Last Oct. 29 was a red-letter day for me at the Legend Villas in Mandaluyong City. It was a day to celebrate my birthday with different mothers in the community and a day to honor the 10 Best Nanays of Make Your Nanay Proud (MYNP) Foundation which I founded, solely dedicated to all mothers in the world.
A child’s love for his mother and a mother’s love for her children are transformative forces that when applied to nation-building have unlimited potentials to make this world a better place. Even Dr. Jose Rizal stipulated in his letter to the young women of Malolos that whatever a mother shows to her children is what the children will become.
That is the very reason why I never get tired of reminding everyone that we should keep on talking about our mothers being the best mothers. That we should keep on talking about the truth that this world is and will be a better place because of the way we treat our mothers. And this world is going to be a better place if we can be the best children to our mothers.
The Best Nanay Awards is a platform to celebrate the lives of our beloved mothers. The awards honor a mother’s invaluable contribution not only on the life and the well-being of her children but also of their impact to the community.
This year, 630 entries from all over the Philippines were shortlisted. The judges deliberated for more than 10 hours to come up with the winners.
The winners are Anecita Fernandez, Espirita See, Heide Aquino, Amalia Ponce, Pamela Alarin, Adelina San Miguel, Virginia Dahilan, Dolores Balana, Purificacion Ubasa and Maritess Odarbe.
Anecita Fernandez works as a barangay staff in Brgy. Masambong in Quezon City. In spite of poverty, she was able to send all her children to school because she believes education is the only legacy she could leave her children. Her husband is disabled due to stroke. She is also busy with other organizations helping the needy in her barangay.
Dr. Espirita See is an optometrist from Cagayan Valley. A disciplinarian, she taught her children the values of frugality and hard work. She taught her children the virtue of service to others. Now, all her children are involve in different organizations that help the poor.
Heide Aquino is a retired professor of Spanish at Ateneo de Manila University. She spearheaded the Jolly Senior Citizens of East Kamias and sends children to college, even if they are not her relatives. She also initiated the Zumba session for all seniors in her barangay every Sunday.
Amalia Ponce is a mother not just to her family but to her community and the school where she works. Pamela Alarin is a mother who is also a tricycle driver and with four children. Neighbors seek her opinion because of her positive attitude.
Adelina San Miguel is the 73-year-old founder of Tahanang Balik-Alay, a caregiving home for the aged in Taytay, Rizal. She chose to live in the Philippines and get away from a good life in the US to find her purpose in life by helping the poor.
The trophies made by an Ifugao artist
Virginia Dahilan sent her six sons to school on a meager government salary and later helped her community as a barangay kagawad.
Dolores Balana is a 61-year-old pharmacy aide at the Bataan Provincial Hospital. She is cheerful despite poverty and a kidney disease. She is currently undergoing dialysis treatment three times a week. But she continuously inspires every one of her strong persona. She never fails her responsibility as a mother and grandmother to her children.
Purificacion Ubasa is a 76-year-old mother from Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. She heads the Catholic Women’s League chapter and still works as a marriage counselor.
Marites Odarbe has Parkinson’s Disease but remains the breadwinner of her family and has written a book, Trust His Will – A Personal Journey from being a Person with Disability to a Person of Destiny (POD).
Salute and mabuhay to the 2016 MYNP Best Nanay awardees.
(For details, visit www.makeyournanayproud.com and FB fanpage at www.facebook.com/MYNP.OfficialFanpage, call (02) 413-5868 or e-mail makeyournanayproud@yahoo.com.)