who I am, for you

BABY, you are growing up fast. Your cheeks seemed to

puff up like popcorn, and your food intake is increasing. I am proud to be your Aunt Lei. One of the people who loves you unconditionally and will help you get through life as an individual. Who I am for you, will be the person that will keep believing in every milestone you will have. I will be there when you have your own puppy and share the joy of having your first toy truck or choo-choo train. I will be there when your Mom seems too difficult to argue with on your first camping trip and will share your first blush of having a school crush. I will be here if you need me to listen to whatever you have to say. Baby, life will be a very long journey for you, but know that, everybody goes through it, but they don't go through life alone, you are no diferent. I am blessed to have entered your life and more than thankful to the Lord, for bringing you in my life. My purpose as an aunt gives me tremendous joy. I look forward to your life's journeys and life's firsts. Right now, enjoy everyday and being everybody's baby. You make this life much sweeter, after all.

reason why I am here...

THIRTY PLUS YEARS AGO, a shy,beautiful 17 year-old met a 21-year old handome radio operator in Baguio City, she was a shy UPian freshie while he, a breadwinner of his family. They fell in love through several years of writing letters to each other while he was in Vietnam and she was finishing up with her studies.

A few years after graduation, they married and had six children. I am a product of the overflowing love in this particular household. We are four girls and two boys running around,fighting with each other trying to get the attention of my mom and dad. It's so amazing how we were brought up and kept the family intact through struggles and crises. We have always been a prayerful family and we keep an open communication so through childhood,awkward adolescence, puberty, teens and and adulthood, we stuck like glue. When nearly all of us moved out to pursue our own dreams, mom and dad were really sad but they were more than willing to travel miles just to see and be with us even for a few moments. I will be forever grateful to these two who kept me grounded and made me believe that I could spread my wings and fly..

the most beautiful person in the world.

When I was a child, I remember this beautiful woman with long black hair and angelic smile, me and my other siblings call her fondly: "Mama" , she was the one constant person (aside from my Dad) who saw all six of us grow up in the best and worst ways possible. She won a beauty queen title and she never makes us forget whenever she cups our faces gently to let us know that our charm came from her and not Dad's.

As I am naturally biased to say that she is the most beautiful person in the world, so is the rest of you who have mothers loving unconditionally and sacrificed so much. To a mother who goes through a lot with just one child, my mother has six times that.

Mama is always conservative, graceful, calm during shaky situations and she always made sure that "No" is No. It was all hardwork.

Through the years, as we graduated college, we went our separate ways. Mama always missed us and she felt giddy and happy for every hug and kiss and lambing that we would give her. She would take the 7-hour ride for a short weekend to make sure we get together for dinner and catch up with our stories about jobs, lovelife and everything in between. We grew up learning that Mom have evolved beautifully through time. And her love strengthens the six of us plus one (who is my nephew Theo). I can say that she is more laidback than before, enjoying everyday knowing that the family is growing and there is so much love to give to all of us.

I love everyday believing and thanking God that she gave me a mother like her and I am truly blessed to have the most beautiful person in the world.