Mariel Padilla Couldn’t Write A Eulogy For Her Mom So She Wrote This Heartfelt Letter Instead

Good afternoon everyone. I want to thank all of you for coming today. I know it’s a day after Christmas and you’re supposed to be with your families, but you made time for my mom. And I know that she really, really appreciates that. Thank you so much.

I couldn’t write a eulogy for my mom so I wrote a letter instead:

Dearest mom,

Today, I want to thank you. I want to thank you for many things.

Thank you for all the summers in Japan, it taught us how to travel independently. We learned how to ski. Fear no roller coasters, you rode them all with us and that’s why I do the same with my kids. I love how we would watch Japanese TV shows and you would translate it for us. In the morning, I would go to Lawsons to buy Häagen-Dazs strawberry ice cream and you would watch me from the balcony of Nogiyama. Summers in Japan is my most favorite childhood memory.

Thank you for coming home to visit. I remember in one of those visits you had a full bag of Sanrio goodies for me and ate. For her, Hello Kitty everything, and for me, Kerokeroppi everything. I always had nice things in school because of you. One time I was in the hospital and you came home for me, thank you for doing that.

Thank you for always being fun. Thank you for the movies you introduced to us, I always remember our favorite movies together, Beaches, Stella, and Mermaids. Whenever I hear the songs of James Ingram, I remember you. You had this scent that only you had, you said it was because you breastfed us. Only later to find out hindi naman pala. When I was breastfeeding my kids, I did it so hopefully I would have that special scent and they would remember it too.

Thank you for all the food that you cooked for me. Food was your love language. Thank you for the omurice–she would, she would put like a heart or a smiling face on the omurice with ketsup. The miso soup always felt like a warm hug. Sukiyaki and all. I was eight when you first let me try raw oysters. The canned peaches with canned cream always tasted better with you. A lot of my favorites were introduced by you. My favorite brands. My favorite cologne. Favorite shows.

Thank you for always being proud of me. To you, I was the best at what I did. Thank you for my face. I know when I’m old, I will be beautiful because you were always most beautiful.

I am most grateful for the time you spent with Isabella. 2017 and 2018 were the best times together. Three times a week, you would go to the house and watch over Isabella so that I can go to the studio without having to worry so much. I was able to go back to work because of you.

Thank you for preparing all of Isabella’s monthly celebrations. And all her Playscape classes, I learned so much from you. I remember during those times I wasn’t confident with my cooking so I would order all the time and you taught me how to transfer them, saying “OK lang iyan anak, kanya kanya lang iyan ng style. So my food always looked home cooked because you transferred it well. It was the closest we ever were. And I will forever cherish those moments with you. You were present.

Thank you for loving my children, Isabella and Gabriella. Thank you, mom, for the love. Thank you for the sacrifices and the understanding. You were never afraid to give. Thank you for everything.

Mom, the most important thing I want to tell you is, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for all the times I hurt you, all the pain I caused you. I’m mostly sorry that you didn’t get to hear me saying all of this when you were alive, I know how much you wanted to hear it. I love you and though I missed you, I’m happy for you. Because I know that everything you prayed for was answered. I look forward to the time that I will reunite with you again.

Love,

Ma Ma

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by mariel padilla (@marieltpadilla)