which is actually a very generous act. However, when it comes to your favorite food, I bet the word generosity slowly disappears in your vocabulary. I can’t blame you though because it’s your favorite food we’re talking here; even I would be so protective of it as if it was a gold bar.

Giving up our fave food will always be an extra challenge for many of us — but not for Jeanine’s grandparents. As what other people say, you would let a person take a bite of your favorite food if you truly love him or her. Although funny as it sounds, there are some who really treasure that simple sharing of favorite food to their loved ones, which Jeanine exactly did.

Jeanine says it was one of the best things about her grandparents: they easily give up their favorite part of the chicken to their grandchildren whenever they have “Tinola” for dinner, as well as letting the kids have the bread that should have been their merienda after they plow the fields of their neighbor.

It was not only the sharing of food. Jeanine felt how much her grandparents love her when she saw how much they are willing to do anything, even the little things, for them.

When there’s a power cut at their house in their province, she says that her nanay and tatay would stay up late just to fan for them and make sure that mosquitoes won’t feast on them.

Once her grandparents learned that someone bullied her from school, Jeanine says they would not hesitate to go directly to her school and confront whoever who did bad to her, and despite struggling to answer a science question from her homework, Jeanine shares her grandparents are still trying their best to help her.

With all those things that her nanay and tatay did for them, Jeanine has this heartwarming message to them: “Thank you for making us feel that your presence is greater than the absence of our parents. You have filled the void of bitterness in us. You made mine and my siblings’ childhood extraordinary.”

Grandparents as the best support system

What else could make you even blessed than having grandparents who serve as your exceptional support system? Alex says she could not ask for more.

“[Ang] maipagmamayabang ko eh may lolo at lola ako na sobrang supportive sa buhay ko (What can I brag about is that I have a grandpa and grandma who are super supportive in my life).

Alex shares that every time she visits her grandparents in their province, they would request to her to buy these: one Jollibee’s jolly hotdog for her lola and one jolly burger for her lolo. Most of the time, it’s the grandchildren who would ask their elders to buy them food on their favorite fast-food chain, but in Alex and her grandparents’ case, it is the otherwise. Cute isn’t it? But you know what’s cuter?

“Gusto pa rin ng lolo ko na natutulog ako katabi nila ako ni lola. Nagre-request siya minsan na tumabi ako sa kanila matulog (My grandfather still wants me to sleep with him and my grandmother. He requests to me to sleep beside them).”

Sometimes, Alex says, she and her grandpa would plan a trip to Manila to visit Manila Bay, her lolo‘s once hang-out place, and take photos there. Ever since, Alex’s grandparents have always got her back, supporting her in whatever she does, and right now, she’s doing the thing close to her heart. Alex says she realized that her grandparents are her number #1 fans as she pursues a career in photography.

“Kahit madalas akong lokohin ng lolo ko na pangit ‘yung mga photos ko ganyan, tapos maririnig ko nalang lola ko sisigaw nang ‘Anong pangit diyan? Wala kang namang alam sa pag li-litrato.’ Most of the time, ‘yun ‘yung way ng asaran naming tatlo (Although my grandfather would always tease me that my photos are ugly, I would hear my grandmother shouting, ‘What is ugly about it? You don’t even know how to take pictures.’ Most of the time, that is our way of teasing each other).”

More than being admirers of her craft, her lolo and lola are also her sources of motivation whenever she’s feeling down.

“[Kapag] nagkakaroon ako ng mental health issues, in-o-open ko sa lola ko ‘yung mga bagay na ‘yun… ‘Yung lola ko, kahit umiyak ako nang umiyak sa telepono, nakikinig ‘yan. Alam niya at alam kong ramdam niya ‘yung mga bagay na nahihirapan ako, magbibigay pa ng advice ‘yan na kailangan kong tatagan lagi ang loob ko (Whenever I’m having mental health issues, I would open those things to my grandmother… My grandma, even though I cried and cried on the phone, she would listen to me. She knows and I know that she feels those things that are hard for me, she would even give me a piece of advice that I have to stay strong).“

After talking to my fellow grandchildren, I’ve realized that we deserve all the bragging rights in the world when it comes to our grandparents for they, even if we’re miles apart from them or not, never fail to make us feel loved, accepted, and important. And it doesn’t get better than that. As for who is the real winner in this “yabangan (brag battle),” I think it’s us, grandkids, winning both here and in life for having lolos and lolas who are truly one of the best blessings we can ever have. Happy Grandparents’ Day to our gramps and grannies! Flaunt that false teeth or gums of yours for the brightest smiles of the world!