BA English Language - Dmmmsu SLUC

𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 | 𝐁𝐀𝐄𝐋 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐔𝐕 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬

𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘥𝘢𝘯, 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯 – Three Bachelor of Arts in English Language (BAEL) students participated in a relief distribution for Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers in Mangaldan, Pangasinan on May 1, 2026. The activity was a community service initiative of the Kabataan Kontra Korapsyon (K*K), a non-profit youth organization founded on humanitarian belief, which Melcher P. Presto, Ingrid Ventanilla, and Blezilda Busa are proud members of.

K*K distributed relief goods to jeepney, bus, tricycle, and pedicab drivers, in the pretext that the continuous increase in fuel prices negatively affects their daily income and livelihood. The activity was supported by solicitations from individuals who handed financial or in-kind donations. The generosity of the donors and the combined efforts and diligence of the members and several volunteers from Pangasinan altogether helped 96 PUV drivers.

This outreach program emphasizes the spirit of kindness, unity, and social responsibility of the BAEL students outside the classroom. They perceive this as a constant reminder that even the smallest act of kindness can make a significant difference for another. The BAEL program is looking forward to a partnership with K*K in leading a youth literacy program in the future. 🍊

🖊️📷 | 𝘔𝘦𝘭𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰

𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 | 𝐒𝐮𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠

𝘚𝘢𝘯 𝘑𝘶𝘢𝘯, 𝘓𝘢 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 — 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗝𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮, now a BAEL alumna from batch 2026, performed her original poem "𝗡𝗢" in open mic in 𝗦𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗦: 𝗔 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 at The Circle Hostel, San Juan, La Union last March 28, 2026. Organized by 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀, 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗹, and 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗯𝗶𝗯𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘁𝘀, the event gathered local creatives who expressed their support for Women's Month through their individual artisry. Fontanilla, who writes under the penname, 𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, joined Minyang Oleng, Mitch Anadia, and Shii in the open mic performances, captivating the audience with their meaningful musical and poetic renditions.

As a published poet and amateur novelist, Sun of Decadence is no stranger to the spotlight, but her recent performance at the event proved that true confidence is not about being perfect, rather, about refusing to let go. Despite the pressure of performing first among the others, she walked onto the stage with a presence that commanded the room. She may have personally rated her confidence an eight out of ten, but she admitted the external perception was even stronger.

"I think I look more confident than I was because people were listening," Sun of Decadence said, "My voice had a command on that stage."

For Sun of Decadence, the tools of her trade are more than just stationery and tech. At that moment, she describes her pen as a "sword" and the microphone as a "weapon." This fierce approach to art is rooted in her literary upbringing. Drawing inspiration from the rhythmic beauty of William Shakespeare’s sonnets, she writes her free verse specifically to "glide on the tongue."

However, even with her experience, the live event threw a curveball. Having opted not to rehearse—trusting the natural flow of her own writing—she stumbled on the second line.

For many, a mistake at the start of a performance would be a breaking point. For Sun of Decadence, it was a trigger.

"I thought, 'I need to lock in' because I want my voice to be heard," she explained. "I know that those words weren't just mine; it was my observation on the voices of women whose tongues were shunned."

Instead of shrinking, she leaned into her personal mantra: "Sink your teeth; never let go." By the time she finished her piece, the initial nerves had transformed into a desire to start all over again. While some students find that a major performance changes who they are, Sun of Decadence remains grounded. To her, the event wasn't a transformation, but a continuation of a life already dedicated to the written and spoken word.

When asked if the experience changed how she is seen in the school hallways, she was characteristically blunt. "It did not change; it’s still me," she said. Whether on or off the stage, the community can expect the same unwavering resolve as she puts it, "Nothing changed... always and as ever shall be." 🍊

🖊️ | 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘯 𝘏. 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘪ñ𝘰
📷 | @𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘣𝘪𝘣𝘴𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘴; 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘑𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢

📣🔒 Time to 𝗟𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗜𝗡, 𝙀𝙇𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘀! 🛸🍊

Give in to that ✨main character energy✨ for enrollment starting tomorrow, 𝗠𝗔𝗬 𝟮𝟱, for FHE application, 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟯-𝟱 for 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀, and 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟭𝟬 for 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 (take note of the time table 🕐).

