Lessons from Ma

The author with mom Inday Badiday (second from right) and her grandkids

Since it’s Mother’s Day tomorrow, allow me to pay homage to my “SuperwoMom,” Inday Badiday. She was like a second mother to many celebs who fondly called her Ate Luds, short for Lourdes, which was her real name.

It was my grandma Lala who came up with Ma’s screen name. Inda Badida (Ma added the letter “y” later) was an old lady from Balingasag (Lala’s hometown in Cagayan de Oro) who roamed the streets as she shared stories with the townsfolk.

Even it’s already been 16 years since Ma got her “call slip” from heaven, to this day people, still refer to me as “anak ni Inday Badiday.” It only goes to show that Ma left an indelible mark in people’s hearts.

Being her daughter will always be my best credential. She was the gift that I was born with. I’m grateful to be reaping the fruits of the good seeds which Ma planted in Showbizlandia. Her untarnished name is something I’m most proud of.

As a little tribute to the woman I owe everything to, let me share some of her “Mommyisms”:

If a guy treats his mom well, he’s worth falling for.

Don’t wait to be emotionally battered before calling it quits. End a relationship with your self-worth intact.

Many have taken advantage of my generosity. But as long as I see that their kids and family are OK, that’s enough for me to forgive them. Because it means that whatever they got from me didn’t go to waste.

Don’t keep track of what your competitors are up to. If you keep looking their way, they will overtake you. Just follow your own path.

You don’t have to know everything about a job you’re applying for. As long as you have the passion for it, you can learn the ropes easily.

When someone upsets you, comfort yourself with the thought that you aren’t spending your whole life with that person, so don’t let him/her get the better of you.

You know someone is telling the truth when she/he is not beating around the bush.

Don’t take things at face value. Always dig deeper.

Go with the winners.

Make kindness an everyday thing.

Sa gusot, may lusot. (That’s one of Ma’s original lines, which she used to say in her radio program.)