Mama Pinang was not one
for simplicity.

She loved wearing the brightest colors
with the most extravagant dresses
and accessories.

She loved being the center of attention.
She would brim with confidence when
everyone's eyes were on her.

Mama Pinang also loved to
dance. Nothing truly made
her happier than dancing.

Even at the age of 98, she would
go ballroom dancing every Sunday
together with her friends.

Everyone called her the
Dancing Queen.

While I love watching Mama
Pinang dance, what stands out
most to me about her is how
strong and brave she is.

When I was young, there was this story of
Mama Pinang that my cousin's and I
always talked about.

Back when the Japanese invaded the
Philippines, Mama Pinang had just
recently given birth to her first son, Jose.

During that time, the Japanese were
ransacking their city, trying to get a hold
of any women that they can find for sexual
slavery. At the worst time possible, when
the Japanese arrived at their area, Jose
began crying non-stop, bringing attention
to Mama Pinang and their hiding place.

Mama Pinang knew that if they were found,
they would be done for. Calm and collected,
Mama Pinang began to soothe Jose's tears
and bring him back to sleep. Mama Pinang
was dead set on making sure her and her
family would be safe.

By the time the Japanese got into their home,
it was extremely quiet, making them think
that the house was empty. The Japanese soon
left the home, with both Mama Pinang and Jose
safe and sound from the invaders.

My cousins and I could never get enough
of this story when we were younger. Not only
because of how scary the whole situation was,
but also because of how brave Mama Pinang
was then. I can't imagine the amount of fear
she must've felt during that time, but the fact
that she was able to control it to make sure her
and her family was safe showed how much
courage Mama Pinang had.

I recently have also come
to realize how selfless
Mama Pinang was.

With all the fancy clothing,
it might be hard to see.
But the more I hear stories
about her, the more
apparent it is.

The other night, I was in conversation with my
mom about her childhood. She told me a lot
about growing up with Mama Pinang and Papa.

Mama Pinang and Papa were extremely close.
They both met through their love of dance
and parties. By the time Mama turned 16,
she got married to Papa and moved in
with him to Baguio.

Together, they both worked hand in hand.
Everyday, they both had a set routine for
each other. Mama would assist Papa
with his office work, and Papa would help
in providing for both of them.

So by the time Papa died,
it was the most heartbreaking
for Mama Pinang. There was
no one who loved him more
than Mama.

My mom told me that when he died,
she had recently migrated to the States
from the Philippines. My mom kept
calling Mama Pinang, begging to come
home to be with her so Mama wouldn't be
alone in mourning for Papa. Despite my
mom's pleas, Mama Pinang was insistent
in saying that my mom shouldn't come
home. Mama was scared of the chance
that my mom might lose her green card.

Mama Pinang though
suffering, always placed
others before herself.

Together with her
selflessness, Mama Pinang
showed so many of us the
meaning of motherly love.

Every Sunday, Mama Pinang would call
the entire family to her home. She would
cook her famous Pochero for all of us to eat.
She would also pack up leftovers for us
to take home.

And on Christmas as well, she would prepare
the biggest feast. From Lechon Baboy, to
Bibingka, Lengua, Chicken Relleno, and more,
Christmas was everyone's favorite time to eat
Mama Pinang's food.

She always looked after us.

When I was younger and lived in California
with my family, Mama Pinang would visit us
every year as a surprise. She would come with
all of our favorite food from the Philippines and
stack our fridge to make sure we wouldn't have
to worry about grocery shopping for months.

It was quite funny because, a lot of people would
describe Mama as someone who is very tight
with money. But whenever it came to taking
care of us, she was willing to spend a lot.

Unfortunately, Mama Pinang
passed away early this year on
Sunday, March 28, 2021 at
the age of 101.

I'm thankful for everything she has done,
but as time continues to pass, the want
to cherish her memory grows. I long for
a future where people won't forget her.
A future where she continues to live in
our minds and hearts.

Thank you for joining me in this journey of preserving her memory...