👆 Welcome back, fam! 👋 This SY, let's slay 𝙀𝙇𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 with absolute rizz, fr fr ✨🍊

💻 | 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘻 𝘍𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢

𝐈𝐍 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐒 | Transforming into icons of popular culture, the BAEL freshies redefined creative expression in their sterling performances in modern dance, fashion, traditional and digital painting, vocal solo and duets, and mythological interpretation during the Philippine Pop Culture Festival 2026 last April 7. Their collective effort earned them an overall second place and winner of Miss Pop Culture 2026.

Way to go, BAELien freshies! More opportunities for culture and artistry await you! 🍊

📷 | 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘢 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴

𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 | The DMMMSU Office of Internationalization and Linkages features Ms. Ivory Jean Aquino, a BAEL alumna from Batch 2026, as one of the speakers in its seminar on May 22 via Zoom. Together with experts and fellow international mobility participants, Ms. Aquino will share her topic, "𝐌𝐚𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐟 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬: 𝐌𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞," which will highlight her life as an international student in the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. 🍊

𝗞𝗨𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗧𝗔? | Join us tomorrow, May 22, 2026, with invited speakers from Bangladesh, Thailand and Indonesia-- alongside DMMMSU international mobility participants and scholars in Canada, South Korea and other global programs.

Scan the QR code or join via link below as we talk about exchange programs, global opportunities, scholarships, and cross-cultural success for aspiring student participants.

https://tinyurl.com/zoomreadysetglobal
Meeting ID: 255 740 0406
Passcode: 0115

Zoom opens at 8:30 AM. Program starts at 9:00 AM. See you there!

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 | 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐩 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐀 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

For the first-year Bachelor of Arts in English Language (BAEL) students, language has always been about more than just syntax and semantics. It is also about the soul of a culture. On April 7, 2026, the DMMMSU-SLUC Multi-Purpose Hall transformed into a vibrant tapestry of tradition and talent during the 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗽 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲. With the theme “𝗛𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝘄𝗮𝗴𝗮: 𝗔 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗠𝘆𝘁𝗵, 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲,” these freshmen stepped out of the classroom and onto the stage, proving that the power of words is best felt through action.

The journey began at the Art Exhibit, a visual sanctuary where the BAEL students breathed life into Filipino myths. From intricate sketches and oil pastel paintings to literary pieces written in the melodic rhythms of Iloco and Pangasinan, the display was a testament to regional pride. The panel of judges was chaired by Dr. Leilani I. Pamo, alongside Prof. Denver M. Oficiar, Mr. Dexter B. Reyes, and Dr. Renante D. Malagayo, who all awarded the artistic rendition first place.

The festival then shifted from the visual to the auditory. In the Singing segment, 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗔𝘀𝗵𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝘇 and 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝘆 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗻 blended their voices in a performance that resonated through the hall, securing a third-place finish.

The energy did not stop there. The floor soon shook with the synchronized steps of the BAEL dance troupe. Led by a spirited ensemble including 𝗗𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘆𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗴, 𝗘𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘀, 𝗘𝗱𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻, 𝗜𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗴𝗮, 𝗝𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗮𝘀, 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘂 𝗠𝗮𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀, and 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝘆 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗻, the group delivered a performance that fused modern flair with cultural energy, earning another third-place.

Perhaps the most glamorous transformation occurred during the Fashion Show. This wasn't just a runway, it was a display of poise and character. 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮 commanded the spotlight, earning the prestigious Miss Pop Culture title and a Professionalism Award. Not to be outdone, 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝘄𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗽𝗶𝗼 delivered a powerhouse performance that swept the judges off their feet, clinching first place and a second Professionalism Award for the class.

While the event served as a requirement for their Philippine Popular Culture course, the silver and gold trophies were merely the finishing touches. The true victory lay in the camaraderie forged behind the scenes. As the curtains closed, the BAEL freshies proved that they are more than just students of language; they are keepers of the narrative. Through their dedication and artistry, they embodied the spirit that defines their journey.

