The Wheel and Axle

I posted this on my personal Facebook account a year ago today. This was my tribute to a woman who helped raise me. It has been a year since she passed away, and I still miss her.

Not half an hour ago, I received a message from my mother telling me that my Manang Carmen, who was my yaya/nanny when I was growing up, has passed away.

Manang Carmen was my second mother. I was always close to my mom, but she was a breadwinner of the family and was always busy at work. So for the times Mama wasn’t around, Manang was always there. She’d always been there since I was literally a baby.

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Today is 10 February 2017.

Today, my paternal grandmother, Lola Rosario “Charing” Yambao Carreon, turns 100 years old.

Imagine that.

This is a woman who was born around the time of the first World War and has lived through most of the 20th century… and beyond!

She is resilient and strong as ever.

May she live even longer.

Happy birthday, Lola! We love you!

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Finland’s Armi Kuusela, Miss Universe 1952 and the first winner of the crown, married a Filipino, Dr. Virgilio Hilario.

Virgilio’s mother was a relative of Nana Enchang Javier-Gonzaga, my great-grandmother. This makes Virgilio a cousin of my maternal grandmother, Mommy Queta Gonzaga-Ignacio (who turns 96 this February!), and her siblings: Lola Belen, Lola Noneng, Lolo Carlos, and Lolo Eddie.

This also thus makes Miss Universe 1952 our relative by marriage.

No wonder I love Miss U. It’s practically in my blood.

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Le Famille.

Father’s Day is hopefully a time when the culture says, “This is our moment to look at who our men and boys are.”

– Michael Gurian

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there!

Meanwhile, here’s a 2012 tribute that I made for the fathers in my own life.