letters...a retrospect

these were her messages, but the sender of the messages have not stood the test of time....

Hi po...wala lang....I just want you to know that i love you so much.Take care always....missyou!!!!madame!!!!mmmmuah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

december 18, 2005

I wanna thank God for every day that i know i haveyou..for sending you my way, for bringing you intomy life...For every moment that we've shared. i justdont know if i can live without you...You know baby, you mean so much to me...and if i would believe in my intuitions as i alwaysdo..im very much sure that i would like to spendthe rest of my life with you..i also thank God for every petty quarrels that wehad, for every small misunderstandings for it mademe love you even more..im sorry too, for myshortcomings and if there wer times that i hurt you.I love you so much and i will always do..hanggat may umaga...

april 8, 2006

most of the time topakin ako, inaaway kita and it seems na parang hindi kita naiintindihan kaya kita inaaway, pero alam mu, mahal na mahal kita...mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal kita...basta! mahal kita... mahal na mahal!Basta bhe, wag ka magbabago ha..wag kang titingin sa ibang gurls! (hehehehe) tingin lang, pero di pwedeng mahalin at lalong di pwedeng tikman ha!!!! (hehehehe) kidding aside alam ko nman na hindi ka ganun. dats why wala naman tayong pinagaawayang third party.Basta whatever trial na ma-encounter natin, we must hold on to each others love, basta kakayanin natin ha! without pride..basta kayanin natin ha! andito pa rin ako xe alam kong mahal mu ako, at siguro kahit hindi mu na ako mahal, mamahalin pa din kita.. alam ko, nararamdaman ko, mahal mu ako in ur own special way..im sorry if sometimes, im too blind to see it..basta mahal na mahal kita...text messages arent my measure of ur love for me..tinotopak lang talaga ako...basta mahal kita....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmuah!!!!!Mahal na mahal kita, mamahlin kita hanggat may umaga... hanggat buhay ako....huhuhuhu naiiyak nako...drama nu!hanggang dito na lang...nagmamahal,teepeehahaha...miss you!

april 18, 2007

eto na naman po tayo..aalis na naman ako...sana..sana...sana walang magbago..dami na nating nakaya...sana kayanin pa rin natin yung mga darating...kahit sang lupalop man tayo ng mundo andun, tandaan mu AKO LANG AT IKAW...ha?Mahal na mahal kita...mmmmmmmmmua!tatawag ako before alis..Love You!-teepee...

june 22, 2009

nakapanghihinayang.....but i guess its a fact of life...

thank you for four wonderful years.

noel bimbo apostol...si bespren doon...(sln)

"bo", "bimbo", "poteng" then later evolved into "bespren", these were just few of the aliases my tito bimbo was called, by his friends, siblings, relatives and those close to him.

tito bimbo was always remembered and will always be in the hearts and minds to those who have witnessed his ways, character, habits, attitude and his whole persona. in his lifetime, i am fortunate to have witness how he has become a brother, a son, husband, a father and a friend.

he was the youngest son of lolo diego and lola ine. being the bunso, mas nagkaroon sya ng panahong makasama ang kanyang mga magulang kaysa ibang mga kapatid kahit na nga dumating ang panahon na sya ay umibig at magka-asawa.

as a brother, tito bimbo have always gave high regard to all his siblings, to his kuya nori, diko ito, sangko willy, ate yeng, ditse carol and maintained a good relationship to his other siblings gilbert, angie and beth. among his siblings, i believed that he has build a personal closeness to his sister beth. sariwa pa sa isip ko nang minsang subukan ang puso ni tito bimbo, it was tita beth that he freely confided with, saksi ang duyan at ang mga puno ng caimito, tito bimbo cried and tita beth listened.

at the time he thought that he was more than ready to have a family of his own, he married tita katrina agulto, a native of hagonoy. i have seen how he have shown respect, affection and love for tita kat... a love that is untainted, unadulterated, pure...