𝗕𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆. 🍊

🖊️ | 𝘌𝘳𝘪𝘬𝘢 𝘔𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘴
💻 | 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘮𝘩𝘦𝘭 𝘉𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰
📷 | 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘢 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 | Sincerest 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 to three new BAELumni LPTs! Thank you for becoming part of the force that intensifies language education! You are proof of the versatility of the English language as a course and an empowerment to the industry.

𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙀𝙇𝙪𝙢𝙣𝙞. 🍊

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 | 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬
🖊️ | 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘭𝘦 𝘈𝘯𝘯 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘤
📷 | 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘢 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴; 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘮 𝘙𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴

⚠️ 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘤. 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘥.

What is life after the soul leaves its body? Is it something to toast champagne with because it is done? Or is it like a shattered glass that must be picked up with bare hands because you have to pay for the price? In between two worlds–life and death–it is difficult to step into a parallel where you alone exist.

The musical play "𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗘𝗗," performed by the BAEL 2 students in 𝗘𝗟𝗦𝗖 𝟭𝟭𝟬: 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝘁𝘀 under the instruction of Dr. Manilyn R. Cacanindin, is not just about being haunted by past mistakes. It is a journey of how Celestine, the protagonist, learns from the greatest sin she committed and is forced to confront fragments of her life through shifting eras, reflecting her inner turmoil. The story reveals how one wound can ripple through one’s life and the secrets it holds. However, blinded by the society's expectations, she chose to turn her sheets into red, and walked into the path of darkness bearing the weight of a life she slowly let slip through her own hands.

𝗧𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁…

We often search for the path they whispered on rather than finding our own light to escape the cave they have actually created. The musical play represents the desire to be great yet feels empty once achieved. Celestine is a soul filled with passion, yet stripped of the will to pursue it, burdened by the pressure she carries. After ending her own sufferings, she has to pay for her sins. The Grim Reaper, the shadow that lingers to chase her, is not just a representation of death but a figure of her conscience and her unresolved story, making her face it.

Beyond this, the play depicts realities faced by many. The pressure that one should bear, expectations that need to be met, and the excruciating pain no one sees. These factors often lead to a tragic ending. We often climbed mountains to prove we reached the top yet forget that we once climbed simply to witness the world beyond it. Until the unspoken struggle can only be heard when silence makes a noise.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀

The shift of eras is chosen for the play not just to add drama, but also as a representation of the dynamics of human experience. Each embodies a distinct struggle that reflects the realities we had. Chased by the Grim Reaper, Celestine was forced to go from frame to frame to find the answer; each depicts that life is not measured by time and place, but we all suffer from the choices we make and the consequences they carry.

In the modern world, words hold weight and can ruin one’s reputation. It is a world that is familiar yet full of unseen choices. It highlights the rhythm of everyday Filipino life, its laughter, its struggles, and the moments that define who we are.

The scene shifts to an era where gunshots are the only noise and lives are taken mercilessly. Amidst the battle, love blooms: two hearts on opposite sides find each other, teaching us the precious value of life and the courage it takes to hold on.

The story also captures the Renaissance era where envy took the stage until it cost even the brightest star to darkness. It is a world of art, ambition, and hidden desires, which highlights the inner struggle of Celestine.

These eras represent how human struggles constantly repeat despite the period they were in, making us realize that love, pain, and loss are timeless.

𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦.

The Grim Reaper accused Celestine of the crime she never knew she did. She was framed, she thought, that is why she ran away to hide from the truth. The frames symbolize the different dimensions of her life that reflect her sufferings on every life she touched. As she moved from different places, she slowly learned why she was being chased. The truth itself made its way for her to find her way back home—to herself.

This reflects reality where we run from the truth, believing it can only wound us. We tend to burn the book instead of writing a new chapter. We are scared. But not because it might destroy us. But because of the voices that make us insane and lose the version of ourselves we once knew. The play wanted to open our eyes that we might be responsible for the things we have done but also reminds us to be gentle with ourselves because it is the only home we will always return to.

