Whenever we were faced with hardships, ang laging tanong sa amin ni Mama, which we eventually adapted on our own was, "Mas mahirap ba 'to kaysa nang nawala si Papa?"

In between hard days at work, stressful campaigning, Mama being attacked left and right with disinformation and propaganda, and living with the challenges of everyday, the answer would always be no.

Walang mas hihirap pa na pagsubok sa mga buhay namin kaysa sa pagkawala ni Papa.

I guess ayun na rin ang dahilan why Mama remains the calm and undeterred person that she is. That in spite of everything, pinili pa rin niyang tumulong sa kapwa. Na kahit gano'n kasama ang trato sa kanya, she'd still look at people in the eye, smile graciously at them, and welcome them with open arms.

Hindi matutumbasan ang sakit ng pagkawala ni Papa ang kahit ano'ng pababatikos at paratang ng iba.

I see my dad in the littlest of things — in simple mathematical problems, in Patty's mannerisms, in Jillian's facial expressions, and in Mama's quiet strength. Those small details that made our life the way that it is now pushed me to go forward.

"Hindi na kailangan, Aiks," Mama told me when I asked if she needed any help. "Kaya ko na."

"Ma, hayaan mo akong tumulong," I insisted. "Wag mong sarilihin."

Nakita ko si Papa sa pagluha ng mga mata ni Mama pagkayakap niya sa'kin. His words echoed in my head. "Don't spend your time crying, anak. Take care of Mama." So I did. I held back my tears and took care of my family. I ran the household on the days that my mom couldn't due to work and I became my siblings' other pillar of strength.

Naging lakas at sandalan namin ang isa't isa.

And while we traveled with Mama on her journey in public service and politics, there were days when we'd think na mag-isa lang kami. Na walang ibang kakampi si Mama kundi kaming mga anak niya. Maybe you could add her friends and her staff to that, but we didn't have huge numbers.

Not until we see the people who have been with us from the start again.

Like Tita Risa.

4 years after we lost Papa, Mama was running for Vice President. Hindi naman talaga niya gusto. She loved public service but she didn't want to be a politician. It was Papa's dream. Yet, she did it anyway because she knew that the best kind of service she could offer was if she could be given a bigger mandate.

Tita Risa was there through it all. Hindi lang para kay Mama pero para na rin sa aming magkakapatid. Lalo na sa akin.

"Are you okay? Do you need any help?" She'd constantly ask me. "How's work?"

And I found myself enjoying her company more and more over the course of that campaign. Marami akong nakukwento sa kanya, from work to my personal life, to stories about my siblings, and to anecdotes about my mom.

She listened carefully with a smile on her face. My mom and Tita Ris were like Yin and Yang. Mama's love was reflected in her actions more than her words. But Tita's were more on her affirmations.

Tita Ris is bright and comforting. If sunshine were a person, it would be her. No wonder Mama loved being in her presence.

"Alam mo, Aika, your mom probably never said it out loud but she's grateful for you." She whispered beside me as we watched the campaign rally go on.

"Sinabi po niya sa'yo?"

"Oo naman. She talks about you proudly. 'Uy alam mo ba si Aika natuto na naman magluto ng bagong recipe,' ang galing mo na raw magluto ngayon. She shares your achievements with me rin, may pictures pa nga minsan."

I blushed and lowered my head. Tita Risa put a hand on my back, "Maswerte ang Mama mo because she has you as a daughter."

"Mas maswerte po ako kasi mama ko siya."

The friendship that Mama and Tita Ris had went on for years. Tita was as much as a constant to us as she was to Mama. We'd get texts from her on important days like birthdays and graduations. She'd also call or text us the night before Papa's death anniversary and ask us how we're doing.

"Your dad would be proud of you, girls," she'd say.

And then we'd get messages from her on random days. "Look, Aika. This reminded me of you kaya I bought you one!" or "Hey, Aika, you and Tricia want to join me for yoga?"

I asked Tita Ris one time why she treated us the way that she did and she said, "You're like daughters to me na rin."

