My Nanay Book N - Z

Method to Our Madness – Notes from your Editors 1. The tribute pages are alphabetized by nickname. In other words, how we know each other – As the memory dims, last names, married names fade – but our nicknames and the names we gave each other stay cemented in our memories. This is why most of your pages use your maiden name – unless you specifically put your married name into your header. 2. You are looking at your pages with the minimum of edits. We formatted superficially but the contents were left largely alone. So if dates, names and spelling (some grammar?) need editing we thought that was a style thing. This can be worked on later. We noticed a persistent problem with tenses. Pages would begin in the past tense and then gradually the present tense would take over. This we know is a mindset. Although some of our mothers are gone, they are still with us and the memory is as if they walk and talk with us still. So we did not alter that. 3. It was a matter of cost – we just couldn’t afford to print these books in color. Oh how we wanted to. Oh how we tried. In the end we would have had to sell our first-borns (thankfully some of us didn’t have any!) 4. But we fully intend to digitally make the original color copies available. To everyone - either on Picasa or some other free and public web service. Please be patient. It will be available soon. 5. Finally, this is “a draft,” a first submission – a promise of what can be a jaw– droppingly significant addition to our sapphire (45th) homecoming commemorative programme in 2014. 6. Here in the pages that follow, we are “daughters first” again. Here and for always we are so grateful to our Mothers. CJY, PLP, CGH, GAC, LGC

WE ONLY HAVE ONE MOTHER

We only have one Mother – birth, adoptive, step, or figurative. We, Class ’69 Theresians, give honor to our Mother with this tribute of a Tea Party and the presentation and dedication of a collective manuscript of testimonials (tentatively entitled “MY NANAY BOOK”) written by us about each of our own Mother. It is never too late to recognize our Mother at any time. As they say, it should have been done “yesterday” - while they are still on Planet Earth to hear us or read our words of thanksgiving, admiration and love for them. And any day is the perfect day for giving Mother her tribute’s worth for a lifelong testimony of love for us. Mother nurtured us - body, soul, spirit - through our growing years of elementary and high school days in St. Theresa’s College - and even if we were not very obedient daughters, her advice and guidance has sustained us from sweet sixteen to sensible sixty. Today we are sweet sixteen again and our Mother is in her early 30’s or 40’s. She’s packing our sandwiches into our schoolbags, checking that our homework is okay, braiding our hair, powdering our backs, seeing us off to school, ”helping” us with or sewing projects, coaching us in reading, guiding our hands in penmanship, signing our report cards, and seeing that we’re going to school in a good mood and a full stomach. Our Mother, be She present in life or in spirit is the woman we place on a pedestal of honor, thanksgiving and love. We only have one Mother, and She is a treasure as much as She treasured us. We love our Mother forever and we give thanks to God for who She is. Our bucket list continues…

MA. ASUNCION “NANCY” TANCINCO REYES-LUMEN January 20th, 2013

ANG TANGI KONG YAMAN Ang tangi kong yaman Na pang habang buhay Ay pagmamahal ng aking ina na walang katulad Ang kanyang paglingap At mga pagdamay Walang kapantay kahit saan Kay sarap mabuhay Sa piling ni Nanay Pag nasawi ka Ay mayroon pa ring napaglalambingan Kanyang mga payo At mga pangaral Alaala ko habang buhay

-

These lyrics come from a song by Conching Rosal. We are grateful that Athens aka Goddess aka Diosa remembered Marilou Unson gave them to her some time ago. The NanayBook went out without a dedication page. Seems like it was waiting for this perfect expression.

Asuncion “Nancy” Reyes Lumen’s Mom Azucena “Nena” T. Reyes

Nancy’s
mom,
Tita
Nena,
recalls
that
her
father
was
an
inventor
of
an
agricultural
machine.
She
prides
 herself
as
a
dedicated
nature
lover
and
a
staunch
believer
in
God’s
Divine
Guidance
having
given
birth
 and
raised
12
children.
 
 “Growing
up,
we
were
DISCIPLINED,
but
full
of
love.
I
had
2
brothers
and
a
younger
sister.
My
parents
 and
grandparents
taught
all
4
of
us
that
if
we
did
not
know
how
to
work
and
do
our
work
properly,
an
 army
of
helpers
will
not
do
us
any
good.
I,
with
my
younger
sister,
grew
up
together
under
my
loving
 grandparents
and
parents.
 
 Early
on,
we
were
taught
(and
we
believed
them)
that
to
be
able
to
ask
helpers
to
do
what
we
believed
 we
were
asked
to
do,
we
have
to
know
what
we
ask
our
helpers
to
do.

My
grandparent,
especially
our
 Impo
 (Chinese
 for
 Lola),
 would
 ask
 my
 sister
 and
 myself
 to
 do
 some
 housework
 before
 we
 went
 to
 school;
and
we
did
what
we
were
asked
to
do
while
the
helpers
were
taking
their
breakfasts,
etc.
My
 sister
and
I
never
complained;
we
obeyed.

 
 Also,
we
were
taught
to
live
within
our
means.
Merienda
and
snacks
were
within
our
baon
na
pera.
We
 were
 taught
 not
 to
 borrow
 money
 or
 any
 item
 of
 clothing.
 My
 mother
 would
 always
 say:
 ‘Live
 within
 your
means,
and
be
thankful
for
everything.’
We
were
asked
to
walk
to
school.
 
