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Little Girl,

Your ninangs and I had a quick coffee date while I was in Cebu the other day (not complete though because your Tita Z was busy playing devoted town daughter in Argao and your Ninang Pikz was hiding behind the DJ booth, attracting stalkers with her bedroom voice). And it continuously amazes me that after all these years being together, "narcissistically" albeit subtly talking about ourselves, our worlds which couldn't be more different from each other and our bruises, that we can now include you in the picture!

If you don't get how surreal the moment is, imagine this. Imagine being with someone from when they were still in 3rd grade. From when you saw her play with Sailor Moon cards or bite her nails as if it were a separate food group (that's me, by the way) up to the time she actually talks about more adult endeavors like migration, marriage, career moves and yes, kids. Imagine a child having a child. It's comforting and out-of-body at the same time.

Talking about ninangs, I do not think it's a proper notion to choose one solely on the purpose of making them spare tires to you because realistically speaking, no one could really be you. No one will ever have the same values as you no matter how tied or alike you are. It's an even bigger misnomer to say 'Well, at least I have someone to take care of my kid when I die'. And if you unfortunately don't, then what? Are their roles then sidetracked to giving Aguinaldos every Christmas or pinching your cheek everytime you see them accidentally at the mall every few years or so?

I think it's important to choose ninangs your kids can grow with,go crazy with, have fun with, argue with and even run away to when their mother is being her psychotic self again and is unnecessarily frazzling the household's delicate balance. I'm lucky and assured that I found that in your ninangs.

They're so unlike me from the superficial aspects down to the core. And that's the best thing about them. Because as your Celine Dion lullaby goes (part of your nighttime playlist but I shall refuse it if anybody asks) "If I could, I would teach you all the things I never learned" but I can't, so I ask your ninangs to do it for me: to teach you things I cannot.

Here's a rundown of the things you should learn from your ninangs. Bat an eyeleash. Badger it from them if you must:

From your Ninang Danica:
1. How to cook a mean pasta and all other alcohol-laced meals
2. How to organize anything and everything from a private party to an all-week feathered event
3. How to speak proper English. Get your 'they're' from your 'their' straight, kiddo.Your ninang is a stickler for grammar. She isn't Head trainer for nothing.
4. How to speak in front of hundreds without fainting or choking like your Mom does
5. How to be sane. She's the most centered person I know.

From your Ninang Michelle
1. How to transform anything you can find into wearable art
2. How to keep memories without hoarding them
3. How to cajole your parents (Note: use this on your Papa, not on me)into seeing things your way
4. How to quietly go for your goals without trampling on anyone
5. How to uncomplicate and be content with life as we know it. She's a wonderful kind of crazy, this girl.

From your Ninang Aizza
1. How to apply makeup like you know what you're doing
2. How to carry any outfit. Doesn't matter if she's wearing a sack or a gown. She can rock it, this ninang of yours.
3. How to use the 'fake it 'til you make it' confidence rule with only lipstick in tow
4. How to assertively demand for proper service with a flick of the eyebrow
5. How to go astray but always come home to the people who love you

From your Ninang Pikay (who is MIA everytime I'm in Cebu)
1. how to roll with life's punches and come up beautiful in the end
2. how to rock any hairdo or no hairdo at all
3. how to travel anywhere and feel like you've gone everywhere. Great traveling companion, this ninang. Doesn't matter if you're pregnant or injured too.
4. how to exude confidence in any body, in any form, in any time
5. how to have fun using only the simplest tools in life. Great food. Great conversation. Great people. What else can you ask for, right Piks?

So there, kiddo. Learn hard. And learn well. They won't be easy on you. But that's only because they love you. In the end, that's all that you and I can really hope for.

♥,
Mom