A few weeks ago, we celebrated the 60th birthday of my Mommy. She’s not my biological mother, but she was the one who brought me up. I got so choked up while my cousins and I were singing her favorite song for her, and when I made the AVP, I was also almost in tears.

Here’s one of the most gracious ladies I know, Teresita Jose-Bonguyan, my Mommy. It is said that parents should give two things to their children: roots and wings. And that’s exactly what she gave me. I am where I am today because of her, and how she brought me up, with the same love and care for her 4 biological children. I can reach whatever I wanna reach because she has taught me that I can be who I want to be.

Her words pounded on us for years that “You are the product of the choices that you make,” still hold true today. Everyday, I ponder on my life, and her words are no less true. She has nurtured me to be who I want to be, with the freedom to choose and do as I want, but always with the constant reminder that there are consequences for all the things I think, choose, and do.

As a politician’s wife, she was able to almost single-handedly bring up five children. She has a career of her own, running their accounting and auditing firm and her money transfer business, but she was and is always there at PTA meetings, recitals, programs, and even just when I throw a tantrum. I will never forget how she lovingly made dresses for our Barbie dolls, how she bought me stockings when I was six years old, just because I wanted one, and how she would talk to me lovingly every time I would throw a tantrum. She is my Mommy.

Kung meron mang tao sa mundong ito that I would like to be like… siya yun.