After more than a year of being apart, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel surprised his mother for a heartwarming reunion in time for the Mother’s Day celebration.
PCG Apprentice Seaman (ASN) Christian Nullan said that he was sent away home after he was deployed in Manila as a frontliner at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) when the community quarantine was declared over the National Capital Region last year.
As safety precautions to prevent spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Nullan was not able to return home to his province in Gumaca, Quezon for a long time.
“Nakakahiya man po na kumuha ng passes eh kumuha pa rin po ako dahil sa sobrang miss na miss ko na po ang nanay ko ang pamilya ko sa probinsya, kasi po kahit na mga officers nga po namin eh hindi rin po makauwi (Even if it is embarrassing to get passes, I still get them because I miss my mother and my family so much in the province, because some of our officers can't go home either),” Nullan told the Manila Bulletin.
When he was allowed to go home and his swab test result came negative, Nullan still took a few days of quarantine in their isolation tent to ensure his safety and their family as he will return home in Quezon.
Nullan also set aside his salary and bonus to buy some gifts for his mother, Nanay Concordia “Cording” Nullan, in celebration of Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 9.
“Inipon ko din po ang bonus at sweldo ko para po pag-uwi ko ay mayroon akong maibigay at mairegalo sa nanay ko. Walang nakakaalam na kahit sino na uuwi ako kasi ang lagi ko sa kanila sinasabi ay hindi ako makakauwi dahil naka duty ako (I also saved my bonus and salary so that when I come home I can give something to my mother. No one knows that I'm going home because I always tell them I can't go home because I'm on duty),” Nullan said.
As he came home, Nullan first contacted her sister and talked to her regarding the planned surprise for their Nanay Cording.
He disguised as his former classmate and act as if there is a delivery package that he will give to his mother.
“Pag-uwi ko sa bahay nagpanggap ako na classmate ko at may ipinabibigay sa kanya. Nagpatulong ako na tanggalin ang lock ng helmet para mas mapalapit ako sa kanya at dun ko na tinanggal ang visor ng helmet ko at nagulat ang nanay ko ng makita nya ang mata ko at dun na nya ako nakilala. Sumigaw ang nanay ko at humagolgol ng iyak kasabay po nun ang mahigpit nyang pag-yakap sa akin (When I got home I pretended to be my classmate and gave her something. I asked her to remove the lock of my helmet so that I could be closer to her and then I removed the visor of my helmet and my mother was surprised when she saw my eyes and there she recognized me. My mother cried at the same time she hugged me tightly),” Nullan said.
Nullan described Nanay Cording as a caring and loving mother, “siya yung nanay na kapag may sakit ka hindi ka nya pababayaang aalagaan ka niya hanggang sa gumaling ka higit sa lahat sobrang mapagmahal at malambing (she is a kind of mother who will took care of you when you are sick until you feel well and above all she is a very loving and caring mother).”
The Coast Guard son expressed his gratitude for the support and sacrifices of his mother throughout the years.
“Wala pong katumbas ang pagmamahal ninyo. Sana po mas matagal na panahon pa namin kayong makasama, makita, at mayakap. Hayaan nyo po na ako naman ang magparamdam sa inyo kung gaano ko din kayo kamahal, walang sawa ko po kayong mamahalin kagaya ng walang sawa nyong pagmamahal sa amin. Inay mahal na mahal kita, Happy Mother's Day po! (There is no equal to your love for us. I hope we can spend more time with you and hug you. Let me make you feel how much I love you too, I will love you tirelessly like how you love us. Mom, I love you so much, Happy Mother's Day!),” Nullan said as he paid tribute to Nanay Cording.