 My
brothers
and
sisters
were
born
and
grew
up
in
a
barrio,
in
what
is
now
Valenzuela.
We
‐
may
I
brag
‐
 had
one
of
the
two
biggest
houses
in
our
area
but
we
were
never
made
aware
of
that
fact
‐
it
did
not
 mean
anything
to
us,
it
was
not
anything
to
be
proud
of.
What
I
am
trying
to
say
is:
we
were
never
made
 conscious
of
the
material
things
in
life.
And
I
am
very
happy
it
is
so
because
we
learned
a
lot
of
one‐ness
 with
most
of
the
classmates
in
our
place.
We
were
not
taught
of
any
material
reason
to
stand
out
and
 be
different.
 
 In
 our
 present
 environment,
 some
 children
 are
 conscious
 of
 who
 is
 materially
 endowed
 or
 not;
 some
 feel
inferior
because
they
are
not
well
to
do
–
which
is
not
a
healthy
attitude.
Early
on,
we
–
who
are

Asuncion “Nancy” Reyes Lumen’s Mom Azucena “Nena” T. Reyes

now
the
ones
who
mold
our
children’s
attitudes
–
should
teach
our
children
and
grandchildren
what
are
 the
values,
virtues,
norms,
prejudices
and
judgments
that
are
kind,
Christian
and
productive.
 
 There
is
this
beautiful
action
of
an
accusing
gesture
–one
finger
pointing
at
someone
(unkindly)
and
the
 three
other
fingers
pointing
at
oneself!
Faced
with
a
temptation
to
do
so,
I
remind
myself
of
the
three
 fingers
pointing
back
at
me.
Great
lesson
learned
from
this
gesture!
 
 To
sum
up
these
personal
lessons,
I
want
to
end
up
by
saying
that:
 1. 
Life
is
a
beautiful
gift
from
our
Creator
God.
 2. Life
is
what
we
make
of
ourselves.
 3. Our
errors,
mistakes
and
wrong
doings
are
products
of
and
by
ourselves.
 4. The
 lessons
 our
 parents,
 grandparents
 and
 mentors
 tried
 to
 inculcate
 in
 us
 are
 as
 good
 as
 we
 would
want
them
to
be.
 5. There
 is
 no
 mistake
 in
 our
 lives,
 big
 or
 small
 though
 they
 may
 be,
 that
 cannot
 –
 with
 the
 guidance
of
prayers,
the
belief
that
God
is
good
and
full
of
love
and
caring
for
all
of
us
–that
cannot
be
 turned
into
something
good.
 6. In
my
own
life,
through
all
that
I
have
been
through,
I
am
thankful,
grateful,
exceedingly
full
of
 joy
that
I
can
call
on
my
Creator
who
will
never
leave
me
alone.
 7. In
these
latter
days
of
my
God‐given
life,
I
thank
God
for
everything
–
the
good
and
the
not
so
 good
things
in
my
life.
I
am
exceedingly
happy
that
God
gave
my
husband
and
myself
15
pregnancies,
 but
12
births
of
children
who
gave
my
husband
and
myself
the
best
things
in
life.
 
 Now
that
I
am
in
the
not
so
young
years
of
my
God‐given
life,
I
look
back
and
say:
Lord,
thank
you
for
 giving
my
husband
and
myself
the
real
treasures
of
our
wedded
life.
Thank
you
for
entrusting
them
to
 us.
May
the
schoolmates
and
friends
of
Nancy
be
blessed
with
your
loving
care
and
endowed
with
joy,
 peace
and
material
needs.
 
 God
gives
the
children.
Husbands
and
wives
are
instruments
of
God’s
gift
of
children.

We,
the
parents
 of
our
twelve
(12)
children
are
proud
that
we
have
worked,
tried
our
very
best
to
honor
the
Creator
God
 who
gave
my
husband
and
myself
fifteen
(15)
souls
to
take
care
of,
and
give
them
back
to
their
Creator
 when
the
given
Creator’s
destiny
comes.
 
 Here
are
some
advices
that
my
mother
instilled
in
us,
her
children.
 1. 
To
think
our
self
to
be
true...
and
it
follows
just
as
night
follows
the
day,
you
cannot
be
false
to
 anyone.
 2. All
relationships
must
be
attuned
to
God’s
guidance.
Money
is
a
gift
or
a
hindrance
depending
 on
 one’s
 attitude
 of
 it.
 Success,
 money
 and
 career
 –
 if
 dedicated
 to
 God’s
 providence
 are
 worth
 achieving.
Any
other
goals
are
not
worth
achieving.
 3. Children
and
grandchildren
are
not
.
.
.
and
should
not
.
.
.be
raised
according
to
“the
book”.
God
 directs,
(and)
parents
listen
and
adhere
to
the
directions
God
leads
them
to.
 4. Health,
nutrition
and
beauty
tips
are
very
individually
applied.
 5. Creativity
 and
 self‐expression
 are
 as
 personal
 as
 God
 has
 endowed
 (them)
 individually
 and
 personally;
not
by
the
book
as
much
as
possible.
 6. Competitiveness
is
a
personal
gift.
Virtue
and
capacity
should
be
developed
accordingly.”
 