blessed with three beautiful children, pia monica, bob leo and shane and i would say that he is a spoiler and a disciplinarian at the same time, sounds ironic but it is his own personal way of doing it. nalulungkot ako sa katotohanan na namatay si tito bimbo na wala pang kakayahan ang kanyang mga anak na matandaan ang mga masasayang sandali sa piling ng kanilang ama, nalulungkot ako sa katotohanan na darating ang panahon na walang malinaw na maibabahagi ang kanyang mga anak tungkol sa kanilang mabuting ama....

in showbiz among his contemporaries were eric fructuoso, mark anthony fernandez, rico yan and jomari yllana, (kamukha ni jomari si tito bimbo) and in our barrio, he also had set of friends that manifested his adult life, there were tibo, zaldy, cris, eric and his best friend in its truest sense frederick "amang" ubaldo among others. and a great way to describe the "friend" in tito bimbo was recounted to me by his best friend frederick. the following sentences you are about to read were from the words of frederick and i quote :

"si bimbo kahit asar na asar na yan, tatawa lang yan" it shows his patience..

"dapat ang kunin kurso nyan veterinary medicine di ko lang alam kung bakit radio technician and kinuha" it tells his love for animals..

"si bimbo chickboy yan, crush ng bayan lalo na nung high school kami" it describes his charisma..

"si bimbo parang vetsin yan, kahit saan pwede" it tells his camaraderie and respect for others.

"ang favorite song nyan, "minsan" ng eraserheads at "kanlungan" ni noel cabangon" it explains his love for music..

"pag umiinum kami nyan, magpapaalam pag gabi na, kasi isisilong pa ang mga kambing at manok"...it shows his discipline, his obedience..

"nung dinalaw ko sya ospital sabi nya walang iiyak" it conveys his braveness..

2004 was a great mourning for our clan, we lost our tito bimbo...

and a common saying would follow "mabait kasi yan kaya maaga kinuha..."indeed he was very kind, selfless and responsible in his existence.

we missed you tito bimbo, in time we shall all meet again...

these are his children, pia, bob and shane...nakatingin sa langit..

in time you will all get to meet your father again....

in their point of view....

of the most job interviews i had in the past, there was one common question that comes out during the start of the interview, and that is, "tell something about yourself; describe yourself". after hearing the question a short silence will follow, bigla ko napapaisip anu nga ba ang masasabi ko sa sarili ko, parang mahirap ata...

they say it is imperative to know thyself, walang ibang dapat makakilala sa sarili mo kundi ikaw muna bago ang iba. but i thought of it as being biased and one-sided.

for the purpose of this blog, i decided to pull out some testimonials on my friendster account and they will clearly tell what kind of person i am....

-------si aristothel castro!!we've met him 2nd year 1st sem, from then on, naging close na kami agad, but on our 3rd year,dun talaga kami naging magkabarkada, (remember tayo nila anne, joan at hannah)magkasamang nagla-lunch, favorite namin nun is Chicken ng jollibee (lilipad na nga kami kakakain ng manok e) punta ng library for research,punta ng freedom park para chumika, nuod ng movies to unwind. Aris as a classmate, is the studious, diligent type, attentive listener, active sa recitation..... (o cge na nga sabihin ko na rin intelligent)hehe,totoo naman kasing matalino yan. as a leader, well, ok na rin, pero madalas kaming mag-away niyan sa group discussions dati e hehe (taray ko daw kasi??)Sa chikahan???ndi mo na kailangang tawagin yan kami ung tinatawag niya!haha, para ano pa na naging masscom students kami...but he's open to comments whenever we correct him. as a friend, all praises for this guy, all through out, he'll be with you, he's always there to remind you of your actions, of your words. if you want to do the wrong thing don't let him know about it, coz he won't really tolerate it. we considered him the mommy of the group, if your in need of an ear to listen, call him, coz he won't get tired of listening. if your in sorrow, he can be a clown and an entertainer (pero take note puro kanta lang ni regine ang kakantahin niya), if your in need of an opinion, he can be a critic as well, if your in joy, he's one of the first person who will laugh and celebrate with you. he's a person with a good heart, a good son, a good brother and most especially a good friend; he's the one i consider as my guy-bestfriend! (kaya be proud noh!)hehe. all of us consider you as our guy- best friend) we really miss you, especially your own version of "pangako, on the wings of love, to reach you. thank you very much for those good, old days!!! godspeed.

