2011 MOTHERS' SPECIAL
May 2001 was a very busy month for the Simbahay Staff so we were unable to put together a Mother's Day Special, instead, we came up with a Mother's Special this September, as we honor the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, God’s Mother and our own.
Blessed Mother, guide our mothers, that they too may lead us to your Son, just as you showed them. May they imitate your love and devotion. May we in turn, be loving, understanding, patient and supportive of our nanay, mommy ,inang, mama , inay , ma, mom, nanang. . .
We pray for special blessings for all our mothers, living and departed in your Son’s holy Name. Amen.
Blessed Mother, guide our mothers, that they too may lead us to your Son, just as you showed them. May they imitate your love and devotion. May we in turn, be loving, understanding, patient and supportive of our nanay, mommy ,inang, mama , inay , ma, mom, nanang. . .
We pray for special blessings for all our mothers, living and departed in your Son’s holy Name. Amen.
GOOD TIMES WITH MOM
By Selene Po
The best memory about my mom is every single minute I spend with her- from her picking me up from school to shopping time. She has always been there for me from the sweet good night messages to the "do your homework properly". She looks after me all the time and I am extremely proud of what she has done for me. My mom has sacrificed her life to have me even making my dreams come true. Being the only child, I love having my mom all to myself. I am very proud of what she has done for me and I can’t thank her enough. I love you mommy!
The best memory about my mom is every single minute I spend with her- from her picking me up from school to shopping time. She has always been there for me from the sweet good night messages to the "do your homework properly". She looks after me all the time and I am extremely proud of what she has done for me. My mom has sacrificed her life to have me even making my dreams come true. Being the only child, I love having my mom all to myself. I am very proud of what she has done for me and I can’t thank her enough. I love you mommy!
MIRROR OF LOVE
By Grace Mercado
4th year A.B Mass Communications,
Adamson University
Some people often told us that that I and my mother are look-alike, well, the actuality never lies. She is the reflection of my visage, of my standpoint in life, of my existence. As I continue to walk on the thoroughfare of life, she serves as my security blanket from any predicaments or dilemma. She always provides abiding love to her daughters despite of some
misunderstandings between us. I should not wonder why she became a compassionate and caring mother; it’s all because of her mother too, my grandmother. Thus, the mother is indeed the reflection of her children.
In some point of my life, I felt somehow I’m yearning for a maternal love. The feeling is like an infant whining for a cup of Gerber or whooping for some pasalubong from her mother. But God truly answered my prayers that someday I will feel the zest of her company, and that is what happening at present. In times of woe or anxiety, she is always there to alleviate any unease feelings. I admit I have always been a stubborn daughter to her, perhaps, importunate sometimes. Generally, I adore my mom, I’m her updated reflection.
4th year A.B Mass Communications,
Adamson University
Some people often told us that that I and my mother are look-alike, well, the actuality never lies. She is the reflection of my visage, of my standpoint in life, of my existence. As I continue to walk on the thoroughfare of life, she serves as my security blanket from any predicaments or dilemma. She always provides abiding love to her daughters despite of some
misunderstandings between us. I should not wonder why she became a compassionate and caring mother; it’s all because of her mother too, my grandmother. Thus, the mother is indeed the reflection of her children.
In some point of my life, I felt somehow I’m yearning for a maternal love. The feeling is like an infant whining for a cup of Gerber or whooping for some pasalubong from her mother. But God truly answered my prayers that someday I will feel the zest of her company, and that is what happening at present. In times of woe or anxiety, she is always there to alleviate any unease feelings. I admit I have always been a stubborn daughter to her, perhaps, importunate sometimes. Generally, I adore my mom, I’m her updated reflection.
OUR MOTHER, OUR LADY…
by Juan Francisco Gonzalez
10 years old, Gr 4, Xavier School
Knights of the Altar
All of us have a mother at home, who gave birth to us. However, some of us belong to a special kind of family, where we have a special mother different from our birth mother.
I belong to such a family; I am ten years old and am now with my Mama, whom I consider my “Real Mother” since I was two days old. My mother legally adopted my Ate and myself. We make up our family. She is a very responsible mother, hardworking. Mama always does what is best for our family. She wants us to be good in every thing we do. A reason why she can be strict, she likes for us to use time well, not wasting it on watching television and playing computer games. She says that what we do with our time can be our prayer. This is why I joined the Knights of the Altar at SJB and the Eucharistic Youth Club at Xavier School where I am a fourth grader.
Mama asks us to pray for her so she can be a good mother and a good grandmother to Raphaela, my niece. So we do! She is kind, loving and caring, our Blessed Mother must be interceding for her and many other mothers who ask for her intercession.
