‘YOU HAVE CHANGED HOW I VIEW UNCONDITIONAL LOVE’
Your strength, optimism and resilience are contagious. I remember how I wanted to be like you, and how much fun and joy you radiate despite the hardships you’ve been through, how you can still crack jokes and make everyone laugh.
I may not know everything, but I still thank you for trusting me with a lot of hard decisions for the family. Sometimes I get lost in being the eldest daughter, but I remember how much harder it was for you. That’s why I have this mental promise to be with you and support you through anything, even if you never impose adult obligations on me.
Lola told me once, “Your mommy had so much potential, even when she was young.”
I never once doubted that. Sometimes I blame myself and feel sorry for having “stolen” a big part of you, but then I remember you saying that being our mother is the best dream you have ever fulfilled.
With that, you have really changed how I view unconditional love. You have shown me and my brothers what kind of care we deserve. You have changed me for the better and are still doing so. But, trust that I won’t take all of your sacrifices for granted. I guess that’s a huge part of my life purpose, whenever I reflect on it. You always tell me to just follow my heart and not worry so much about the family, but it is with no regrets that I make you a huge part of my life’s purpose.
I may not express it a lot, but I love you very, very much. A huge fraction of who I am today is because of you. That is something I will forever carry with pride.
Happy Mothers’ Day, my dearest mommy.
Please, please, please, take care of your health!
Marian Luisa Palo, a student at Polytechnic University of the Philippines, is the daughter of Olive Palo.