joselyn derit

document analyst, dubai

classmate at far eastern university

-------at this juncture ladies and gentemen.....bwahahaha! galing galing galing nyang friendly friend ko n yan. sa pag emcee, sa pag comentator sa church, sa pagtuturo name it pati pagkanta sakop din nya un. kaya nya lahat yun. pati pagbibilad ng palay diba friend. naging teacher ko kaya yan s caregiver. ang lolo mo seriuos seriousan ang drama. one of my best colleagues. we luv talking about other peoples lives hehe. pkialamero at pakialamera kmi lalu na ang kapintasan ng iba. bwahaha! did I mention cum laude yan kaya nga friends tayo dba.

jing geronimo

head of hrm department, st. mary's college baliuag

former colleague at fernandez colleges

------aris?! he was a classmate (a very diligent and intellectual one huh!), he is a true friend (he can be a critic and very sincere friend at the same time! upfront but with good intentions libre ko?!> ), he is a fine advicer (matanda na kaya magaling magpayo hehehehehe), he is a big brother sa aming mga little gorgeous sisters nya, (he wants us to be in the right path always... he wants the good and best things for us....always!), he's a good actor, leader and host..(mc ka sa kasal ko ha.. libre mo na un ha..)and lastly he's a comedian! a very natural comedian! walang kulay ang buhay pag wala ang jokes ni aris! walang kulay ang buhay pag di namin narinig ang mala REGINE VASQUEZ... este Velasquez nyang voice...talaga nman! kamiss ang college days diba... be safe always aris! be a good boy huh?( i know you are).. sana makasunod ka na agad dito....god bless always!

jacqueline fabon

classmate and friend at far eastern university

-------si sir? well,gwapo yan to the highestlevel! crush ko nga yan eh kasi napakatalino at napaka bait..di nga naminmakalimutan yan eh kasi nightmare cya sabuhay namin eh!joke!joke!hindi kasi mabaitsiya.............................................. ...................................kaya ingat ka lagi sir!...

theresa andaya

call center agent

former student at fernandez colleges

-----my "significant other..." oh, how i love this man...happiness is understatement of how i feel for having him in my life...he's one of the best thing ever happened to me and i thank god for sending him my way... Sarang-hamnida!

sheryl quisayang

girlfriend for 4 years and counting...

------when you hear the name aristhotle....it reflects to a smart, wise, understanding, intelligent and knowledgeable person mmm.. but in case of this person its a bogus. (joke only..) of course all of these is the truth about sir aris.. he is a very good guy faithful and loavable mmm.. this guy is my inspiration that's why i pursued my studies.. i want to be like him a good decision maker... adviser and a very virtous probinsyano... he he.. more power my brother..

allan francis torres

call center supervisor

former housemate

former colleague at chowking petron marilao

-----si aris....skulmate ko, kumpare at higit swa lahat love ko.... super sayang kasama ..never a dull moment... ganda pa ng voice pang star in a million....at cute pa ng smile....(palibre naman :o) miss u.. c u soon!

celeste pile

account executive, cebu pacific airlines

batchmate at st. mary's college baliuag

----hmm! what can i say about this guy? well aris is s very down to earth, di sya mahirap makasundo. but sometimes may mga banat ito na nakaka pikon... he he he joke.. i really love this guy, para ko na syang kuya pag magkasama kami sa work.im hoping lang na sana di ka magbabago kahit na magkakalayo na tayo. oooy meron pa pala! alam nyo ba pag umiinom kaming dalawa wala kang ibang maririnig dyan kundi puro kadramahan, madali kasi malasing. napaka hilig naman magyayang uminom. di naman pala kaya. joke lang po. aris tnx for being nice to me.mwah!!!!

