A NANAY’S LOVE

NANAY, Mama, Mommy, Mother. Children cry out this word every time they need comfort from the pain they agonize or even during the time they are ecstatic with joy. The word is very special for children who want and long for the best of love, affection and sweet caress from their mother who carried him or her for nine months in her womb.

A mother, in return gives her children everything she can to let her children feel that a mother’s love is the best one could ever have in the whole universe.

Because of his great love for her mother, the Philippine’s King of Talk Shows, Boy Abunda formed the Make Your Nanay Proud (MYNP) Foundation to honor and give her recognition as well as to all the mothers in the world.

Abunda openly admits that he is a Mama’s boy to his Nanay Lesing. And she is the reason why he put up MYNP.

 “There are groups that take care of the environment, the poor, children, and many other sectors. I want to focus on mothers because by taking care of our mothers, we inspire people to be better people, we strengthen families and we build stronger communities,” Abunda said.

Recently, the talk show host visited Barangay San Isidro in Trento, Agusan del Sur and donated five school buildings through his newly-formed foundation. He also handed out a check for P100, 000 as livelihood assistance to the mothers in the community.

In the province of Agusan del Sur, a loving and compassionate mother to her children named Valentina Galido Plaza, whom everyone affectionately calls Loleng is celebrating her birthday today, February 14.

Her parents considered Loleng a very special Valentine’s gift for she was born on the ‘love day’, a day when people all around the world celebrate by showing appreciation to people very close to their hearts. Some take their loved ones to a romantic dinner in a fancy restaurant while others choose this day to propose or get married. Many people give greeting cards, chocolates, jewelry or flowers, particularly roses, to their partners or mates on Valentine’s Day. It is celebrated in many ways worldwide.

She was born on February 14, 1931 in the town of Garcia-Hernandez in Bohol. Her life blossomed when she met and got married to Democrito Otaza Plaza after she took a vacation in her uncle’s house in Loreto town of this province.

Norma Otaza, 56, a local resident of Barangay Nueva Gracia, Loreto describes Loleng as a very religious, humble and loving wife and mother to her husband and children.

“Kana si Madame VGP bisan og kwartahan sila, buotan gyud kaayo dili lang sa iyang pamilya kun dili sa amo pod nga taga-Loreto. Sa iyang pagka-inahan sa iyang mga anak, responsable ug gigiyahan gyud niya sa maayong dalan ang iyang mga anak aron sila modako nga matarong ug mga buotan nga mag-serbisyo dinhi kanamo,” Otaza said.

For Teodora Mancia, 62, a resident of Barangay La Caridad in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, “si Ma’am Loleng dili garbosa, matinabangon ug daghang natabangan dinhi sa probinsiya panahon nga siya gobernadora. Isip inahan sa iyang mga anak, ako gyud nasaksihan ang iyang pagka-mapagmahal. Kana bang buhaton niya tanan para maayong dalan ang ilang mapadulngan. Unya maalagaron pud sa Ginoo. Mao nga bilib gyud ko kang Ma’am VGP.”

A salient quote from Washington Irving says, “Mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and suddenly fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she clings to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”

Truly, Loleng is the best mother one could ever have not only to her own children but to the countless Agusanons whose lives she had and continues to touch.

We are proud of you Nanay Loleng.