Atty. Paz Lahoz-Argel
Speaker on Mary and the Home
April 7, 1996  

L-r: Our Lady of Namacpacan at Luna, La Union.
Atty Paz L. Argel is a devotee of Mama Mary. She is the founder of the Ina Poonbato devotees in Vigan. 

When I was but a girl in the high school, there were already a few Filipino women in the limelight: education, civic leaders, writers and molders of public opinion. I remember having read an article which passed an inquiry from the children of many of these women, as to how they felt, with their mother being busy elsewhere than in the home. I remember too that the consensus of opinion ran high in favour of the women leaders - their children turned not only to be better than the children of ordinary parents, they were happier too, and they voiced their pride over the success of their parents. 

We do not have to change our present ways of life - we don’t have to give up school or office of this and that position in order to keep a good home. But to solve it all: tune-in with Mary. When the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, she did not ask him to wait for an answer. She didn’t have to say, I will just finish this weaving first or this cooking or house-cleaning! No. She was ready with an answer because she was completely attuned with God. So should we be. We should be so completely attuned to Mary to be able to give a wise answer to son or husband, brother or sister, every moment.

A mother was crying over my shoulder one afternoon - how sorry she is, that her son turned to be a thief. History of the case is: that when Sonny was small, she didn’t curtail his overtures at picking from Papa’s pants. The papa turned furious at times - Mama pitied the boy so much, what a false pity it was - she covered up, and owned the blame. Result: He has acquired such thrill at petty thefts, he acquired great gusto for big ones - he was not stealing because he needed to, but because he loved it. If mama were attuned to Mary, she would never have tolerated her son to dip into anybody’s pockets even if it was his own father’s.

Each in our own ways of life - whether you are a career woman, social an civil leader or a simple housewife - there remains that one obligation we have to remain the inspiration of your husband and of your children; to fashion your home with Mary, in Mary, for Mary and through Mary. So shall we strengthen the Filipino home - that these homes united may form a strong nation, a nation that shall endure because it is dedicated to the glory of God and the happiness of her people.