gerald monsod

ofw, canada

former colleague at chowking petron marilao

----aris miss ko na toh kaibigan ko na toh, lagi nga mi ang nakikipag connect d2 lagi bz (hmmp)di man lang makaalala tong hudas na to. txt u naman di rin reply (makunat pa)..pero seriously, mahal ko sya kc no dull moments with him, napaksarap kasama, nakakaloka..sana we can spend mor tym k2lad dati..kahit labas ulit tau.mis na kita, at nandito lan ko pag kailangan mo ko..love u

karenina santiago-mariano

outlet manager, san miguel corporation

childhood friend / best friend

classmate at st. paul school and st. mary's college

----oh, boi! ang super duper love kong baby! matalino, mabait, very understanding at higit sa lahat,eheheem...gwapo..dats y love na love ko xang pagmasadan habang natutulog, pero lakas nga lang maghilik...hehehehe... my best critic and my number 1 fan. he believes in me and he's always there to support me all the way. he's the best thing ever happened to me..my boy, my man, my lover and bestfriend...hehehe...i love you so much baby!!! mmmuah!!!

sheryl quisayang

kasintahan sa loob ng apat na taon at bumubilang...

-----svi nila mhirap dw humnap ng totoong KAIBIGAN,pero nung nkilala ko si ARIS, hindi nman pala. kaya lng hindi din pala maganda pag mas mabait sayo ang mgiging kaibigan mo, kasi ngayn hindi na ako ang love ng parents ko at ng buong relatives ko, si ARIS na ngayn ang love nila, ganyan kabait na KAIBIGAN si aris, thank you s lahat, cguro kung hindi ako nakinig sa advice mo,wala ako ngayn sa abroad,aewan ko lang din kung yun ang way mo paara mpalayo ako kila dadi at mami, dahil alam mo na ikaw na ang love nila, ha!ha!ha!,pero masya ako kasi dati 3 lang kaming mgkakapatid ngayn 4 na.ADVANCE HAPI B-DAY BRO.WISH YOU ALL D BEST, alm ko pgtatawanan mo yung message ko,dahil parang ngtetesti sa prayer miting.ha!ha!ha!.

enrico ignacio

assistant principal international school, indonesia

bestfriend

former colleague at election pr office

for the past 29 years of my life, i have been trying to live a life that is meaningful and productive....and i guess, i have succeeded in doing so with these testimonials. and may god give me the strength to continue doing it for the rest of my life...

as i keep on telling friends my principle in life...

"pagmamahal sa sarili, pagtingin sa magulang, pagtulong sa kapwa, pananalangin sa oras ng kakapusan at kaginhawahan at manatiling may kababaang loob"

the joy of being a "tiyo"

it was during the last week of april 2008 when i received an overseas call from my sister, she excitedly broke the news that she is pregnant and i can feel the excitement in her through her voice.....my heart pounded, i have equally felt the excitement my sister is going through...ganun pala ang pakiramdam, nakaliligaya ng puso...

after our phone conversation, i immediately send text messages to my mother and to all those people closest to us that we know will be equally and eagerly excited as well.

my brother-in-law and my sister would always say, "made in boracay yan" and i believed so because they had their honeymoon on the islands of boracay two days after their wedding on march 8, 2008. they are fortunate enough to be blessed with an angel when they wanted too.

december 1, 2008, raven agatha castro flores was born, it was a pure joy for my ate maileen and kuya pat, to her lola milet and to me her "tiyo".

