Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

When we hear of superheroes, we think of extraordinary beings with amazing power. But as they say, not all heroes wear capes.

I believe the strongest superheroes are the quiet ones who show up every day, carry everyone else without making noise, and love so naturally that you only realize much later how much of themselves they have quietly given away.

For me, that superhero has always been my mother — my Mommy Olay, Nancy Pangandaman.

As an only child, I grew up very close to my parents. Our home was warm. In fact, my fondest memories are the ordinary days when I would sit with my mother to do my homework while she prepared meals or hear her quietly move around the house. Sometimes she would hum while doing chores, and other times pause to ask me if I had eaten.

Looking back, these small things were her way of loving me.

My mother was a government employee. Growing up, I learned so much from her without even realizing it at the time.

I learned that kindness is never wasted, that respect should not depend on a person’s position in life, and that hard work is important, but it loses meaning if you forget compassion along the way. And most of all, I learned that in public service, strength does not always need to be loud.

As a child, you do not really see the sacrifices your mother makes. You simply grow up feeling safe. You assume there will always be someone there to remind you, to guide you, to quietly carry the worries you are not even aware of yet. You do not think about the weight behind that kind of care. It is only later in life that you begin to understand.

Even now, my mother still has her simple ways of looking after me. She tells me not to skip meals when she knows I am busy. She reminds me to rest when I sound tired on the phone. These are such small things, but as I get older, I realize they carry so much love in them.

I believe that is what mothers do. Their love never truly disappears. Rather, they grow as you grow. They take pride in every little thing you do.

This is why I am always grateful for her. And I try to show it every chance I get.

One of the moments I will always carry is when I was conferred an honorary doctorate in Economics (honoris causa) by the Mindanao State University in Marawi City on Feb. 20, 2025. I shared the stage with my parents that day. I remember looking at them, especially my mommy, who was smiling proudly during the entire program.

At that moment, I was not just the secretary of the Department of Budget and Management. I was a daughter, standing beside the two people who gave so much of their lives to raise me, guide me, and believe in me long before anyone else ever did.

And, when I received the “Outstanding Filipina in the Field of Public Service” during the Gawad Pilipino Awards Night held in March 2025, I proudly recognized Mommy Olay as my first teacher, my first inspiration, and the first person who showed me what hard work, patience, and compassion for others truly mean.

People think leaders are trained in schools, offices, or formal spaces. But I have always believed the foundation of leadership is built much earlier. It starts at home, with how our parents raise us, the values they inculcate daily, and the kind of love that teaches how to care for others without expecting anything in return.

For me, my mother taught these without ever needing to say it loudly. She lived it. She showed me.

Now, I find myself appreciating her more than ever. Life changes, roles change, and recognition eventually fades, but the love you receive from family stays with you in a way nothing else does.

Beyond budget, this Mother's Day, I realized that I am most thankful for the lessons my Mommy Olay taught me: To stay humble, to work hard with sincerity, to treat people with kindness, and to never lose compassion despite life’s challenges and demands.

As Citizen Mina, I offer my deepest love and gratitude to my mother, my superhero, and to every superhero-mom who continues to give quietly, love deeply, and hold their families together through patience and strength. The world may not always see everything they do, but their children will always carry their lessons wherever life leads them.

(Amenah F. Pangandaman is the former Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.)