“We think about you always, We talk about you still,
You have never been forgotten, and you never will. We hold you close within our hearts, and there you will remain,
to walk and guide us through our lives, until we meet again.“

There was a light that flickered in your eyes, Mommy, whenever you spoke of Sam. It was a warmth that goes beyond mere pride; it was pure, unconditional love. It makes me smile when I remember because I know, without a doubt, that Sam was your sunshine, your greatest joy.

I must confess it wasn’t always easy. Selflessness came a bit harder for me. Remember when it came to sharing that last bite of my favorite chocolate cake? It felt like a betrayal to give it up – until I saw you do it time and again, without a moment’s hesitation. You were always a beacon of unwavering care, and slowly, I learned from your gentle light. I now hope, after all these years, that I’ve managed to capture a flicker of your spirit of giving.

Time, they say, flies by like an arrow. But memories, precious ones especially, hold a timeless quality. It feels like just yesterday when we were huddled together, weaving dreams about Sam’s future. Would she follow in Dr. Benjie’s footsteps and become a brilliant pediatrician? We both bandied names about, chuckling over the thought of our little “Chung-chung” in a doctor’s lab coat. Life, however, has a way of unfolding in its own unique way.

Sam had chosen a different path, a detour from our initial map. But you, my dearest, surely wouldn’t have it any other way. Your heart, ever-supportive, knew that happiness lay in her own choices. And so I am sure, we both cheered her on as she embarked on her unique journey. She chose to go to UP Law instead.

Now, here she stands, a strong, independent woman on the cusp of her fourth year. The bar exam looms in the not-so-distant future, a formidable challenge. Yet, with the same unwavering spirit you instilled in her, she faces it head-on. Every prayer whispered, every silent wish sent her way, is a testament to the love that binds our family.

Sam, our “Chung-chung,” may not have followed the path we envisioned, but she has carved her own, a path paved with grit, passion, and determination. And you, Mariel, would be bursting with pride. You would be the first to applaud her courage, the first to celebrate her victories, and the first to offer comfort in moments of doubt. Your love, though intangible now, remains an ever-present force, guiding and inspiring her with every step she takes.

This journey, we share, is a testament to your unwavering spirit. You live on in the warmth of our memories, in the strength you instilled in Sam, and in the love that continues to bind us all.

It has been seventeen years now. Until we meet again, we love you, Mommy, now and forever.