Nemo Dat Quod Non Habit

I woke up today with this on my head - not in full Latin because I couldn't remember pass Nemo Dat Quod.. I admit to searching for the whole phrase.

"You cannot give, what you do not have" - was it in Philosophy of Human Person that I first encountered this? Or was it a Theo class?

How does a person continue to be generous when he doesn't have so much more to give?  Even in terms of time? In the area of generosity of love and time -  I will take my cue from the WOMEN in my life beginning with these 3 wonderful women.

1) Miton (my aunt, my mom's sister) and the spirit of generosity she showed us quite recently while we were in Baguio. An early retiree, now full time domestic engineer and part time AXA agent who was a mom to us when we were still little.
Miton's spirit of generosity and love for me and my sisters never changed. My mom is eldest in the family so we were like her daughters (thus we call her Miton - short for Mommy Ton) and up to this day, she treats us like one. Flourishing us love in all the ways a mother can, materially-physically-emotionally.

2) Nanay (Tita Metmet) - another sister of my mom who served as another parent to us. I remember tagging along with her, semi-pretending to be her daughter, at the market place when I was still a child.  She is another full time domestic engineer and everytime someone goes to Manila she never fails to send me and my sister TJ something. Be it as simple as bananas or tocino and Chorizo from somewhere she bought. Her thoughtfulness is overflowing.

3) And Mom of course, who not only shows us what a responsible mother is and should be, but a mother who is cool, groovy and "in" with technology (she has multiply, YM, friendster and I will not be surprised if she'll soon have facebook hehehe). Coming home to her in Davao is always a happy journey. Even if we are quite old already, mom never fails to make us feel that we are still her daughters and her helping hand is there, way before we even ask for it. And taking a leave from work is as easy as a snap when it comes to welcoming us home or taking us to the airport when we are about to leave again. No amount of work on top of her desk can stop her from bonding with us.

You cannot give what you do not have - but there is always something more inside of you that can allow you to always and constantly inspire people; that can allow you to love; allow you to listen and to give. Yes, critics may react that you should always leave something for yourself, of course you do. But in the process of giving, you always get something in return anyway. It may not be enough to fill up everything that you've lost, but it should be enough to keep you going.

A toast to the many women who constantly inspire us to be generous of our love and of our time - my toast goes to MOM, NANAY, MITON, MAMA, DODOT, TETET, ATE NORIE, ATE ANGIE, ATE MAITA, ATE TRINA, MOMMY PIA, MOMMY TINTIN, MOMMY TQ, IVY (don't be shocked to be part of the list, you are one warm being) GANG, SHAILOE, AILI, GT, AUNTIE CARING, TITA TUNE, KAYKAY (yes i will count you as a woman, sofie shall be included in 2 years time), ELLA, BEAUTY, JANILLE and RENEE!