living in the same roof with my niece is a lot more experience and joy for a tiyo like me, i have witnessed her growth and continuous development as time passes by. nasaksihan ko mula ng dumilat ang kanyang mga mata hanggang sa ngayon na sya ay natututong magsalita. at her age now, 1 year and 5 months she has a lot of those traditional and contemporary gimmicks. close-open of the palms, sino ang maganda, laugh, think, quiet, smile, amen and louder, all of these are like commands to her that she would voluntarily act out. You can watch the video link below..

raven agatha flores pasikat

ngayon mas naiintindihan ko na kung bakit may mga tiyo at tiya na itinuturing na sariling anak ang kanilang mga pamangkin, ngayon naiintidihan ko na kung bakit ang mga tiyo at tiya ay tumatandang dalaga na lamang, ibinubuhos ang buong lakas, atensyon at panahon sa pag-aaruga ng kanilang pamangkin. ngayon mas naiintindihan ko na kung bakit sa kabila ng kani-kaniyang pamilya ay pinaglalaanan pa rin ng panahon at pagkakataon ang kanilang mga pamangkin....ganun pala ang maging tiyo at tiya, ituturing mo silang mga sarili mong anak...

i remember the recent episode of "maala-ala mo kaya" dated may 8, 2010, starring ai-ai delas alas, lauren young and zajian jaranilla. lauren young is a sister to ai-ai and an ofw. nabuntis si lauren, iniwan si zajian sa pangangalaga ni ai-ai, pinalaki, inaruga itinuring na sarili nyang anak....dumating ang panahon na kailangan nang kunin ni lauren ang kanyang anak mula kay ai-ai...it was very painful for ai-ai. she never worried about her personal life for the sake of her nephew, but she never refuse to give back zajian to his real mother. a son always belongs to his mother.

naaala ko din ang abs-cbn station id entitled "bilib sa pinoy" and i quote

" nelda abiera, nagmamaneho para makapagpa-aral ng mga pamangkin...."

there is really a great joy and exquisite happiness of having a nephew or a niece, katuwang ka sa pagpapalaki at paghubog sa kanyang pagkatao. it was not obligatory nor dictated, its voluntary, its willingness...may kagustuhang mula sa puso at pag-aalay ng sarili...

and to raven agatha, nawa ay lumaki kang magalang, mabuting tao at matutong lumingon sa iyong mga magulang at sa akin na rin....

alfredo apostol castro...in memoriam

it is but fitting to write something special about and for my father, for 49 years he have spent his life on earth, quarter of which or should i say half of it have been the most exciting and wonderful years, it was during those times he was our father and a husband to my mother.

my father was the eldest son of the twelve children (yes, you read it right) of my lola nene and lolo peping. my father was the "kuya" to all his siblings and cousins younger his age, and from the mouths of his siblings and cousins, they would speak of good things about my father, a real kuya to the real sense of the word.

when i was a child, i would hear stories that my father was a "mother's son", a favorite, the apple of the eye of my lola nene and lolo peping. it was because they say, my father was born in a abnormal position (suhi) that nearly took the life of my lola nene, it took hours of labor before my father came out. also, reason mentioned was because my father was the first son, a first son would always bring joy to a father, a pride to my lolo peping. may magkakalat na ng apelyido.

my father was the third to marry and settle for a family life amongst the 12 siblings. he married my mother may 22, 1977, they were blessed with three children: almira, maileen and aristhotel. i never had the chance to see my ate almira, accounts say she died after a week of being born because of health complications, she would have been 31 years old by now. my parents lost their first child, a daughter... and i cannot imagine the pain it brung to them, only they have felt it.

my father have always wanted a big family like theirs, but due to physical constraints of my mother, a caesarean birth would only permit three to a maximum of four children.

i must admit, my ate maileen was closest to my father and i closest to my mother. i guess the electra complex and oedipus complex is happening in our midsts, the son is usually closest to the mother and the daughter is usually closest to the father respectively.

nevertheless, it did not bother me at all, and there was no fight for attention nor a contest at all, just good memories lingers.