I go on pilgrimages with Mama. My favorites are Our Lady of Good Voyage in Antipolo, Our Lady of Manaoag in Pangasinan and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in New Manila. We also go to Stella Orientis at UAP and Mary Help of Christians at Don Bosco.
We love my Mama, she has taught us to love Mama Mary who loves us and showers us with her prayers. These help us grow in love in our family and with her Son, Jesus Christ, our Lady leads us to Jesus, her love cannot be measured. How blessed we are to have a Mama and our Blessed Mother. Edited by: PJSGonzalez
MATERNAL LOVE, GROUNDED ON SOLID ROCK OF FAITH
by Rescy Bhagwani
Divine Livelihood Ministry, Vigil Adorers
Lucy was 33 years old when on New Year’s Eve of 1969 her husband Resty, barely 39 years old, unexpectedly succumbed to heart attack, leaving her with 10 children and another one three months in her womb. While Resty was an advertising executive, Lucy was a full-time housewife.
Lucy had no time to grieve such that during her husband’s wake, she already decided on cooking food to sell to her husband’s officemates, who were very eager to patronize her.
Lucy had such deep faith that the Lord will not desert her and her children, the eldest of whom was only 14 years old. She also firmly decided that she will keep them in exclusive schools since that was the only dream she and Resty had for their children. She politely declined her in-laws’ offer to help in the tuition fees saying that she will gladly take up on their offer if necessary. She never had to call on that offer.
On the feast day of St. John Bosco in 1970, Lucy and children moved to a small place on Santillan St. near corner de la Rosa St, with a small restaurant space below and 2 little rooms upstairs. She first converted one of the rooms into a dormitory-like long and narrow room for her whole family, while the other room was used by her workers. Her kitchenette became popular among the nearby office-goers. Whenever her customers asked if her business was growing, she would reply in a smile “All my income go to my children, and since they are growing, I guess my business is growing.”
Lucy raised all her children thru her business “LSS Fastfood”. It wasn’t easy, and often she had to resort to borrowing from Indian money-lenders. She developed the “Pancit Puti” in the late 1980’s, which has become popular throughout Makati. She knows her business is a big sign of God’s unfailing providence. Just last year, when her landlord asked her to vacate her restaurant’s rented space for the pasr 25 years, she had absolutely no doubt that the L:ord will give her a good place to move into. After months of failure to find a suitable and affordable space, a neighbor offered a much smaller nearby space along de la Rosa.
Since the transfer to its new location, much smaller, but much busier, LSS Fastfood has gained many new loyal clients. Much more have been introduced to her “Pancit Puti” and to her brand of loving service. She allows half-orders of food so her clients can still enjoy more than one viand despite limited budget.
More than Lucy’s success in her business, which now benefits the families of some of her children helping her run the business, her deep faith has been infectious. Indeed, her life is a strong testimony that the Lord provides for ALL our needs, in truly awesome ways!
THE GREATEST GIFT
by: Joelle-Marie Ongpin Cuna
Youth Ministry, Information Ministry,
Lectors and Commentators Guild
It has been said that through Mary, all grace is given to men and that by the will of the Holy Trinity, she was born to be the mother of our Savior and the spiritual mother of all men. I am sure that it is through this same holy will that I was born to a mother such as mine.
So much can be written about my mom. How she excels in the field of photography as one of the very first women photographers, her passion for travel and diving, her love for life and many other talents and achievements. But none of these things can ever measure up to how she has fulfilled her role as a mother.
All throughout my life, my mom has provided me with so much love, patience, support discipline, laughter and care. She has sacrificed so much of herself raising me and my brother and has passed on so many lessons and memories that I will always treasure. Most of all, she has imparted the greatest gift, which we in truth receive from Mary. The gift of faith.
Mom, I am infinitely blessed that the example of your life has kindled my passion to grow in my faith and the desire to strive to be a living example of faith for others. Thank you mommy, I love you so much!
WHAT'S YOUR MOTHER LIKE?
By Gold Lester Sy Navea
Lectors and Commentators Guild
When you were kids, they scolded you, reprimanded you, told you that you're wrong, and punished you for mistakes that you knew you did not make.
They spanked you, grounded you, and gave you time-outs, just because you answered back, or didn't do your chores.
Then you grew up into a teenager.
She told you to be home by 9 PM, even if the party was just getting started by that time. She told you to stop being friends with the people you want to hang out with, because they weren't good company. She didn't allow you to attend sleepovers, gimmick nights, and road trips, simply because she said so.
She chose for you, she decided for you - because according to her, it was for your own good.
But you still hated her for it.
Then you graduate, and you get a job. You probably think it's because you were smart, or appealing, or just straight up job-worthy.
No, it wasn't because of that.
It was because of her. Because of the many things she sacrificed, and because of the many things she did that she knew you'd hate her for doing, but did anyway.