 (From
 Tita
 Nena’s
 own
 handwritten
 notes
 given
 to
 Gang
 by
 Nancy
 at
 Minda’s
 November
 25
 birthday
 party.)

Nina Valencia’s Mom – Corazon Castillo Valencia March 5,1925 - December 16, 2006

December
16,2012
 
 This
 tribute
 comes
 in
 so
 timely
 since
 today
 is
 so
 special
 for
 our
 family.
 It
 
 has
 been
 6
 years
 ago
 that
 my
 beloved
 Mother
 embraced
God’s
light.
Today
also
 ushers
in
the
first
day
of
Misa
de
 Gallo
 (Simbang
 Gabi
 to
 us
 Filipinos).
 What
 a
 beautiful
 day
 to
 return
 to
 your
 Creator
 especially
 because
 my
 Mom
 was
 a
 devotee
 of
 this
 nine‐day
 dawn
 mass
ritual!
 
 Since
 I
 am
 the
 eldest
 girl,
 the
 second
 in
 a
 family
 of
 seven,
 I
 have
grown
close
to
her.
She
was
 not
 only
 my
 MOTHER
 but
 she
 was
 my
 friend,
 my
 phone
 pal,
 travel
 companion
 and
 now
 my
 prayer
warrior
 in
 heaven.
 I
 have
 been
teased
by
my
siblings
that
I
 am,
 not
 only
 the
 apple
 of
 my
 Dad’s
 eyes,
 but
 also
 my
 Mom’s
 favorite!


 
 My
 MOM
 was
 a
 WOMAN
 OF
 FAITH.
 I
 have
 witnessed
 this
 when
our
brother
Joey
was
born
 with
 cerebral
 palsy
 when
 I
 was
 nine
 years
 old.
 Instead
 of
 wallowing
 in
 self‐pity,
 my
 parents
turned
to
the
Lord
giving
 their
 time
 and
 my
 Mom
 her
 talent
 as
 Rollista
 (Speaker)
 and
 Rectora
 (Coordinator)
 in
 the
 Cursillo,
the
predecessor
of
Charismatic
Movement.
Later
on
they
devoted
their
time,
too,
in
 the
 Christian
 Family
 Movement,
 Catholic
 Lay
 Ministry,
 Immaculate
 Conception
 Parish
 Pastoral
Council.

She
then
became
active
too
with
the
Catholic
Women’s
League
where
she
 held
 various
 positions
 in
 the
 national
 board
 from
 Treasurer,
 Secretary
 and
 Vice‐President
 (though
she
was
offered
several
times
the
most
coveted
position
as
the
President
which
she
 has
declined).
The
CWL
conventions
has
brought
her
to
different
parts
of
the
country
(yes,
 from
 Aparri
 to
 Jolo,
 as
 she
 would
 say,
 just
 like
 the
 Philippine
 ad)
 and
 the
 world,
 meeting
 many
 personalities
 like
 Bishops
 of
 different
 diocese,
 dignitaries
 like
 Cardinal
 Sin,
 Hilary
 Clinton,
Blessed
Mother
Teresa
and
Blessed
Pope
John
Paul
II.
It
was
through
her
example
 that
drew
me
to
serve
the
Lord’s
vineyard.
But
certainly
I
pale
in
her
achievements!
During
 family
crises,
she
would
pray
unceasingly,
storming
heaven
with
her
Masses
and
rosaries!

Nina Valencia’s Mom – Corazon Castillo Valencia March 5,1925 - December 16, 2006

My
MOM
was
a
LOVING
WOMAN
to
the
love
of
her
life.
She
shared
me
her
secret
of


loving
 your
husband‐‐
hold
him
like
the
sand
in
your
hands,
not
too
tight
that
you
might
smother
 him
but
not
too
loose,
too,
lest
he
goes
astray.
Just
right
in
your
cupped
palms.
She
would
 always
be
smartly
dressed
to
the
end.
In
fact
when
she
visited
me
in
Negros
where
I
stayed
 in
 the
 beginning
 of
 my
 marriage,
 she
 saw
 my
 disheveled
 look
 while
 I
 was
 pregnant.
 She
 reprimanded
 me
 to
 make
 myself
 attractive
 again
 for
 my
 husband.
 That
 I
 should
 never
 let
 myself
go
(read,
don’t
take
care
of
my
looks)
encouraged
me
to
diet
and
go
on
daily
exercise
 regimen
like
her!
 
 My
MOM
was
TRULY
MOTHERLY.
Though
she
is
not
the
protective
doting
one,
she
ensured
 that
all
seven
of
us
got
her
love,
care
and
attention.
Our
birthdays,
Christmas
and
New
year
 were
always
something
special!
In
fact,
this
redounded
to
her
grandchildren.
After
my
Dad
 died,
 she
 spent
 special
 bonding
 time
 with
 them
 during
 their
 birthdays.
 This
 is
 what
 my
 children
will
forever
cherish!
She
has
built
us
a
home
we
would
love
to
come
home
to!
 
