The Windmills at Bangui

By guest blogger: Iñaki

When we went to have a summer beach trip at Pagudpud, we stopped at Bangui town along the way. When we stepped out of the van, we saw many beautiful windmills. Some were not moving. I felt so excited looking up at the enormous blades. Afterwards, we proceeded to Pagudpud and went swimming all day.

A Mothers Day tribute to Mama

For the woman who needed to stay for weeks in the hospital after giving birth to me because she lost so much blood;

For the woman who looked so Jackie-Oish in her 20s that it was impossible for my Papa not to have set his eyes on her;

For the woman who was happier jostling with crowds in Divisoria than shopping at Rustan's, even though she was "loaded";

For the woman who painstakingly planned our meals 38,325 times in 35 years of her married life;

For the woman who taught me how to properly cut up a chicken;

For the woman who allowed me to lick the pancake batter bowl;

For the woman who forced us to wear matching pantsuits which she cross-stitched one by one;

For the woman who could spend 30 minutes haggling with a store owner just so she could get a 50% discount on an aluminum pot;

For the woman who ate alone at a fastfood restaurant just because we all liked steak and she preferred Chinese;

For the woman who did half of my projects in school;

For the woman who proudly pinned my medals on me;

For the woman who didn't mind staying at home just so she could look after eight kids;

For the woman who waited up until the wee hours of the morning just to make sure I came home safe from a party;

For the woman who secretly accompanied me to apply for a job that I so wanted, but which my Papa was opposed to;

For the woman who cooked my favorite sinigang na bangus each time I came to visit;

For the woman who promised to give me her favorite 3-K heart-shaped diamond ring;

For the woman who gave me the best compliment when I felt so nervous before my wedding day;

For the woman who tried her best to attend my wedding despite the ravaging effects of chemotherapy;

For the woman whom I didn't accompany to Divisoria as often as I should have;

For the woman whom I didn't always join at the fastfood table to eat Chinese food;

For the woman who laughed at all our silly and corny jokes.

For the woman who told my Papa to take care of us all before she finally met her Maker at the age of 57.

Happy Mothers Day, Mama! You are always sorely missed.