It sounds redundant to ask where the time went because we are down to the last week of May. But really, where did the time go? May passed us by in a flash, but without a doubt, it was a month worth celebrating, and one that once again brought about ripples of change. When I think back to the month that has been, I think about Mother’s Day, and how May is a month devoted as well to our Blessed Mother by means of Flores de Mayo. This May was also a special one in that it honored our mother land with the national elections that just took place. Indeed, it was a May for our mothers and mother land.

All my life I have looked up to my mom, and have always admired the person that she is. As I get older, her values become more emboldened, her kindness and generosity stauncher, and as the days pass, the more I start to believe that she is someone who would go straight to heaven. When I became a mother however, I started to appreciate her care – even the nagging, if you will – and admire her even more. All of a sudden, her actions – even the most annoying I would find growing up – makes all the sense in the world. Maybe I am slowly becoming like her, but truth be told, there will be no one else in this world who can become her – the most selfless, giving, and kindhearted soul my world will ever know. And how lucky my son is to have a "meema" like her.

In the same light, the sheer action of voting and exercising that right for our motherland is one that shows utmost care for community and fellow citizens. It is in essence an act of giving back to an entity – the state and society – that continuously nurtures you. The outcome of any election is one that reflects the clamor of the majority, and the aspirations to stir us towards a certain direction of where we collectively want to go.

While some people resist change, inevitably, we all want progress, and in the same way that our mothers nurture us until we are old enough to pave our own paths, and walk our own roads, our Inang Bayan despite any change that may come our way, is a one constant in our lives. We may end up seeing our nation from different perspectives, and under different lights during different stages in our lives, just like we do our mothers. But the truth holds – our motherland, just like our mothers, will always be there.

And so here is a food for thought: if our country is our mother, then we are essentially all brothers and sisters. We will therefore only be able to truly attain progress if we concert our efforts and work together towards a common goal. Togetherness, over factions any day, even if sometimes it means agreeing to disagree. After all, actions big or small, we must all do our share in giving back to the one who has given us the most.