02/08/2025
"Ang buti mong kapatid kay Tita, Nay."
May mga mata pala na tahimik lang, pero nakatingin at nakakaramdam. Hindi mo alam, pero may mga taong nai-inspire sa kabutihang ginagawa mo, kahit pa sa simpleng paraan.
I just want to share this moment between me and my sister.
Lately, naiiyak ako. Yung kapatid kong bunso, she’s been applying to different government agencies paulit-ulit. Pero ang hirap. She’s a mom of three, and iba yung pressure sa kanya. Ang dami niyang kailangang i-balance. Habang nag-aasikaso siya ng requirements, kailangan niya rin maghatid, magsundo, at alagaan yung mga anak niya. Sobrang draining, physically and emotionally.
And minsan, when she calls me, I can feel it yung pagod, yung frustration. Sinasabi niya yung mga linyang,
"Te, para dito na lang ata talaga ako..."..as if being a mom is the end of her dreams. As if she has to choose between motherhood and ambition. And it breaks my heart. Kasi alam ko, she’s trying her best. She just needs someone to remind her that she can still do it.
Ang kaya ko lang gawin ay yakapin siya sa pananalita support her, encourage her.
I always tell her:
"Wag kang sumuko. Nasimulan mo na, and you’re still within the age limit. Go push mo na 'yan. Yung pagiging nanay mo, hindi 'yan hadlang yan yung dahilan kung bakit kailangan mong ipagpatuloy."
Unknowingly, my child was listening to our conversation.
After the call, she said:
"Ang buti mong kapatid kay Tita, Nay."
Napahinto ako.
I’m not the best daughter, or the best sister to all. Pero sa bunso namin, I try to be the steady one the hand that helps lift her up. Hindi ko masabing mabuting anak ako kasi sometimes I choose my sanity over everything. But in moments like this, nare-realize ko… kahit hindi natin sinasadya, may mga batang natututo sa tahimik nating pagmamalasakit.
At sana… mabaon nila 'yon habang lumalaki sila.
That kindness they see kahit hindi loud, kahit hindi perfect matandaan sana nila 'yon, at dalhin sa sarili nilang buhay.
Para sa lahat ng nanay na may pangarap:
You don’t have to give up on your dreams just because you’re raising a family.
And to those supporting them, kahit sa likod lang ng stage:
You’re part of their victory too.
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