An open letter to my mother Nida Balaca Adto on Mother's Day

Mothers, without you, there would be no life and death. The light of every home and the homemaker. Mothers the origin of life, relinquished their body figure and their mini dresses to carry life and conceive for faithful 9 months. The women who endured so much pain of labor and birthing children taking all the pain more than any one could bear.

Nanay, my siblings and I are so lucky of having you as our mother who woke up every time you heard cries, you, who had all the strength to keep yourself awake all night and attend to chores during the day. You were the caregiver whom changed plenty of 'lampins' to wash after wards, whom wholeheartedly breastfeed us, made 'lugaws'; patiently and diligently prepared ours instant milk day through the night. You cared for us so we could face this entangled world potently and healthily.

You're the educator who taught us our first steps, our first words, ABCs, ABAKADAs and so on, so forth. You taught us empathy and to share selflessly. You disciplined us to have a good attitude, practice proper etiquette and to love most of all. You taught us to be righteous till now we're  grateful of. You are the best teacher we've ever had and you did it by showing us good examples.

You are the angel who lovingly whispered us on how to recite "Angel ko nga Magbarantay" and all the prayers we know until now. You taught us to submit everything to God, to ask for forgiveness and be God fearing individuals.

You are the laborer who painstakingly worked hard to never have miss a meal each day. Who gathered your children in every single supper and pointed out who did good and who have been bad. The landlord who gave us ultimatums and gave us every chance we deserve to be estimable.

You are a team builder who trained us how to split up chores. To evenly give everyone an specific task to do accordingly. The trainer who made us realize that a home can only be harmonized by working as a team whom every member has a designated job to complete well.

You are the mediator and the judge whenever your children fight. Who evenly punished us by whips of bamboo sticks and coconut leaves broom on our behind.  A person who had pinch our ears and thighs whenever we commit mistakes, remembered every one of them and never condone our bad behavior.  You are the disciplinarian who taught us to abide by your rules and every where has rules to obey.

You are the rescuer who were there when we cry. Who gets angry at the same time because we were hurt. The psychologist who lifted us up when we thought we've failed, to cheered us up and encouraged to do more and believe that everything is possible. You trained us how to be strong and be brave. To learn how to fight without backing out and cry for help. To act, do and deal with things as maturely as we could. To think hundred times before we speak and speak wittily with honor and dignity.

You are the mother who only wanted the best of us. To be educated and intellectual. To live the life and enjoy things you weren't able to have. To travel the world and be the best that we can be. A good listener of every dream we have in mind. A friend who dreamed with us and wished us the best life has to offer.

A mother who was eager to do things for our family. Who wants to do our laundry and iron our school uniforms. Who excitedly cooks us breakfast till dinner in our adulthood pampering us with her love tasting food as if we're still little.

The great sculpture who molded us with unconditional love and affection to become good  individuals and respectful citizens in the society, to make a lot of friends rather than enemies and become great parents one day.

A mother who is trustful and kind. A person who taught and gave us advice to find a good partner in life. A mother who only wanted our marriage to be as blissful as hers and encourage us to conceive many kids like hers.

A mother who's there despite of distant miles. A mother who trusts what we do and guides us even afar. A person who is happy and proud to whom her children have become and humbly thank us of what good we have done.

Nanay you are the person behind our hope that everything is going to be okay. You are the most challenging and the most intelligent person we've ever known.You are the inspiration behind every dream of the future. You are Tatay's and your children's queen. You are righteously adored and honored that you, our Nanay and Tatay and God alone, we will bend our knees on.

You symbolizes love and affection, respect and honor, vigor and perseverance, courage and determination, knowledge and justice and many more. You might be imperfect as a person but to our eyes, you are near perfection. The reason of everything whom I and my 8 other siblings have become. Our pride, whom undoubtedly we could die for and the reason why we, your children are in this world for.

We love you so much Nanay.
Riza,Dencio, Marvs, Basyon, Auring, Andres, Dom, George and Putot