It was because of the strength she had. It was because of the faith she had in herself, and in you - faith which told her that you were worth all the love in the world, faith which told her that it was going to be worth it in the long run.
It was because of the lessons she taught you - like how to talk politely, how to conduct yourself properly, and how to respect others as you wish to be respected.
It wasn't because of you. It was because of her.
Every sweat, every tear, and every sacrifice she gave, was and will always be for your own good. She knew you'd hate her, but she still did it anyway.
What's your mother like?
Because that's exactly how my mother's like.
Lectors and Commentators Guild
When you were kids, they scolded you, reprimanded you, told you that you're wrong, and punished you for mistakes that you knew you did not make.
They spanked you, grounded you, and gave you time-outs, just because you answered back, or didn't do your chores.
Then you grew up into a teenager.
She told you to be home by 9 PM, even if the party was just getting started by that time. She told you to stop being friends with the people you want to hang out with, because they weren't good company. She didn't allow you to attend sleepovers, gimmick nights, and road trips, simply because she said so.
She chose for you, she decided for you - because according to her, it was for your own good.
But you still hated her for it.
Then you graduate, and you get a job. You probably think it's because you were smart, or appealing, or just straight up job-worthy.
No, it wasn't because of that.
It was because of her. Because of the many things she sacrificed, and because of the many things she did that she knew you'd hate her for doing, but did anyway.
It was because of the strength she had. It was because of the faith she had in herself, and in you - faith which told her that you were worth all the love in the world, faith which told her that it was going to be worth it in the long run.
It was because of the lessons she taught you - like how to talk politely, how to conduct yourself properly, and how to respect others as you wish to be respected.
It wasn't because of you. It was because of her.
Every sweat, every tear, and every sacrifice she gave, was and will always be for your own good. She knew you'd hate her, but she still did it anyway.
What's your mother like?
Because that's exactly how my mother's like.
DIFFERENT LOVE
by Jillian Dwayne C. Pascua
10 years old, Gr 5, St. Mary's Academy
I know that not all people are perfect, so that is why we need someone to guide us like our moms. I could not say that my mom is the number one, best or the greatest mom that ever lived but, she is just right. She is a mom which is balanced, I mean she can be angry or very happy, strict or easy, generous or not generous. She is just a right mom for a kid like me. But still, I love her, no matter what, even though I get mad at her sometimes, nothing will change my love for her.
She is actually a nice mom. I love her so much and I will do anything to let her be beside me all the time. She is actually a pretty mom to me even though I tease her sometimes, I LOVE HER SO MUCH from the bottom of my heart.
10 years old, Gr 5, St. Mary's Academy
I know that not all people are perfect, so that is why we need someone to guide us like our moms. I could not say that my mom is the number one, best or the greatest mom that ever lived but, she is just right. She is a mom which is balanced, I mean she can be angry or very happy, strict or easy, generous or not generous. She is just a right mom for a kid like me. But still, I love her, no matter what, even though I get mad at her sometimes, nothing will change my love for her.
She is actually a nice mom. I love her so much and I will do anything to let her be beside me all the time. She is actually a pretty mom to me even though I tease her sometimes, I LOVE HER SO MUCH from the bottom of my heart.
MY MOTHER, TITA SALVADOR
by Marifel Salvador-Santos
South Canterbury, New Zealand
Who would ever think that this petite and fragile-looking Cebuana, who only stands 5 feet tall, smells of fresh roses all the time and who always struts out of her room, all dolled up and ready to conquer the world, could be an earth-mover to her five children, four of whom are even boys! Yes, that’s our mother, Teresita to many, Tita to most, but ma or mommy forever to us, her children.
Mommy is a teacher of life; she is never imposing. She is a subtle and lingering force, we, her children, could never ignore. She never took away our freedom to decide on our own. And when we commit major mistakes in our lives, she will never, never blame us. Instead, In her quiet but swift swoop, she would always salvage us, she would prop us back on the right track – no questions asked, no hint at all in her body language of, “I told you so!”
There is this Jewish proverb that goes "God could not be everywhere and therefore, He made mothers".
Mommy was truly God-send for fulfilling God's mission completely to her children. We are so assured that because of her, we are closer to God and will always be, because of her fervent prayers which are her everlasting legacy to us children.
That’s how mommy is to us. She is our ultimate provider of security, strength and fathomless love which she expresses to us in such a way that is not mushy but very endearing, like a song in my heart whose words I may sometimes forget, but whose tune I will always remember.
Now isn’t that a one-of-a-kind septuagenarian Cebuana mom in the world!