 My
MOM
was
die‐cut
MANAGER.
Whether
it
be
in
the
kitchen,
the
office
or
just
organizing
a
 family
reunion.
In
the
kitchen,
she
may
not
be
an
expert
cook
but,
she
was
a
gourmet,
who
 loved
good
food
(of
course
with
some
training
from
my
Dad!).
She
made
sure
that
she
got
a
 good
cook
trained
by
my
Dad’s
mom
and
luckily
stayed
with
us
for
forty
years!
She
ensured
 that
 her
 whole
 brood
 was
 well
 fed
 and
 will
 never
 go
 hungry!
 This
 explains
 our
 constant
 battle
with
the
bulge!
All
the
office
businesses
of
my
father
were
ably
run
by
my
Mom.
I
saw
 how
 my
 Dad
 was
 so
 dependent
 on
 my
 mother
 on
 so
 many
 things,
 especially
 in
 terms
 of
 business.
 
 Even
 during
 Christmas
 family
 reunion
 she
 would
 lead
 her
 sisters
 in
 setting
 up
 games,
gifts
and
of
course,
the
menu
cooked
by
our
family
“chef”.


 
 My
MOM
was
a
true
LEADER.
She
was
someone
ahead
of
her
times
when
the
wife
was
just
 confined
in
the
house.
She
joined
my
father
in
running
the
family
business
from
taxicabs
to
 ships
to
retail
leasing.
In
every
community
she
would
live,
she
would
actively
participate

in
 volunteering
her
service
to
the
church
and
village.

 

 
My
MOM
was
a
true
WOMAN
OF
STEEL.
While
she
was
in
a
coma
for
almost
six
years
due
to
 anaphylactic
 (allergic)
 shock,
 I
 have
 witnessed
 through
 her
 illness
 how
 my
 MOM,
 once
 so
 full
of
life
has
deteriorated
into
half
her
size
just
tied
to
her
bed
with
only
her
head
and
eyes
 moving.
Yet
in
her
silence,
she
left
us
a
legacy
of
courage,
patience
and
sacrifice
she
endured
 for
love
of
God
and
her
family.
 
 My
MOM
was
a
real
CHRISTMAS
PERSON.
She
was
always
giving.
It
is
indeed
true
that
“in
 life
so
it
is
in
death.”
During
her
hospital
confinement
for
three
months
and
wake
after
six
 years,
 we
 were
 overwhelmed
 by
 sheer
 number
 of
 sympathizers
 whose
 lives
 she
 had
 touched.
 Priests
 came
 one
 after
 the
 other
 to
 celebrate
 mass
 for
 her.
 So
 did
 the
 various
 organizations,
 too.
 Her
 wake
 was
 a
 joyful
 celebration
 of
 her
 everyday
 Christmas
 life.
 We
 truly
miss
her
so
much
but
we
know
in
our
hearts
as
my
brother
Mike
expressed
in
eulogy
 for
her,
”my
MOM
decided
to
celebrate
her
Christmas
in
heaven”!
 
 This
was
her
picture
of
happiness
and
bliss
during
her
75th
birthday,
it
was
her
last
grand
 party
on
March
5,
2000.
It
was
after
her
celebration
where
she
said
“after
hearing
all
your
 tribute
to
me,
I
have
heard
my
eulogy
while
I’m
alive
so
I
can
already
die!”

Noemi Yatco’s Mom – Milagros Consul Yatco

Name: MILAGROS CONSUL YATCO. Wife of Judge Antonio O. Yatco and a mother of seven (7) children. She was a homemaker and at the same time an entrepreneur in her own way. Born on ....November 27, 1925 and passed away on August 14, 1990 at age 64 yrs. For us family, we lost her too soon. She was orphaned at a very early age, her father passed away before she was born, her mother shortly thereafter...she didn't experience the love of her parents and one would wonder how she was able to give so much love to all of us. She devoted her whole life not for her own wellbeing but for the wellbeing of her family... a selfless woman who thought of others first before herself. There are still a lot to say about Mom.....but what sums her best.....is that she had a heart bigger than herself....and for us....her children....she's one tough act to follow.

Peachi Santos-Viola’s Mom - Caridad Nakpil Santos-Viola

Ang Bunsong Anak ng Katipunera Si “Nay” (tawag ng aking (Ta)Tay at talong nakakatandang Theresians na kapatid) o si “Ma” (kami naman ng aking bunso at nag-iisang lalaking kapatid) ay bunsong anak ni Gregoria de Jesus at Julio Nakpil kaya buntot siya ng aking lola. Siya ay lumaki kasama hindi lamang ng limang kapatid, tatlong pinsan, at isang dosenang tiyo at tiya sa isang malaking bahay sa Barbosa, Quiapo ni Dr. Ariston Bautista (asawa ng kapatid ng Lolo Julio ko) na ngayon ay isang museo na, Bahay Nakpil. Sanay siya sa ganitong buhay kaya ibig niya ay lahat kaming magkakapatid ay kupkop sa bahay naming sa Kanlaon. Ay! Hanggang ngayon kaming apat na “Marias” ay sama-sama pa rin dito sa hirap at ginhawa. Bilang anak ng rebolusiyonaryo/ya, siya ay matapang nguni’t mapagmahal, madasalin at matulungin lalung lalo na sa kakambal kong simbahan, Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. Katulad niya, parang kulang ang araw ko kung hindi ako makasimba. Sa kanya ko nakuha ang katapangan kaya hindi ako masyadong takot magtaksing magisa sa kalaliman ng gabi o maglagalag magisa sakay ng TTC ng Toronto at suyurin ito. Bakit?

