What are your memorable stories about your Mom?
Whatever I am today is because of my mom, Lovely Tecson-Romulo. Growing up she was as busy as my dad, working hard to give us everything we needed and wanted. When my dad entered politics she worked even harder knowing that my dad’s income would greatly diminish. She was a selfless lady who always thought of us first before herself. Every summer we were off to another country, she wanted us to see as much of the world as we could see. My active involvement in various charities is because of what I saw her doing. I know I haven’t yet reached even half of her accomplishments, yet I’m thankful that she is just a phone call away for any advice so that I can someday be a perfect mother like she is to us.
CAMILLE VILLAR, head of corporate communications, Brittany Corp. with mom Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar: When I was in grade school, my teacher asked moms to volunteer and read a book to our class. I thought my Mom was too busy because she was the president of a bank so I didn’t tell her but she found out and volunteered. I was so surprised. She came to class and didn’t just read, she prepared other activities and even gave out souvenirs that she had bought from Divisoria to add to the story. I remember feeling so loved and special. It may seem trivial but I never forgot it. My mom’s really like that – she always goes the extra mile to make sure things are as perfect as she can make them for us.
FARAH TOLENTINO YLAGAN, chef, entrepreneur with mom Philippine Ambassador to Paris Rora Tolentino: My mom and I have shared so many memorable moments together. Here’s a few: My mom and I have a knack for getting ourselves locked in public restrooms and panicking; my mom is always braver than me on roller coaster rides; she forgave me for not doing well in math because she also disliked math; she would get “contaminated” by my laughter in not-so-funny situations and later scold me for it; my mom loved telling me scary stories at night with spooky sound effects to match; and finally, my mom would teach me to eat the best foods, never mind if they weren’t good for me!
TIM YAP, eventologist, TV host, columnist with mom BeNita Yap: My mom’s life story of hard work to raise seven kids at the same time being a loyal and loving wife and mother is something I will always be in awe of. I grew up experiencing and learning about unconditional love, looking up to a disciplinarian mother who worked so hard to provide us with the best life she could provide. We watched Sharon Cuneta movies together, taking the jeepney and falling in line the first day it opened! She made me follow Falcon Crest and Anna Liza on TV, too. And I would give her backrubs every night before she slept which explains why I am such a good masseur! I also remember asking her permission to join the Repertory Summer Workshops and every other creative avenue I could find. She always supported me and one time even surprised me by watching me at my declamation contest in school, which I won! I love my mom with all my life.
ANNABELLE DAOKAEW, public relations manager, Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok with mom Polly Abucay Santos: Mom loves dancing so much that at her “young age” of 92, she still can dance the night away. The whole family of seven siblings including myself and, of course, Dad love watching her dance to her favorite disco music. At their 50th wedding anniversary five years ago, the Santos clan — from as far away as the US, Canada and Thailand — celebrated. After the “wedding ceremony,” photos were taken, and of course the long-awaited dancing took place. Mom in her beautiful gown hit the dance floor together with all of us, including Dad. She had a great time and you could see how happy she was — and of course, all of us thanked God again for the blessing of wonderful and loving parents.
JUNIE RODRIGUEZ, businessman with mom Fe Rodriguez: Remarks about my mom usually center on her looks: how pretty she is, how stylish or impossibly youthful she is. But I’ll focus on what a formidable woman she is, with an impressive list of accomplishments. She has maintained a happy marriage for over 40 years; raised and nurtured four children plus three grandchildren; afforded us the best education available; and created eight beautiful homes. She has also been a modern role model to many by starting a business (Burger Machine), growing it into a conglomerate of corporations, creating thousands of jobs, sitting on the board of two charities (Bantay Bata and Cofradia de la Immaculada Concepcion) and building a chapel for the community in her hometown.
Not bad for a lovely young lady from Lian, Batangas. Yet I have never heard her boast of her accomplishments. No fuss. That’s her mantra. This ease is what keeps her light, bubbly and eternally youthful.
