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I am a strong woman because a strong woman raised me!




When people asked me about my family, I simply answer them with a smile. I've never been ashamed but always been proud of how my mom did her best to raise me.

I'm a product of a broken family,  My nanay got pregnant when she was only 19. She became a single mom at an early age doing the responsibility of a mother and father at the same time.



After finishing all house chores and taking care of me, she even went houses to offer comics that can be rented, she never thought twice as she knew that at that point she needed to do something to raise me, help herself and her family.

I can still remember her waking up early to help my grandmother in selling breakfast in our front yard. At the age of 5, I can still remember that day that my mom left to work overseas and I was left with my grandparents to look after me. Like most kids who grew up having their parents abroad, I knew the pain of growing alone, looking for the affection a mother can give at times I need it, I barely remember most of the details after that, so as our mode of communications are via mailed letters containing our pictures and stories. After that, all I knew was my mom went back home when I  was in Grade 4.

That feeling of not having your mom during PTA meetings and school meetings are my worst nightmares and believe me, it was never easy, my late grandfather used to stand by me during those times as I also look forward to the days that my mom can be my side at these important times.

When I was in high school I even questioned why my mom needed to work overseas if she really loves me? I asked how she can take care of other kids rather than her own?


Like the old saying says " You can't understand the heart of a mother until you become one"

I start to understand all of her sacrifices when I became a mother my self and decided to work overseas as well with my mother's help. There I was able to see her sacrifices for me as I was able to see it in my own eyes as I visit her on my day offs.

I never knew that behind those beautiful pictures of Hong Kong that she sent me, it was a whole day of household chores, dirty dishes and a whole day of cooking that she needs to surpass to send me my allowances and to send a beautiful picture with a smile.



I am a strong woman because a strong woman raised me!

It was not an easy journey for my mom, tough situations happened such as;

Someone scammed her 50 thousand pesos worth of jewelry and cash.

She was diagnosed with Cervical Myoma and decided to have the operation here in the Philippines. a month after the operation, she already went back to her job overseas and her reason is I haven't finished my studies yet.

Our house was burned down by fire in 2002. All the things that she saved for were all gone.
I was expecting to hear my mom crying and mad with what happened but instead, I've heard her voice as calm as ever saying that "whatever happened is done, we will rebuild and continue life".

She was really a strong woman, who never stops caring for me and for her family. She continues to do her responsibility despite all the problems and challenges she encounters in life.She becomes my inspiration to keep on going and be the best version of myself as a mom.




Just like what the video shows how a mother can do anything for her family, any job, trials, and disasters will not hinder them to provide the best for their families. Now I knew, now I saw, and now I felt how it was to be a mother and to do the best for my family.



I salute each and every mother who never grew tired and face the daily trials in life wholeheartedly, your undying love will always be a light and protection for your family.

This Mothers Day, WE HONOR ALL YOUR TOUGHNESS AND EVERLASTING LOVE FOR YOUR FAMILY.


Do you also have a #TibayNiNanay story to share?Would love to read your own stories. Post it in the comment box.

For more of The Kitchen Mom adventure, you can visit my Instagram account @thekitchenmom and Facebook Page @TheKitchenMom and please do always visit my blog for more of my featured restaurants, new products, health, adventures and more at www.thekitchenmombydhess.com



Comments

Lovell Compoc said…
momshieeeeeeee whhyyyyy😭 napaiyak mo po ako. Ang strong ng Mama mo ang strong niya at pati ikaw. sa probinsya noon madalas abroad mga magulang i can see my friends na naghahanap ng kalinga talaga.

Masasabi ko lang sa Mama ko, BAKAL siya momshie..Naiiyak din ako. Sa sobrang tibay nya😢
Unknown said…
Talagang maraming pagsubok na dumadaan sa mga taong matitibay. Mamsh, isa kayo ng mommy mo sa mga taong pinagtibay ng pagsubok.
Ang nanay ko ay hindi nalalayo sa dami ng pagsubok na kanyang hinarap sa kwento ng mommy mo. Battered wife sya sa unang asawa, un ang tatay ko. Inisip niyang titiisin niya lahat ng pananakit sa kanya basta makita niyang okay ang kanyang panganay. Madalas na may black eye sya, at hindi siya pinalalabas ng bahay ng asawa niyang seloso. Mabait naman dw talaga ang tatay ko pero naiiba ihip ng hangin kapag nakainom ito, dahil addict, ayun! nawawala sa sarili. Sunasamantala ng mga kainuman niya kabaitan niya, nandoong magbigay siya ng pera, kung ano hilingin ng kainuman binibigay niya, dahil ninanakaw niya. Nakilala siya sa lugar namin na talamak na magnanakaw. May time pa na nilamukos sa bibig niya ang sili, madalas syang suntukin, kahit lolo at tito ko pinagseselosan, hindi din siya binibigyan ng pera. Mala pelikula nga ang kanyang kwento, kapag iniimagine ko kung paano ang mga detalye. Naglakas loob ang nanay ko na itakas ako, dahil wala pang isang taong gulang ako noon ng gusto ng tatay ko na gagawin dw niya akong G.R.O. Grabeng pag iisip ng magulang sa anak, noh?
Noon na nagplano ang nanay ko, na sa isip niya hindi siya papayag na pati ang anak niya ay masaktan at babuyin ng sarili nitong ama. Humanap siya ng tyempo ng minsang umalis ang tatay ko, nun na siya lumayas kasama ako syempre. Iyun na ang pagkakataon na hinihintay ng nanay ko.
Nagpunta si nanay ko sa Pampanga, nakitira kami sa kamag anak ng bayaw nya. Hindi pwede sa kamag anak namin kasi kilala sila ng tatay ko. Hinanap kami ng tatay ko at pilit na pinaaamin ang mga kapamilya ng nanay ko kung saan kami nagpunta. Syempre hindi nila sinabi, nagbanta ang tatay ko na papatayin dw niya kami kpag nakita na niya kamj. Sa dami dami ng ginawa niya sa nanay ko, noon siya isinuplong ng mga lolo ko at ipinakulong. At dahilsa dami ng kaso ng pagnanakaw niya at sa kwentong nananakit siya ng asawa, hindi na nagdalawang isip ang mga nasa barangay. Sa barangay hall siya ikinulong, at dun dw sya sigaw na sigaw na papatayin niya ang lahi namin... Grabe noh!
Sa kagustuhan ng tatay ko na hanapin kami, tumakas siya. Tumalon siya sa bintana ng barangay hall, na ilog ang babagsakan niya. Dun siya tumalon. Noong mga unang panahon, madaming bakawan sa ilog namin, pagtalon niya nasalaksak sa mata niya ung sanga ng bakawan. Sa tawid lang ng ilog ang bahay namin noon. Kahit duguan na ang mukha ng tatay ko, tumawid siya sa ilog at nagbakasakali na andun kaming mag ina niya. Pero bigo siya, dahil nasa BuLacan siya, nasa Pampanga kami. Nang nalaman sa barangay na nakatakas siya, hinanap siya ng mga tanod.
Unknown said…

