Our parents can be our absolute best friends at one moment and our worst enemies, the next. It happens, and it is normal.
But not only can our parents be our best buds, they can also be our best teachers. And, I am not talking here about someone who gives us a spanking when we give the wrong answers or someone who always scolds us and makes pangaral. Not that.
Our parents can become our guides when tears start rolling down our cheeks, when our hearts start melting or even when we are filled with joy and laughter. The words they utter at these moments are words we will never forget. I like to call them the Kodak moments.
I asked a few notable personalities about the best thing that their parent or child has said to them and also at what point in their lives this happened. Some of you may even find these words all too familiar, having uttered them at some point in your own lives. I gladly share with you these certified Kodak moments. These words will definitely leave a you with a smile, tear, or a giggle. This is in hope that they may open your heart, inspire you to give your child or parent a big bear hug or say something you have not said in a long time, or even just something you know their hearts long to hear.
Lydia De Vega-Mercado and Stephanie
Lydia: July 1, 1989, ipinanganak ko siya, sinabi ko talaga sa kanya na siya ang aking buhay, pag-asa at inspirasyon sa lahat ng aking mga tatahakin, sapagkat isa siya sa mga pinakamagandang nangyari sa aking buhay and that I will always love her. Noong 1993, during the Southeast Asian Games held in Singapore (my second SEA Games after giving birth to Stephanie), tumawag ang pamilya ko sa Singapore para ako batiin sa pagkapanalo ko sa paborito kong 100-meter dash. After talking to my husband, I got to talk to Stephanie, she was only four years old then and she told me that she prayed hard for my success in the said competition. Napaiyak ako nang sabihin niya ito sa akin sa dahilang sa murang edad ay nagawa na niyang ipagdasal ako na manalo sa aking mga events. Napaiyak din ako sa dahilang alam ko na maraming mga kababayan natin ang umaasa sa aking pagkapanalo sa kompitisyong iyon at marami din ang hindi naniniwala na ako’y magwawagi. Kaya sa pamamgitan ng mga dasal at suporta ng aking pamilya, lalo na si Stephanie, at mga taong patuloy naniniwala sa aking kakayahan ito ay aking napagwagian.
Stephanie: July 1, 2001, birthday ko. Simple lang ang sinabi niya pero hindi ko makakalimutan. Sinabi niya na she will always be here by my side and I should also always take care of myself.
Dante Ritualo Sr. and Ren Ren Ritualo
Ren Ren: Lagi niyang sinasabi, "Galingan mo. Kaya mo ’yan, anak. Gawin mo lahat ng makakaya mo para manalo. Don’t just settle. Do your best all the time."
Dante: Ang sinasabi niya, "Magtatapos ako sa school, at nagtapos nga. Gagalingan niya sa career niya.
Edgar and Emmeline Aglipay
Emme: On the day that I found out I won as student council president, I was also awarded as one of the three outstanding Economics students in the Philippines. After the awarding ceremonies, my dad hugged me and said, "Alam mo anak, nung nag-graduate ako ng high school, naka-tsinelas lang ako....‘di ko man lamang sigurado kong may pera kami para makapag-college ako. Pero ipinangako ko sa sarili ko na kahit na hindi ako makapag-college, ang mga anak ko makakapagtapos ng kolehiyo. At ngayon, tingnan mo nga naman ang bait ng Diyos...lubos-lubos pa ang binigay Niya. I’m so proud of you, Emme. I see my dreams in you." That just brought tears to my eyes.
Edgar: On the same occasion, she told me in reply, "I only make you half as proud as you have made me. And I can only hope to be half the person you are. Mahal na mahal kita, Papa. Salamat dahil mahal na mahal mo rin kami."
Jose and Chris De Venecia
Chris: The best thing my dad has told me, or the most memorable is "Learn how to walk with kings and eat with paupers." He tells me that constantly.
Joe: Chris always tells me, in every important event that I am guest speaker, "Keep your speech short!"
Frank and Patrick Drilon
Frank: The best thing that Patrick has told me was, "I will do good in Ateneo, Dad, I PROMISE!"He said this during his graduation from high school.
Patrick: I remember he told me when he was about to take his oath for his Senate Presidency, he said he would have never gotten that far if he did not have his feet firmly planted on the ground. Another thing I remember him telling me one time we were abroad was "Education is the best preparation for life, not material wealth. And discipline is the postponement of gratification." I will never forget these words.