my father was a long time employee of the then, central cement corporation located on the mountains of akle, san ildefonso, bulacan. i would always be excited when yuletide season comes, we will be attending the christmas party of the company and it signals the start of an annual family generosity, it meant new clothes for us bought in the shops of baliuag, allotted money for me and my sister, an early aguinaldo and many more exciting presents.

my father was strict and disciplinarian, hindi kami nakaiwas sa mga palo gamit ang sanga ng bayabas at sampaloc, hindi rin nya pinalampas ang pagkakataon na ipadanas sa amin ang masilid sa sako. harsh yet its his way of doing it and i fully understand.

my father was a spoiler, he would always give in to our requests, from simple to the most lucrative, he does not really mind it at all, all for the joy of his children.

my father was a performer, i guess i owe my love and passion for the performing arts to him. he was a singer and a dancer. he loves to listen to engelbert humperdink and tom jones, he dances the cha cha cha and the waltz. i would remember the debut celebration of my tita ada, my father was the most graceful partner of the debutant dancing to the waltz.

my father was good-looking. he was handsome. in my own judgement i see in him george clooney, the hollywood actor...but friends, relatives and other acquaintances would call him walter navarro, a local matinee idol of the 1970s. ehemmm...i got my looks from my father i guess, ehemmm...

i was fortunate enough to have a clear and vivid memories of my father. after his death in year 1999 all was shocked, saddened and felt the lost of a great man. his death was really early, untimely and premature.

wala na si tatay ng nagtapos kami sa kolehiyo, wala na siya ng ikasal si ate maileen, wala na siya ng lumabas ang aking pamagkin na si raven agatha, wala na siya ngayon...na mas kaya na naming ipakita at iparamdam sa kanya kung paano siya naging ama sa akin at kay ate...

its nearly 12 years when he passed away but never was a time i forgot his persona..and i quote:

"Any Man Can Be A Father ... But It Takes Someone SPECIAL to be A Dad!"

and yes my father is special because he was a dad and will always be a dad to us..

ang alamat ng butiki ( a story of a mother's love)

of the many stories during mass homilies, this is the story i will never forget in my lifetime, "ang alamat ng butiki". the story was first told by father roman caleon, then parochial vicar of st. ildefonsus parish, san ildefonso, bulacan. and the story reads....

noong unang panahon, may magkasintahan na masasabing walang katulad. Walang kasing tamis ang kanilang pagmamahalan. Isang araw ay nagkaroon ng isang mahigpit na pagsubok ang kasintahan ng binata. Sapagkat dalisay ang pag-ibig ng binata, sinabi niya sa kasintahan na ipag-patuloy ang gagawing pagsubok.

Sa madali’t sabi, ipinag-tapat ng dalaga sa kasintahan na kailangan niya ang puso ng kanyang ina. Ito ang magpapatunay ng kanyang katapatan at nangako ang dalaga na kung magtagumpay siyang maisagawa ito, ay agad silang magpapa-kasal. Walang kibong umalis ang binata patungo sa kanilang tahanan upang tuparin ang tagubilin ng kanyang kasintahan.

Dali-daling umakyat at kanyang naratnan ang ina na nakaluhod sa harap ng altar sapagkat orasyon na noon. Nangangatal ang buong katawan na kinuha ang balaraw at sabay na itinarak sa dibdib ng ina. Agad niyang kinuha ang puso ng ina at tumakbong patungo sa kanyang kasintahan.

Ngunit sa kasawiang palad, at marahil sa parusa ng nasa itaas, ay bigla na lamang siyang nadupilas at ang puso na kanyang hawak ay nahulog sa isang bitak. Ang puso’y biglang nangusap, "Nasaktan ka ba anak? “Bakit mo ako ginanito anak? Bakit mo sinunod ang maruming mithiin ng iyong kasintahan? Dapat mong malaman na ang isang ina ang pinagkakautangan mo ng buhay ay di na makikita kailan pa man.