Peachi Santos-Viola’s Mom - Caridad Nakpil Santos-Viola Ang napamana niya sa akin mula pa sa aking Lola Oryang (na pinamana ko sana sa aking anak nguni’t…umaasa sa dalawa kong anghel) ay BUO ANG LOOB. Naglakbay ang aking Lola dala-dala ang mga dokumento at sulat ng Katipunan sa kanyang dibdib; naglakbay ang aking ina sa kanyang buhay na maraming pagsubok dala-dala ang mga ito sa kanyang dibdib. Katulat nila, naglalakbay pa rin ako sa buhay na maraming suliranin. Kapag tinatanong ako, “Paano mo nakakaya?” Ang tinig ng aking lola at ina ay laging umaalingaw-ngaw sa aking kaibuturan, BUO ANG LOOB. Malugod kong ibinabahagi din sa inyo. Lola Oryang’s Galantina Si Lola Oryang ay magaling magluto. Kapag nanggaling sa paglalakbay sa Europa si Lolo Ariston, tatawagin niya ang aking Lola at sasabihin niya kung ano ang kinain niya na masaarap. Alam na ng Lola ko kung paano lutuin sa kwento lang ni Lolo. Ang isang paborito na iniluluto ni Lola at laging hinihahanda kapag lalung-lalo na sa Pista ng Poong Nazareno at Pasko ay GALANTINA. Hanggang ngayon na sa akin pa ang mga kagamitang ni Lola pangalis ng buto ng manok spagkat ipinamana sa akin ni “Ma’ ang paggawa ni Lola. Ibabahagi ko sa inyo ang recipe: 1 ½ salchichas (Pork sausage, tinadtad) ½ k giniling na baboy 1 inahen na manok 1 tasang hamon na tinadtad 1 carrot julienne style 1 dill pickle, tinadtad o julienne style 3 kutsarang arina 3 pulang itlog 1 lutong itlong sliced Vino blanco Asin at paminta Ihalo ang lahat na sangkap (carrot at itlog ay hindi kasama) Alisan ng buto ang manok (likod ang hiwa). Ingatan huwag mabutas ang balat; ipasok ang leeg, paa, at pakpak sa loob Lagyan ng asin, paminta, vino blanco Ilagay ang hinalong sangkap Ihilera ang carrot at itlog Tahiin ang manok Ibalot sa katsa na mahigpit ang bilog na manok Pakuluan ito kasama ang mga buto ng mga isang oras o hanggang lumawag ang katsa. Ilagay sa refrigerator.

Priscilla “Baby” de Guzman Debler’s Mom – Gloria “Yoya” Ramirez de Guzman

Snippets of My Mom My Mom was and accountant and homemaker. For maybe 20 years or more, mom would wake up at 3 a.m., light a candle and pray. I know she has prayed for us all our lives. From when I was a little girl to my college years I remember putting my head on her lap and falling asleep in car trips long or short. In the Philippines Mom would cook a lot of dishes for us at every meal. One time I asked why she had to have several types of food. She said she didn’t want her kids to go hungry and better more than lacking. Mom taught me my first lessons on orchid growing. Now I have put that to good use in my orchid nursery in Apopka. She loves gardening to this day. I went to an orchid sale with her at a friend’s home recently and I think I took too long in picking out stuff I wanted, that she started weeding the flower beds of the owner. All my friends wanted to hire her!

Priscilla “Baby” de Guzman Debler’s Mom – Gloria “Yoya” Ramirez de Guzman Mom just celebrated her 90th birthday with us here in Florida. My daughter and my siblings came from far and near. We had a little get-together with our cousins who live here. My mom had a blast! All my brothers and all the male relatives danced with her, each handing her a red rose. This is the first time I’ve seen her dance, really. She was so excited and happy. My sister, Joji, had a beautiful birthday poem for her. MAMA YOU WERE BORN NO. 7 OUT OF 13 AND THAT BALANCED IT ALL. YOU ARE YOUR SISTERS’ GO TO PERSON YOU'RE OFTEN ON CALL. YOU WERE DAD’S ROCK, THE WOMAN BEHIND THE MAN. YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR YOUR KIDS READY TO HELP WHENEVER YOU CAN. THEY SAY DAUGHTERS BECOME LIKE THEIR MOTHERS I SEE A LITTLE BIT OF YOU IN ME. THAT CAN BE BOTH GOOD AND BAD BUT THAT’S HOW IT’S MEANT TO BE. FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE AND ALL THAT YOU’RE STILL ABLE TO DO I AM THANKFUL TO GOD THAT YOU’RE CELEBRATING YOUR 90TH WITH YOUR LOVED ONES IN FLORIDA TOO. 31 OCTOBER 2012 I’ve lived in the US for sometime now but for me “HOME” is wherever my mom is. I am grateful to have a mother who loves me.