CES ORENA DRILON, news and TV personality with mom Lourdes Orena: When my father was assigned to Mindanao as a young officer, my mother was forced to take driving lessons to ferry me and my brother and sisters to school. She was deathly afraid of driving in Quezon City, where we had just moved, having lived in Baguio City where traffic was then nonexistent. But my mom had to overcome her phobia for us. One night, I cajoled her into driving me to a party. She had never driven at night but she did because she wanted me to have a good time.
Along the way, oncoming cars would shout at us or blink their lights at us, and we wondered why. Later we realized it was because my mom — the inexperienced driver — had her bright lights on the whole time. I can just imagine what an ordeal that was for her. But that’s my mom: she sacrificed a lot for her kids, even to give them the smallest of pleasures.
GINA BENITEZ with mom Regina Ordonez Benitez: My brother Bien and I lost our dad in 1988 and our mom in 2001.When Mama was rushed to the hospital, Bien and I stayed with her. She was diagnosed with pneumonia; she was 78. Around 11:30 p.m., she told us, “Go home, so you can rest. I will be all right; I will see you in the morning.” Bien and I were hesitant to go home, but we obeyed. When Bien and I arrived the next day, the doctors and nurses were reviving her and Mama was moved to ICU. She was comatose for six days, until she passed away. Mama was in the judiciary since 1972 and even after her retirement as Justice in the Court of Appeals she was active in various civic organizations involving women, the elderly and children.
When we rushed her to the hospital she had just come from two medical missions in Baguio and Zambales. In her last words — “Go home so you can rest” — she was still thinking of us and not herself.
LOUIE BARCELON LOCSIN, writer with mom Tessie Barcelon, adviser, Congressional Spouses Foundation Inc., Treasurer, Asian Cultural Council of the Philippines and writer): Many who know my mom think of her as fragile, overprotected and doted on by my dad, the late Augusto Barcelon. But beneath that, my mother is one tough cookie. I remember when she had to undergo emergency colonoscopy in the US. She felt weak just walking in the malls. We asked for a more thorough checkup; I was not prepared for the doctor’s news. My mother had a fist-sized tumor in her colon. She needed surgery. Worse, dad wasn’t well enough to be her pillar of support at the time (he was undergoing dialysis).
When I mustered the courage to walk into her hospital room, there she sat, still in her hospital gown, looking sheepish. She looked up and said, “I have a tumor.” Just like that. No tears of self-pity. It was I who had to pull myself together. The day before my mom went under the knife, we took her to Camarillo, a favorite Los Angeles outlet, where she shopped for seven hours! My mom proves the saying that “when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping!”
MARGARITA LOCSIN CHAN with mom Vivian Yuchengco: My favorite memory of my mom was back in the ‘80s. Shoulder pads, big design and gold tassels were in and of course, my mom refused to give up the look even after I told her it was out of style. One night, she stood in front of my younger sister Bianca and asked how she looked. My sister quipped (with a smile), “All you need are white gloves and you’ll look like Michael Jackson!” Since then, my mom has never asked for her (or my) opinion on matters of fashion!
Another favorite memory was when my sister Bianca and I were 10. Mom had sent us to ride horses in Long Island with Nise (Yabut-Cojuangco). On our train ride back to New York, we started to fight; it escalated to a full-blown hair-pulling match. When my mom saw us, she was furious and banned us from shopping for the rest of our trip. Devastating, since we were scheduled to go to FAO Schwarz that day with our cousins. Looking back, my mom deserves a prize: for taming two wild horses on her own and turning us into the women she still can’t believe we’ve become!
JOANN MERCADO, assistant to the president, IPM Group with mom Eisa P. Mercado: Selfless, hardworking and kind-hearted come to mind when asked to describe our beautiful mother. She has remained humble despite her many achievements, among them starting her own corporation from scratch. It is a running joke in the family that our mom is as close to “Wonder Woman” as can be. Regardless of the fact that she may miss an important meeting or the closing of a deal, family always comes first. Mom supports and encourages us. Even when we make mistakes, she does not point fingers or say “I told you”; instead, she smiles, says “Lesson learned,” and moves on. Mom has taught us that perseverance and hard work are not enough to make it to the top — a good heart, pure intentions and love for family are just as important.