WHO IS MY MOTHER TO ME?
by Charlie Segovia
10 years, Gr. 4, Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati
Marinette Segovia is my loving mother. She always takes care of me when I’m sick. She buys me stuff that I need and sometimes that I really don’t need in school. If there is someone who fights with in school, I tell it to her and she gives me advice on how to deal with it. She inspires me to become prayerful so I will have a good relationship with God. She supports me with my studies and reminds me to become a responsible student. I remember when I was a kid, I was in need of a teddy bear. When I woke up, she surprised me with that gift. And everytime that she reprimands me, I know that it’s a sign of her LOVE.-
10 years, Gr. 4, Don Bosco Technical Institute, Makati
Marinette Segovia is my loving mother. She always takes care of me when I’m sick. She buys me stuff that I need and sometimes that I really don’t need in school. If there is someone who fights with in school, I tell it to her and she gives me advice on how to deal with it. She inspires me to become prayerful so I will have a good relationship with God. She supports me with my studies and reminds me to become a responsible student. I remember when I was a kid, I was in need of a teddy bear. When I woke up, she surprised me with that gift. And everytime that she reprimands me, I know that it’s a sign of her LOVE.-
PILAR OF THE OPERA
by Jose Ma. Zaragoza, Jr
Sydney, Australia
Our mother Pilar loves the Opera; hence she was given the title of Pilar of the Opera on her 88th birthday on 8 August 2011. The celebration of my mother’s 88th birthday run for three (3) consecutive days. The first day was for all the employees with a mass at 9 am and brunch shortly after mass. There were all kinds of giveaways and the mood was very festive. The second day was lunch with all the family at home on Sunday enjoying the company of all the balikbayans. Then, the third day (8 August – Monday) was the big day at the Polo Club with an Opera flavor.
As you can gather from the above, our mother Pilar loves her employees, her children and her friends very much. She is full of love and indeed a very generous (giving) person to the extreme. If I were to describe my mother in one word, it would be Kindness. Apart from her charitable nature, my mother is a very kind person. Her tenderness and kindness enveloped with love is something that I cherish most about Pilar of the Opera. My brothers, sisters and I love her as the most wonderful mother in the world.
It is really difficult to describe my mother from my own eyes. When I was a young rebel, she was my protector against the beatings I would get from my father. When I was at the dating stage, she was my financier so I could date the most beautiful girls in Manila (and I did!). She was also responsible for my being able to get my Master of Science in Engineering Degree from Stanford University in the USA. She was the only one who had faith in me. My mother travelled with me to the USA to look into my accommodation outside the University. On my birthday while I was studying abroad, she actually arranged a party for me via long distance with all the other Students in the house I was renting. She is quite an operator. When I arrived back in the Philippines after my studies, she actually got me a job at AG&P because of a contact she made on one of her trips abroad. When I got back home, she was my confidant and we were really very close. In fact, we were so close that whenever I would break-up with my many girl friends, she would be the one that would be more broken-hearted than me. As you can see, my mother is everything to me through all the various stages in my life. I love her dearly! I am the luckiest person in the world to have such a mother as Pilar!!!
Sydney, Australia
Our mother Pilar loves the Opera; hence she was given the title of Pilar of the Opera on her 88th birthday on 8 August 2011. The celebration of my mother’s 88th birthday run for three (3) consecutive days. The first day was for all the employees with a mass at 9 am and brunch shortly after mass. There were all kinds of giveaways and the mood was very festive. The second day was lunch with all the family at home on Sunday enjoying the company of all the balikbayans. Then, the third day (8 August – Monday) was the big day at the Polo Club with an Opera flavor.
As you can gather from the above, our mother Pilar loves her employees, her children and her friends very much. She is full of love and indeed a very generous (giving) person to the extreme. If I were to describe my mother in one word, it would be Kindness. Apart from her charitable nature, my mother is a very kind person. Her tenderness and kindness enveloped with love is something that I cherish most about Pilar of the Opera. My brothers, sisters and I love her as the most wonderful mother in the world.
It is really difficult to describe my mother from my own eyes. When I was a young rebel, she was my protector against the beatings I would get from my father. When I was at the dating stage, she was my financier so I could date the most beautiful girls in Manila (and I did!). She was also responsible for my being able to get my Master of Science in Engineering Degree from Stanford University in the USA. She was the only one who had faith in me. My mother travelled with me to the USA to look into my accommodation outside the University. On my birthday while I was studying abroad, she actually arranged a party for me via long distance with all the other Students in the house I was renting. She is quite an operator. When I arrived back in the Philippines after my studies, she actually got me a job at AG&P because of a contact she made on one of her trips abroad. When I got back home, she was my confidant and we were really very close. In fact, we were so close that whenever I would break-up with my many girl friends, she would be the one that would be more broken-hearted than me. As you can see, my mother is everything to me through all the various stages in my life. I love her dearly! I am the luckiest person in the world to have such a mother as Pilar!!!