Maria Luisa “Pudy” Lukban Punsalan’s Mom – Esperanza “Pacing” Gonzalez Lukban 29 October 1913 – 15 Nov 2011

Major Achievements of Mom Home Economics Professor at Centro Escolar till 1943 when she became full-time housewife, and later mother to me and my two older sisters. When she was widowed at 73, she became a very active member of the Catholic Women’s League. She wore that blue and white uniform with the CWL medal with pride – just like we wore our own blue and white with STC pin on the bow. Mom’s Beauty Tips I remember many trips to Botica Boie in Escolta. Those doors were awesome!!!! I could not stop going out again and again, so I could enter, again and again, through those magic doors. This would go on until mom’s mission was completed - to buy her supply of Ponds Cold Cream, in those magnum milk white jars. The only thing that uplifted me after the good-byes to the doors was the bagful of those big tubes of plastic balloon (made in America, available only in Botica Boie, not like the cheap 3 in a pack sold at Bergs Department Store). She would get me not just one, but all colors!!!! Mom swore by her Ponds till the very end which became a challenge when we moved to the States. (“Ma naman who uses Ponds in Clinique nation?”) But nothing is impossible to a woman who prayed like she did – so lo and behold, behind the automatic doors (no longer magical) of good old Woolworth (“Ma naman, who shops at Woolworth when Macy’s is in every block?”) were Ponds galore - not anymore in those heavy jars but in cheap white plastic jars attempting to be like jars of long ago. (BTW, the authentic ones are sold empty in antique stores for $10.) At her wake in 2001, a pink lipstick was all she needed. Her 86 years did not show much. Always a picture of poise and elegance - until her youngest would do something shameless in public. (C’mon classmates, I suffered from chronic ear infections.)

Maria Luisa “Pudy” Lukban Punsalan’s Mom – Esperanza “Pacing” Gonzalez Lukban 29 October 1913 – 15 Nov 2011

Officer Tess once said “I hate my mom, she was always more beautiful than I, even when she got old..” Oh Tess, I can so relate!!! We’re both 61 below – que barbaridad naman my wrinkles.

My Mom’s Way of Character Forming She was not one to give pep talks – that was left mainly to lawyer dad. She was shy, and softspoken, that is, if and when she ever spoke. She would sometimes blurt out classic clichés to deliver a message. Among them, which has become my mantra when I am provoked to be catty is – “If you have nothing nice to say, shut up”. But she did have an original one just for me – “You’re a kind person, Pudy, but Fred is much kinder.” Duh? There was a sense of tender craftiness in her way of shaping character. For instance, I grew up believing in myself as a sungka queen – although I wondered why I constantly beat mom, and yet she constantly beat my dad. 28 years ago, I watched her play the same act as she let my 2 year old son’s Hungry Hungry Hippos mercilessly devour all her marbles. My Mom – Quiet, Calm but Strong – and Always Had Faith in God My performance evaluation report at the UN generally would say -- “works well under pressure, with quiet and effective leadership”. I think that’s osmosis at work – mom to me. For mom was indeed grace under fire, in her life as a wife of a military man, and a public official. She had reasons to be nervous each time dad left for work because of the nature of his profession. I know she drew her strength from quietly and daily surrendering our family to the Good Lord, rosary in hand, always asking Mother Mary to intercede.

Maria Luisa “Pudy” Lukban Punsalan’s Mom – Esperanza “Pacing” Gonzalez Lukban 29 October 1913 – 15 Nov 2011

But career life was my easy journey – after all there were books and management trainings for any kind of professional challenge. It is now that I feel and appreciate the “osmosis” -- now as I (sorry ladies, kayo rin, except for Madame Yasay who insists she’s 50) navigate towards the 7th decade of life (and beyond, God willing) where challenges are somewhat unknown. To have mom’s life as a resource material at this stage of my life tops whatever AARP has to say. She died on my 50th birthday. I reflect on how fortunate I have been to have had her for a relatively long time, to already have the maturity to accept the loss. That was on 15 November 2001, also the time when some classmates were visiting from out of town. How blessed was I to have been comforted by such true and loving friends. The same comforting embrace from classmates welcomed me when I finally reached home for Mom’s funeral. I think of classmates who lost a parent when we were in grade school, when our sisterhood was not yet in full bloom to be of comfort to them.

Mom was a Marian devotee till the very end (I could still picture her in her white dress with the Lourdes blue sash wrapped around her waist). She was so faithful to her novena for a happy death, which I used to think as strangely morose. I was told that at her last hour, she kept mumbling about a beautiful lady, and then finally called out “Mama ko.” Her transition was peaceful and painless... and yes, happy.

Sandra Rovero Cox’s Mom - Teofila "Mama Pilang" Rovero

Sandra with Mama Pilang, a dearly beloved mother who is caring and compassionate.

Susan Ortega’s Mom – Daisy Janer Ortega

My mother, Daisy Janer Ortega is a lady of grace & devotion.

Most of her childhood and student years were spent as an intern at St. Agnes in Legaspi City and at St. Scholastica in Manila because when they were alive, my grandparents were very busy tending to their rice, coconut and abaca plantations in Sorsogon & Marinduque as well as the ice cream factory in Albay. The Nuns of both her schools gave her one of the greatest gifts she has carried with her throughout her life and her travels: the gift of prayer (a rich complement to my grandparents reliance on God for fruitful harvests). At St. Scholastica's College of Music, my mother majored in Piano. There, she also formed a tight friendship with seven other interns who became her best friends & "reunion" mates until she and my dad moved to the United States of America. It was during one summer vacation that she met my father at my grandparent’s ice cream shop. My father was a young engineer then, contracted to build the hospital in Daraga, Albay. (This is the same hospital where I was born 2 years later.) They met in the summer of 1950 and by September of that year, they had gotten married. (It was "love at first sight," according to those who knew them then... it also was a "whirlwind courtship.") I have 3 sisters and 5 brothers. In all the years I have lived with my mother, I have NEVER heard her utter an unkind word or phrase about anyone. And, she does not know how to cuss nor use derogatory words either. Instead, we often heard the following phrases from her: " Do your best and God will do the rest" " Smile and the other will smile... and after awhile, there will be miles and miles of smiles, just because you smiled" "When someone throws 'stones or unkind words' at you, just pray for them... leave it up to God" " Always pray... at the very least, it will ease your heart & mind..." (by the way, all nine of us call her to pray for us before an interview, an exam, or any circumstance where we may need extra help from God; even our kids have learned to ask "Lola" to pray for them before an exam or a job interview.) And, when we occasionally disappoint her or unwittingly hurt her feelings, she goes to a quiet corner, cries silently... and prays for us with all her heart. Even now, as she suffers occasional dementia, PRAYER remains her constant companion... LOVE OF GOD & FAMILY, the only world she knows.