Dating was never an option for Mama. Besides the fact that she didn't have time for it, she didn't want to. Her focus was always work and family. Kaya hindi kami nangamba ng mga kapatid ko na anyone could replace Papa. A lot of people tried. They courted Mama, asked her out on dates, all of which she turned down. Hindi siya interesado and she never spared anyone a second glance.

At least not until Tita Risa.

The second time they campaigned together, I knew there was something. If not between them, then kay Mama lang. Like the woman she is, hindi niya na kailangan sabihin. Her actions were enough.

To others, her concern for Tita may have been the same way as before. But not to me. Not when I see her double check if Tita's okay. Not when I see her cheeks blush when she's talking to Tita, or how she stares at her longer. Not when I see her purely, utterly, and helplessly in love.

Was I prepared for it? No.

Was I okay with the two of them together? No.

But if there was anyone that I would allow Mama to love, would it be fine if it's Tita Risa? Yes.

I felt guilty. Kasi all this time, I agreed with my siblings that Mama shouldn't be dating anyone pero kapag si Tita Ris, bakit okay lang sa akin? I felt like I was betraying Papa's memory and I hated it.

So when Patty told me about her dream with Papa, I was relieved. It would take long before I could fully accept it since hindi nga ako prepared at hindi okay sa akin completely, but Tita Ris held a special place in my heart.

"Remember when I said that you three are like my own daughters na?" Tita asked as she sat beside me.

"Opo. You'd always remind us pa."

"You're my daughters legally now, does that make it weird?"

"No, of course not po." I laughed and she laughed along with me.

"Thank you for letting your mom and I do this."

"Mama Ris, kami po ang dapat magpasalamat sa'yo. Thank you for making Mama happy."

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"I was 24 years old when my dad died. Immediately, I shared the household responsibilities with my mother and became my siblings' second parent. Mama and I would alternate in buying groceries, cooking food, and maintaining the house. Life was never the same since the day I told Patty something happened with Papa's plane.

The three of us leaned on Mama for everything after that. She was, and still is, the strength behind my sisters and I. She never said a lot of things, only saying those that truly mattered. But she always did more than she could do.

Patty would be up late reviewing and Mama would be right there with her despite not being needed. Jill would find an Econ problem difficult and Mama, though in the middle of a meeting, would answer her question with the complete explanation. I would wake up super early in the morning for work and I'd find her in the kitchen packing my lunch.

She was my north star, my moral compass, my everything. Whatever I am now, I owe it to her. I owe it to Papa.

Alam naman po ninyo na ayaw naming magkakapatid na magkaroon pa ng ibang tao sa buhay ni Mama. We could never picture her with someone else other than our dad. Kaya coming to the realization that my mom was starting to fall in love with someone, that someone being Tita Risa, I was shocked. But aside from that shock, I felt so guilty because I thought, kung si Tita lang naman pala, bakit hindi?

Among Mama's friends in politics, or friends in general, Tita Risa held a special place in my heart. She's my favorite, just as much as I am hers. Perhaps that's why it was okay with me if they were to have a relationship.

But then again, Mama always did more than she could do. She was willing to set aside her feelings for Tita for our sake. She knew that we would say no, so she didn't bother trying. Not until my siblings and I told her that it was okay with us if she decides to.

And that's a decision that we won't ever regret kasi nakita agad namin kung gaano kasaya si Mama. We see it in her actions, in her words, and in her eyes that always held so much more than we could ever fathom.

My mother and Tita Ris' love came unexpectedly, in the most unforeseen circumstances, and in the most uncommon places. But it was in their love that I realized how wonderful it is to have a love that you'd never see coming but you deserved anyway.

As I welcome Tita Risa and our new siblings to our family, I am reminded of Papa, who always told me to not spend my time crying because now, I have new joys to look forward to. I am reminded of his warm embraces and comforting words because now, I have a lot more people in my family to share it with.

I am reminded of the love my Papa gave us — a love that transcends both time and space because now, I know that his wish for Mama has just came true albeit being universes apart: the love that would last her this lifetime.

Mama's quiet strength carried us through so many of life's storms, and now she doesn't have to carry anything alone. So to Mama Ris and our new siblings, welcome to our family, and thank you for welcoming us in yours."