DURING the past three days, it has been such a delight to hear about many people?s personal encounters with mom. I?d like to share some of my own.

When I was a little boy, we used to live in an apartment with a tall gate in Singalong. Almost every day, me and my cousins would taunt the street kids that lived outside the gate. In their defense, they would shout back at us.

One time, an old rusty battery was thrown. It hit me right between my nose and my left eye, which began bleeding profusely.

Mom dashed by my side, looked at the wound, raced to the gate to look for the responsible kid while shouting words I had never heard back then. She had to be restrained by all our yayas and drivers, just like in the movies.

When I was 15, Mom was quite worried that I didn?t seem to be growing taller and that my voice had not yet changed. She took me to see my pediatrician, Tito Mike, who took one quick glance at my trousers and told her, ?It?s fine, Myrna, he?s a growing boy, he?ll get there soon!?

Mom also had this habit of calling her kids from across a crowded room to introduce them to her friends, which really irritated us ? but it was only because we knew she was truly proud of Trisha, Mitzi and myself.

Around nine years ago, when I felt it was time that I got married, I first approached Tita Teng for advice. But Tita Teng told my mom before I could.

When I got home, Mom was in tears and could only say, ?Why, RJ, why?? After a long pause she said, ?Okay, here?s a list of people I want to invite!?

Mom was my all-time favorite cook. I would always bring home friends to make them taste her cooking. Since I lived alone for a time, Mom made it a point to drop by my place to make sure there was food in my refrigerator ? and no one else in my bed.

Mom was the best teammate one could have. She dreaded our enemies and adored our friends and loved ones.

Forrest Gump said life was like a box of chocolates. I would liken Mom?s life to a box of crayons, full of color and life. It impacted our day-to-day existence in ways we may never truly understand.

I hope all of us here today continue to live life well and never forget how Mom touched us and colored our lives.