Susan Pineda’s Moms TATLONG INA Si Nanay, si Mama, si Tita Remy. Tatlong inang nais kong alayan ng pagdiriwang. Nanay. Nagbalik sa aking gunita ang aking kabataan, sa piling ng aking inang mahal. Kaisa-isa akong anak na babae ni Nanay kaya’t ganon na lang ang pagmamahal na iniukol niya sa akin. Maganda at masaya ang naging samahan namin. Lumaki akong nakinig sa kanyang mga payo at pangaral. Dahil sa kanya’y hindi ako nalulong sa anumang kalokohang nauso noong aking kabataan: ang paninigarilyo at ang pag-inom ng alak na wala sa lugar, ang paghithit ng LSD, paglabas nang nag-iisa kasama ang kalalakihan. Pati sa pananamit, naging uso man, ay hindi ko nakuhang magdisplay ng mga parte ng katawan na hindi dapat makita ng madla. Sa pagpili naman ng mapapangasawa ay lalo kong tinangkilik ang payo ni Nanay, kaya’t naging maganda ang takbo ng aking buhay ngayon. Malumanay ang kanyang pananalita. Mahinhin at reserved ang kanyang mga kilos. Hindi ko siya nakitang humalakhak nang napakalakas sa harap ng karamihan. Ang paminsan-minsang pagbulalas ko ng tawa sa mga pagtitipon ay kanyang binigyang pansin. Hindi raw magandang tingnan sa isang dalaga ang ganoong kilos. Ngayon ko na lang pinababayaan ang sarili kong tumawa nang masaganang-masagana, mag-isa man ako o kaya’y kasama ang mga kaibigang babae at lalaki. Sa kasalukuyang buhay-buhay ay kailangan ng release upang hindi matalo ng stress. Hindi ako pala make-up noon hanggang ngayon. Naalala ko lang ang sinabi niyang kasalanan na ng babae kung pangit siyang tingnan sa mundo ng mga pampaganda. Hindi naman siguro ako yung tinutukoy na pangit. Ang lagay eh huwag pahuhuli na nagmumukhang tsonggong puyat! Lagi akong ipinagmamalaki ni Nanay kahit kanino, kamag-anak o kaibigan man. Dahil dito ay natutunan kong mahalin at igalang ang aking sarili, ang aking pagkatao. Ngayon ko lalong naipamamalas ang mga katangiang ipinamulat sa akin ni Nanay. Siya ang naging magandang halimbawa at gabay sa aking buhay. Maraming taon nang wala si Nanay subali’t alam kong nakasubaybay pa rin siya sa akin at sa amin. Si Mama ay si mother-in-law. Siya ang inang nagmahal at sumubaybay sa kapakanan ni Alex at ng kanyang pamilya -- kami nina Zar-Aivy-Raychelle-Gieselle-Aaron-Abigail; Jason-IreneXander-Dominic; at Kyte. Isang madasaling ina si Mama. Lagi kaming kasama sa kanyang mga panalangin kaya’t laging may nakalaang grasya para sa amin. Ipinamulat niya sa amin ni Alex ang kahalagahan ng pamumuhay ng simple at malapit sa Diyos. Sa ganitong pamamaraan din namin itinataguyod ang aming mga anak. Malalaki na sila nguni’t marunong silang lumingon sa kanilang pinagmulan. Alam nilang hindi lang karangyaan at kaginhawahan ang tanging dahilan ng pagsusumikap. May responsibilidad din sa kapwa ang bawa’t isa sa kanila. Wala na si Mama nguni’t ang kanyang mga kuro-kuro sa kabuhayan, pamilya, Biblia, at kagandahang-loob ay buhay sa aming mga puso.

Susan Pineda’s Moms Ipinamalas ni Tita Remy na maaari rin akong magmahal ng isang stepmother. Sa maikling panahon ng aming bonding, nadama ko ang tapat na pagkalinga niya sa akin. Hindi siya ang typical stepmother na isinasalarawan sa mga comics at pelikula. Marahil ay sadyang ibinigay siya sa akin ng Diyos upang maranasan ko ang ibang uri ng pagmamahal maliban kay Nanay. Magandang pagkakaibigan ang namagitan sa amin ni Tita Remy. Dahil na rin ito sa ipinakita niyang katapatan at walang pagkukunwari. Wala na rin si Tita Remy nguni’t siya ang dahilan kung bakit naging palagay ang loob kong nasa mabuting kamay ang aking ama. Siya ang nagsilbing kasangga niya sa araw-araw na pamumuhay. Tatlo ang aking nagging ina. Lahat sila ay nagmahal sa akin. Lahat sila ay minahal ko. Pagpalain nawa sila ng Panginoon.

