Nancy Mommy Naging SingleD

By Nancy David Galang, MA “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” — A. A. Milne , Winnie-the-Pooh There are sunsets you watch with someone, and there are sunsets you learn to enjoy on your own. (I took this photo when I drove up to Tanay, Rizal) Bago ako naging mag-isa, meron munang “kami.” Kami na mag-schoolmates. Kami na magkapitbahay. Kami na magkaibigan. Kami na naging mag-jowa. 😂😂😂 Kami na nagkatuluyan...at kami na nagkaroon ng limang anak (one in heaven). I first heard about him from my high school classmates at Maryknoll College High School (MCHS). He seemed popular and was a "crush ng bayan", as we would call it during those days. But I did not take interest, I was not into boys yet (ang alam ko lang, masugid na fan ako ni Gabby Concepcion at Nonoy Zuniga!) How did we meet?  We met when I was 16 and he was 21. I was in 4th year high school. Siya, bagong graduate ng college. We were schoolmates at Maryknoll College (now Miriam) Yes, at...

By Nancy David Galang, MA “The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.” — Jon Kabat-Zinn I am a few years away from getting that 20% discount and VAT exemption for some purchases and services. Yes, I am talking about "seniorhood", mga Nan-sis. As much as we don't want it, the inevitable will come! I am at that point when I would forget scheduled meetings at work, go to a room in my house and not remember why, or misplace things - most of the time intentionally keeping them somewhere “safe” so they won't get lost, only to forget where I kept them! Lalo na ang mga susi - susi sa kotse, susi sa opisina, susi sa gate. Relate ba kayo, mga Nan-sis? But then I realized that one of the easiest things to lose in life is not our keys, our wallet, or even our schedule - it is ourselves. We spend years taking care of other people, meeting expectations, solving problems, and showing up for everyone who needs us. We become wives, mothers, grandmothers, executives, f...

  By Nancy David Galang, MA                                                                   Most of us celebrate birthdays and special occasions surrounded by the people we love. We gather with family, meet up with friends, and create memories with those who matter most. But when you're a single mom juggling countless responsibilities, a part of you quietly longs for something different. Not another gathering. Not another plan to organize. Just a little space to breathe. Because when life feels like an endless cycle of taking care of everyone else, solitude starts to feel less like loneliness and more like a gift. Quiet time becomes a luxury and something you rarely have and deeply crave. And sometimes, the best way to celebrate another year of life is not by being surrounded by people, but by finally giving you...

Dear Ma, Today, I just planned on having a peaceful, quiet day. Pero biglang naging dramatic ang araw ko, umaga pa lang -  dahil nag-sink in sa akin na wala ka na pala talaga.  Siguro tinatawanan mo lang ako from heaven, saying "Si Honey Baby (that's how mom and dad fondly called me) nagda-drama na naman!". Pero Ma, miss na miss kita.  Although before you passed, matagal ka nang hindi nakakalakad, nanghihina, nagrereklamo sa mga iniinda mong sakit ng katawan, deep inside, I was hopeful I would still have more time with you.  Ang tibay-tibay mo kasi - literally and figuratively. Imagine, you reached 90!  Ang dami mong pinagdaanan sa aming mga anak mo and in your own marriage. But you held us all together despite and inspite. Paano mo nagawa ang lahat ng 'yun, Ma?  I didn't realize, sa'yo pala ako humuhugot ng lakas. Kung ano man ang meron akong lakas para manatiling nakatayo sa kabila ng mga pinagdadaanan ko, it was because of you and dad. Lalo na sa'yo, da...

By Nancy D. Galang, MA This book was born during one of the most uncertain times in our lives - the pandemic. It was a season when the world slowed down, and in that stillness, people were almost forced to turn inward. Without the usual distractions of busy schedules and constant movement, many of us found ourselves sitting with our thoughts, reflecting more deeply, and reconnecting with parts of ourselves we had long set aside. There was a quiet shift - conversations became more meaningful, emotions more visible, and even silence carried weight. It was a season when the world slowed down, and in that stillness I turned inward . In that space, I found myself becoming more attuned to my inner voice. The noise of the outside world faded just enough for me to hear it clearly. I found the urge to write, to process, to make sense of everything unfolding within and around me. It wasn’t just about putting words on paper; it became a way of grounding myself, of navigating uncertainty, and of g...