But it’s not batik?!
I was driving with that fuming thought in my mind a day before my daughter Jeanina’s program, which had a Mindanao Theme. Our family’s supposedly-reliable dress shop along Kamuning did not take my instructions to heart, and something i shelled out 900 pesos for. The black leotards was perfect. BUt have you seen a sarong in floral pink, ever?? Was this a Luau party? Haha. But i had no choice but to accept that this happens, very basic mishaps of my single momminess who has no time to double check. Oh well, lesson learned from now on - I buy the cloth, and they just sew my design.
The beauty of it all though, Nina came out radiant in the program. My Yaya Linda even thinks it worked best. Standing out from the dark browns, golds and beiges donned by other kids on the stage. Well that’s MY view, a mom wronged by the dressmaker, finding positivity in my domestic oversight. Surprisingly, she was the Reyna of the tribe! I couldn’t believe my eyes! I wish the teacher told me earlier, so i could’ve spruced up Nina’s costume a lot more. Nevertheless, my little achooch looked so so pretty with her hair in a neat bun, with pearls draped over her forehead. Her “imperfect” costume that she wore proudly, unnknowing of my private concerns. But other than that, I was so happy to see her up on stage saying a few lines about “Manny pacquaio being one of the popular people from Mindanao”…sigh. I can only smile to myself at how big she’s become. How she somehow shed her “tomboy” gestures to play a little Tribal Reyna for us all. A Lea Salonga in the making? Why not?!
Bottomline, proud mommy I was again and Nina had a grand time in her “unbatik” skirt all the way to Metrowalk 
and i’m passing on my ruthless thought of asking for a refund.