‘She is our Wonder Woman, the one with the brave heart’
Mothers in the eyes of their children
DONNIE TANTOCO ON MOM NENA TANTOCO
Dearest Mama,
There are no words to explain how overwhelmingly lucky and blessed I feel to be your son. Words also (fall) short in expressing how intensely I love you and how greatly I admire you. I know there is no such thing as a perfect relationship. Call me deluded, but I cannot think of any significant imperfection of yours in the 51 years so far that I have been your son. The worst I can think of is that you were really, really strict—haha!
Mom, I thank you most of all for bringing me to Jesus. You are a very tough and demanding person, and in both your encouraging but also sometimes forceful way, you have made us hunger for and strive to be Christ-like not only in our personal, family and religious lives, but also in our work. You push us to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to know and follow the Bible where it is hardest to do, which is in business. You taught us that not being consistent across all parts of our life is being a hypocrite. You always make us choose the harder but more noble path to growth. It’s tough, Mom, but I will not stop striving no matter how many times I fail because you are relentless [in pushing us].
Mom, I thank you, too, for showing me what a warrior with a clean and fearless heart, and a steadfast spirit looks like. You are a fighter, Mom. You don’t judge others but you stand up for the truth, you stand up for what is right, you put your body in between the oppressor and the oppressed. You do this constantly and frequently in both big and small ways.
You are also one of the most creative persons I have ever met. I am so happy to have grown up in a world beautifully crafted and curated by you. The way you transform and uplift the ordinary is both awesome and exquisite, to say the least. You see, you create, you imagine with eyes and hands that are not of this world.
Thank you, Mom! I hope, like you, I can learn to fix my eyes on Jesus and not people and circumstances. I hope, like you, I can be joyful, fruitful, and constantly grateful especially during bad times. May you be that way always, Mom; may you continue to successfully ward off bitterness, resentment and long-term anger.
Mom, you are a great shepherd. Please never stop showing us what loving your neighbor looks like and is supposed to be.