Teresita Naila “Teri” Frianeza Kullberg’s Mom – Fernanda de la Cueva Frianeza

Major
Achievements
of
Mother:

 
  Master’s
Degree
in
Pharmacy,
University
of
the
Philippines
  Graduated
valedictorian
from
High
School
at
age
14,
accelerated
two
times
  Successful
business
woman
with
her
own
drugstore
  Her
three
kids
  Learning
oil
painting
at
age
65
 
 Advise/Sayings
from
Mother:
 
  Life
and
Living
–
Do
not
wait
for
tomorrow
whatever
you
need
to
accomplish
today.
  Relationships
–
Deal
with
people
as
you
want
to
be
treated;
Integrity
is
important.
  Pursuing
your
dreams
–
Work
hard
and
earn
your
credits;
Be
independent.
  Raising
Children
and
Grandchildren
–
Be
careful
especially
with
babies
and
toddlers.
  Health,
nutrition
and
beauty
tips
–
Do
not
drink
coke!
Be
healthy.
  Creativity
and
self‐expression
–
Allow
yourself
to
imagine!

Teresita Naila “Teri” Frianeza Kullberg’s Mom – Fernanda de la Cueva Frianeza

At
86,
going
87
years
old,
my
Mom
can
easily
climb
stairs,
even
if
winding
and
narrow.
My
daughter’s
 apartment
 has
 46
 steps
 in
 all
 to
 reach
 her
 doorstep
 and
 my
 Mom
 was
 able
 to
 climb
 it.
 She
 has
 also
 travelled
to
the
Philippines
all
by
herself,
not
telling
me
about
it
and
managed
on
her
own!
She
is
still
 very
independent
and
does
not
think
of
herself
as
being
old!

Of
course,
she
does
not
walk
as
fast
as
she
 did
a
few
years
back
but
she
still
goes
around
easily
with
her
cane.

Tess Sevilla’s Mom - Aurora Lucero-Sevilla

Gone But Not Forgotten To my sweet loving mama, who stood as my rock, shield and fortress. Thank you so much for the unconditional love, care, teachings and sacrifices made for molding me to who I am today. I still cry to this day and ask God why He has taken you away but now I understand that He had to put you in a beautiful spot in Heaven where you belong. I will always cherish you in my heart. How lucky I am to have you as my dear Mama who has given so much love and did not want anything in return. I miss you and now you are‌ Gone but not Forgotten! Your loving daughter, Tess

Tina Sabido’s Mom – Irene Mendoza Sabido

IRENE MENDOZA SABIDO, known as Nene, called by all... NANAY 87 yrs old, turning 88 on April 5, 2013. HOW CAN I BEST DESCRIBE MY NANAY... someone who in her entire life as a wife and a mother of 4 (3 sons and 1 daughter-me) has dedicated her whole life to raising and caring for her family; couldn’t care less if her career never progressed as long as she knows that her children were raised in the best of moral values, kindness, respect, ethics and integrity; she is someone who was not exempted from the hurts of married life, its ups and downs, but someone who never gave up on such a beautiful union with my dad for all of their 65 years of married life; someone who never got tired of loving and forgiving;

Tina Sabido’s Mom – Irene Mendoza Sabido someone who made sure that all her children were guided in their lives, bringing out the best in them and teaching them how to be good mother and fathers to their own children; someone who was willing to make the big sacrifice of leaving “home” in order to help her daughter who needed to start a new life away from home; someone whose love for us can never be measured because it is equivalent to her giving up her own wants, desires and life for her family… To you, NANAY, I will forever be grateful… you are not just my mother but also my sister, my best friend, my confidant, my sounding board and most of all my mediatrix and bridge to our God, most especially in my most difficult times. THANK YOU for teaching me how to put all my trust in the love of God so radiantly reflected in your love for me and my brothers and Dad and all your grandchildren. You will always be my HERO, my role model, my most cherished gift from God. THANK YOU, Nanay, you are a great & passionate woman, a loving mother, grandmother and wife… we love you, NANAY...

Veda Banez’s Mom – Vesta Borbon Banez

“HOME IS WHERE LIFE BEGINS, HOME IS WHERE THE HEART REMAINS." “… So there was Papa (Gov. Julio V. Borbon) and I just walking up and down under the pergola, and he was talking to me - as he always did whenever we were walking or sitting down together - and I cannot remember anything else that he talked to me about then, but that the sessions were always full of ‘teachings’ from the Bible, or his philosophy books, or his own widely-amassed personal wisdom. The one ‘teaching’ that stuck in my mind indelibly though, was what he always told me very close to my ears, every night in my childhood when he tucked me in bed after our regular nightly prayers together...

Veda Banez’s Mom – Vesta Borbon Banez

He always whispered very distinctly to me: ‘GOD GIVES YOU...’ and he taught me to answer always, confidently and without one iota of a doubt... WISDOM, HEALTH and INTEGRITY! And that, all my life I never forgot to remember nor to live by! That, by the way, was my priceless introduction to the potent art of auto-suggestion.” Vesta Borbon Banez June 21, 1920 - Nov. 25, 2003