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"Before I Became SingleD"

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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...

Grief, Darkness, and the Grace of Stillness

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By Nancy David Galang, MA Be still, and know that I am God. ”  -   Psalm 46:10 Simula nang bata pa ako, Holy Week meant going out of town with the whole family. Taking that much needed summer break. Bonding and catching up. Beach, Baguio, out of the country, perhaps.  Today is Black Saturday, but I never really knew what it meant. I never really bothered to find out.  So what does Black Saturday mean?   As I have read - in this context, Black Saturday carries these three meanings: grief, darkness, and stillness. Grief, because Jesus has died. Darkness, because there is no clear hope yet. Stillness, because nothing seems to be happening. It's the quietest day of the Holy Week. Napagdaanan at naramdaman n'yo na ba lahat ito, mga Nan-sis? I surely have. YES na YES to all three!  Grief - we have all lost someone close to us, one way or the other. I have lost my dad, my husband, and my mom.  I am still grieving the loss of my mom. We lost her Octo...

“Caps, Gowns, and Gratitude: Celebrating My Son’s Graduation and a Parent’s Dream Fulfilled”

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  By Nancy D. Galang, MA “The only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.” -  Michelle Obama My youngest son, Rocky, who graduated October last year, recently asked me bakit daw hindi ko pino-post sa social media ang graduation picture niya. Ang sabi ko, I wanted na ibalita ito sa "Sambayanang Pilipino" through a blog entry (kaso ang hirap humanap ng oras magsulat). Paano, super proud ako hindi lang sa kanya at sa tatlo kong anak that they all have college degrees, kundi sa sarili ko din. Imagine... NAKAPAGPATAPOS AKO NG APAT NA ANAK! Sabi ko nga sa kanila, mag-ce-celebrate kami at magpa-party kasi super big milestone ito ng aming pamilya.  Thanksgiving na din sana sa lahat ng mga tao who supported us in this journey. Kung hindi din naman dahil sa tulong at suporta ng mga kaibigan at pamilya, hindi kami makakarating sa finish line.  Kaso hindi natuloy ang celebration, kasi ang eldest ko na si Nix, s...

"What Didn''t Break Me, and What Almost Did" by Nancy D. Galang, MA

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It’s 2026, mga Nan-sis.   How was your 2025?  I didn’t end 2025 with a big bang. No countdown highlights, no dramatic “I made it” moment. Just a regular day, making sure my family had specially prepared meals for dinner, posting our family gathering on social media, and wishing everyone a simple “Happy New Year.” On the surface it looked ordinary, but it felt so much heavier than it should have. Maybe because I was closing a year without my mom around. I never knew how much her absence would change the way everything felt, even the ordinary moments. Christmas and the Quiet That Followed For as long as I can remember, Christmas and New Year celebrations meant Mom’s baked macaroni. It meant looking forward to the gifts she carefully picked out for me and the kids. It meant photo ops around her and watching her drink one bottle of beer before she dozed off. And now there’s this quiet space where she used to be - a real feeling of emptiness. The last few years with Mom, as she gre...