Tagalog Word of the Day: Nanay
A Steel Butterfly
She wears perfume like a punctuation.
Silk blouses & polished nails,
hair styled and finished. Fabrics flowed.
Never seen in sweatpants.
Never unready.
Feminine, yes—
but not soft.
Her voice came distinct and clear.
Nothing she said
arrived with an apology.
Every consonant landed sharp.
No contractions. No can’t, won’t, couldn’t.
Even in speech, anything less
was lazy.
True of Ilokanos,
where work was life itself.
The house was like her—
curated, fashionable but not trendy, exacting,
magazines stacked,
shoes aligned, lights dimmed, fire burning,
silence where there should be silence.
No need to explain
what was expected.
She didn’t bend to comfort others.
But she had a charm.
She directed.
And if you didn’t like it,
you could leave the room.
And that room was never empty of admirers.
She managed her daughter
like she managed her day—
appointments, lessons,
discipline, performance, ballet.
Order in place of chaos,
and the foresight to raise a daughter
prepared for the unknown,
with a spine
as supple and strong as bamboo.
It didn’t always feel tender.
But it was loving care.
And with time,
you begin to see
what doesn’t show in childhood:
the strength it took
to hold that line.
To give you structure
instead of sweetness or baked cookies.
To raise you with the tools
that would anchor you in character and integrity.
She didn’t say
“I love you” often.
But what wasn’t said was demonstrated.
Beyond what words can say.
You always had what you needed—
and what you didn’t.
And more than that,
you had a blueprint:
To stand.
To decide.
To walk into any room
without asking permission.
It may not have been standard issue.
But it was mothering.
And it is enduring.
A MOTHER’S LOVE.
Soundtrack for this Week
Fiesta
Tagalog Word of the Day:
NANAY
Nanay is a Tagalog word meaning mother. It's an affectionate, respectful term used in many Filipino households—similar to “Mama” or “Mom.” In some regions, it's interchangeable with "Inay" or "Mama," but "Nanay" often carries a sense of traditional, maternal authority and warmth.
Si Nanay ang bumangon ng maaga para magluto ng almusal, kahit pagod pa siya mula kahapon.
Mom woke up early to cook breakfast, even though she was still tired from yesterday.
May 10, 2025
Newsletter #51