𝗧𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱

They say, “𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘸𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥.”

The story captured how we are lost despite knowing the path we are walking to. The play reminds us that the cave they put us into is not just a place we try to hide ourselves. There is still a part of us waiting to be seen, to be heard, to be forgiven. Not by the world, but by ourselves.

After all, we try to escape not because we want to leave, but because we are just trying to save the version of ourselves we once knew.

The musical play is for those who dare to face the truths within themselves, for those who seek meaning in every choice, and for the souls who are still searching their way to themselves.

𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙨, 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮. 🍊

𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 | 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐫
🖊️ | 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯

"Mama"
"Ma"
"Nanay"
"Mom"
"Inay"
"Nanang."

To an outsider, these are just different names for the same role—a set of labels used to categorize a person. We see them in the stories we are told, the portraits we paint, and the books that line our shelves. All are often tied to a rigid set of expectations for what a woman should be. Society tends to view this role as a natural destination, assuming that a woman's capacity for patience, sacrifice, and domestic management is simply an inherent part of her identity.

There is an unspoken pressure to be the perfect emotional shock absorber for the world, to possess an endless well of selfless energy, and to perform the labor of care as if it were a biological instinct rather than a conscious, demanding effort. From the outside, "mother" is a noun—a fixed point in a narrative that carries the heavy weight of being everything to everyone, often at the cost of being an individual for oneself. But when you look through the eyes of a daughter/child as I am, that fixed point begins to move. You may realize that mothering isn't a title you hold or a biological destiny; it’s a language you speak. It is a language I began learning long before I had words of my own.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘮𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘺. It is the work of the heart’s keeper—the one who quietly carries the weight of everyone’s moods, manages the hidden schedules of the home, and softens the underlying tensions of a household without ever asking for recognition. It is the effort of the midnight strategist, the peacekeeper, and the silent provider who ensures that life runs smoothly while her own exhaustion is kept out of sight. I see this language most clearly in the way my mom lived her days for me.

𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵; she would never sleep until she knew I had fallen asleep first, as if her wakefulness was a shield for my rest. She wouldn't eat a meal without me, even if I arrived home late, choosing to wait in the quiet of the kitchen so we could share that moment together. This care was packed into my lunchboxes every morning—not just as food, but as a labor of love that she woke up early to prepare, ensuring I was nourished even when I was away from her. If I ever forgot something at home—a notebook, a project, or that very lunchbox—she would find her way to my school just to bring it to me, making sure I was never without what I needed. It was an unwavering desire to be present in every single event of my life, creating a space for heart-to-heart conversations where I could be at my most vulnerable.

𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦: 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦, 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘎𝘰𝘥. From where I stand, mothering is the quiet art of being a steady anchor when the world gets too loud. It is a specialized fluency that requires years of dedicated attention to another person’s soul. It’s the ability to hear what isn't being said—to look at a daughter’s silence and translate it into a need for rest or a simple, grounding conversation. In this language, a question like "Did you eat?" is rarely just about a meal. It is a multifaceted way of saying, "I am looking out for your well-being when you’ve forgotten to look out for your own."

When we move past the societal labels and the gendered expectations, we see the heart of the matter: 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. It is the tireless, daily choice to nurture someone’s potential and protect their peace through a thousand small, invisible tasks. It is the practice of showing up, staying present, and providing the calm end to a chaotic day, often at the expense of one's own quiet. Ultimately, this devotion is the very foundation of what it means to be seen and understood. It is a persistent, selfless verb that sustains life long after the words are spoken.

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙈𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧’𝙨 𝘿𝙖𝙮, 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙬𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝—𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩, 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙. 🍊

"Mothering is a verb. It’s something you do. Not just who you are." — Dorothy Canfield Fisher

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 to the newest Career Service Examination passers from the program! Huge thanks for doing your best even beyond the borders of the classroom and the University gates. BAELfamilia joins you all in the celebration of this milestone!

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗘𝗟𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗶 🍊