Kabarkada ng tatay ko ang isang tito ni nanay, at doon siya lumapit. Sinabi niya na pinaghahanap siya ng barangay. Imagine, duguan siya nun, pero parang nararamdaman.Nagpasama siya dun sa kabarkada niya, pero hinikayat siya nito na sumuko na lang para gumaan ang kaso niya. Napapayag niya ang tatay ko. Isinakay siya sa patrol, pero nagtataka siya bakit sa bukid ang daan nila? bakit hindi sa kalsada papuntang kulungan? Kinabahan na ang tatay ko nun. Hininto sila sa gitna ng bukid. Nung pinababa sila, parang nagtatanong ang tingin niya sa kabarkada niya kung bakit sa bukid sila? kung alam ba nito na dun sila dadalhin?
Nakaposas ang tatay ko nun, ikinawit niya ang kamay niya sa kabarkada niya na parang nakayakap siya dito. Umiiyak na ang kabarkada niya, hindi niya alam kung magsisisi ba siya o ano sa paghikayat sa tatay ko na sumuko. Hindi din niya alam na ganito ang mangyayari. Pinatay ang tatay ko, pinagbabaril. Dun siya inilibing sa gitna ng bukid. Yung kabarkada niya, mga limang taon yata o higit pa na nag ka nervous breakdown. Hindi siya makausap, laging nagugulat, parang takot.
Si nanay ko naman parang manhid na siya nung nalaman niyang dinampot ang tatay ko at sinabi sa kanya na baka nasalvage na ang tatay ko. Sa isip niya, ang Diyos na malamang ang gumawa ng paraan na makalaya siya. At yung kapitbahay ng tinirhan namin ang naging pangalawang asawa niya.
Kabaligtaran siya ng tatay ko. Sobrang bait, sobrang sipag. Actually, hindi ko naramdaman na hindi niya ko totoong anak. Alam kong mahal niya ako at mahal din niya ang nanay ko. May kapatid ako sa kanya. Pero maaga siyang namatay, atake sa puso.
Ang nanay ko ang mag isang nagtaguyod sa aming magkapatid. Nakipanahi, nakipaglabada, nagtindahan, ginawa niya lahat para lang makaraos kami at makatapos ng pag aaral. Nakapagtapos ako ng teacher, ang kapatid ko naman hindi nakatapos pero may sarili na siyang business. Mula ng nakapagtrabaho ako, lahat ng kita ko sa kanya ko ibinibigay. Sa hirap na dinanas niya, alam ko na deserve niya lahat ng pinaghirapan ko. Nakapagtapos din siya ng high school thru ALS. Sobrang saya dahil nakita ko na masaya siya dahil isa yun sa nga pangarap niya, dahil hanggang grade 6 lang siya noong bata pa siya. Sobrang proud ko dahil may honor pa siya nung gumradweyt siya.
Ngayon, may sarili na akong pamilya, pero ginagawa ko lahat ng kaya ko para lang patuloy na mapasalamatan ang nanay ko sa pagtulong ko sa kanya. Patuloy ko pa rin siyang sinusuportahan sa pinansyal at medikal niyang pangangailangan.
Kaya saludo ako sa mga nanay na piniling manatili sa tabi ng kanilang anak at mapalaki nila ito ng maayos.

Yung salaysay po ay ayon sa pinagsama samang kwento sa akin ng mga kamag anak namin, pamilya ng tatay ko(opo, nakilala ko sila nung graduate na ako ng college) at ng nanay ko.
Antonio De Jesus said…
Mga mam, talaga pong nakakaantig ang nga kwento ng inyong nga ina at gayon din po ang tibay at tatag ninyong lahat para kayanin ang gayoong pagsubok sa buhay, naway patuloy po kayong maging inspirasyon sa lahat ng mga ina

Ma. Cyril Creer said…
Nakakaiyak at nakakainspire po ng kwento niyo Mommy Dhess! Iba po talaga ang pagmamahal ng ating mga Nanay! Hindi matatawaran! Hindi mapaparisan ! Dakilang Tunay!
Kaya habang kasama pa natin sila, ipakita at iparamdam natin sa kanila kung gaano natin sila kamahal at gaano natin sila naaappreciate ! Saludo talaga ako sa lahat ng mga Nanay !

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