The quiet strength of my mother

When my mother turned 80 last December, I was struck by the extraordinary nature of her journey. Not in a loud, headline-making way, but in a quiet, enduring manner that reflects her resilience, grace, and a profound understanding of living life on her own terms.

- By IAN MAGBANUA

We weren’t particularly close when I was younger. Our relationship was defined more by structure and discipline than by warmth and intimacy. A dedicated banker, she began her career as a cashier in the 1960s and steadily climbed the ranks at Equitable Bank, ultimately retiring as the branch manager of its Ortigas location in the late '90s or early 2000s. She carried herself with professionalism and polish, exemplifying a mother who led through example and discipline rather than emotion. However, when I experienced my first heartbreak in college, she enveloped me in the unconditional love and comfort that only a mother can provide. That was when our relationship began to shift; I started to see not just the mother, but the woman; soft yet strong, distant yet always dependable.