8 Other Mothers
You Have in Your Life

By Carlo P. Mallo

A special brand of people will be receiving flowers, gifts, hugs, kisses and extra doses of love and care this weekend—and it’s only due them for all the sacrifices they’ve made. It’s that time of the year when the world pauses to shower accolades upon the very first person we cling on to when we arrive in this world, the very first name we learn to utter, the very person we call when we are in trouble and, at times, the very first person we rebel against. While it is ideal that this person is someone we call mom, nanay, mama, mother—not all of them are our biological one. Here are 8 other people whom we call by another name, but are actually like our mothers

8. Your First Grade Teacher

There is something distinct about my first grade teacher–she was the balance between treating you like a baby and being a first grader. Her expectations were high but always flexible when it was a bit tough for you–just like how it is with mom.

7. Your Barkada Mommy

She’s the shoulder to cry on, the peacemaker, the one who ensures that everyone gets a fair share. She’s the same age as you or maybe a year or two older, but she acts like the mom of the group and everyone is her offspring. Oh, she’s the first to sleep and wake during outings, too.

6. ‘Nanay’ sa Tindahan sa Kanto

No nonsense, she’s the one who shoos away people who loiter at her storefront and, more often than not, she knows who got knocked up in the neighborhood. But behind all that façade is a woman who cares for her neighbors, who knows when to allow kids to get biscuits on credit because their parents are still at work. Or to just give you her old inventory of school supplies when it’s too late to run to the mall.

5. The Super-doting Tita

She knows what time everyone got home, she knows when it’s time to get grades, she knows your classmate failed one subject, and, yes, she’s friends with half of your classmates’ parents. When mom and dad aren’t around, she’s like your mom–making sure you eat on time, your clothes are pressed to perfection and that you don’t smell of sweat.

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