Lumuhod ang binata na nagsisisi. Nais niyang isauli ang puso, subalit wala nang magagawa. Ang binata ay bigla na lamang naging butiki, na gumagapang na lamang buhat noon.

Although the story was fictional, it was very effective in touching the emotions and instilling what is wanted to be said, the love for a mother. napakadakila ng pagmamahal ng isang ina sa kanyang mga anak. a mother will not look on your imperfections but on your potentials, a mother will not retaliate on your offenses but will ask if your alright. tulad ng puso ng ina na nangusap sa istorya, ang unang tanung ng ina nang madapa ang lalaki "Nasaktan ka ba anak?.. she worried not for herself but for her son.

They also say that if earthquake comes, the lizards will get down from the ceiling, bumabalik at humahalik sa lupa, humihingi ng kapatawaran sa puso ng kanyang ina.

happy mother's day to all the moms out there...

melita de leon-castro, babae at ina..

my mother is a summation of all the good things. at this day and age, she has continue to nurture us with love, care and affection in the best way she can.

when i was invited to be the guest speaker in our barangay in their school graduation, i clearly remembered saying that, "maswerte po ako dahil nagkaroon ako ng mga magulang na may malaking pagpapahalaga sa edukasyon" and true enough, even if my late father alfredo castro left us in year 1999 she never surrendered to the goal and promise of sending us to school and finish college. she did everything, and when i say everything, i mean really everything...

1999 nang pumanaw si tatay, at sa mga panahong ito kasalukuyang kami ng aking ate maileen ay nasa kolehiyo. my ate was in third year college going to fourth year taking up architecture and i was then incoming third year college, both at far eastern university.

during this time all was uncertain, isa itong malaking trahedya na dumating sa aming buhay, bigla ang pagkawala ni tatay. at si nanay bilang asawa ay pinanghina ng mga pangyayari. she becomes very vulnerable, very soft....spiritually, physically, mentally and most of all she become very weak emotionally...wala na ang kanyang asawa, kabiyak, katuwang at kaagapay. tanda ko pa noon, tuwing ako ay darating galing sa iskwela daratnan ko siyang walang kibo, nasa isang tabi...umiiyak...i cannot feel what she is feeling at the time because i know she is the only one who can truly feel what is it to lose a husband...

salamat sa diyos at hindi nanatiling nanlulumo si nanay, binigyan lamang pala ang sarili ng oras para makapag-isip, makapag nilay at makapagplano at maghilom ang kanyang puso.

we continue with our studies even at that time i do not know where my mother is getting the strength and the financial power to send us to school.

my mother was not a able to step into high school and all the more she did not finish college, but her skills, intelligence, perseverance and the talent is without a doubt beyond of those university graduates. madiskarte si nanay, lahat ng pwedeng pagkakitaan ay kanyang pinapasok ng buong tapang, namili sya ng palay, nag -alaga ng mga hayop, nag patahi ng school bag, nagsaka...kinalinga ang lupa...wala siyang pakialam kung sa kabila ng kanyang pagkababae ay binubungkal nya ang lupa, nagpapainit sa araw at hinahawan ang masukal na bukirin...

her efforts are not put into waste, my ate maileen and i assured that it will not be wasted.

there is really a time of sowing and a time for reaping, and the time of reaping has come. 2002 was the most memorable and most remarkable year in my life and i believe for my mother also. it was in this year my ate maileen and i graduated in college

castro, maileen d. - bachelor of science in architecture

castro, aristhotel d. - bachelor of arts in mass communication, cum laude

my mother was brought into tears in this very moment, when she put on my medal she hugged me tight and bursted into tears.

sa kasalukuyan, sinusubukan naming magkapatid na ipatikim kay nanay ang mga munting sarap at luho ng buhay, hindi naman labis labis ngunit tama lang, sakto lang...

now that my sister has started to have her own family and i soon, she never falter to be with us, to guide us and to love us...we salute you nay...happy mother's day..