This Gen Z touched the heart of netizens through his several heartwarming random posts for her mom on social media.
Jay-ar Nodalo’s Facebook post for his mom, Wilhelmina, went viral after the online community was able to relate to his tribute.
In one of his posts, Nanay Wilhelmina can be seen cooking early for her son’s breakfast before leaving their house last June.
“Kagabi sabi ko kay mama, ‘Ma, pinapapunta po ako sa Pasacao. May urgent meeting po kami, 8:00 am po ang call time.’ So ‘yun, 3:50 am pa lang ginising na ako ni Mama tapos 4:06 am, nagluluto na siya ng umagahan. Nakaalis ako ng 4:50 am at dumating sa Pasacao ng 7:45 am,” he wrote in the caption along with his mom’s photo.
“Di ko itatanggi na nakakapagod pero kapag may isang tao na hindi ka sinusukuan at nagtutulak sa’yo na bumangon araw-araw, lahat ng pagod ay ‘di sasapat para tumigil sa buhay. Thank you, Ma. Thank you, Jesus “ he added.
Nodalo works as an educator at the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) Pasacao Campus. On weekdays, he stays in a rented home near the institution, but he makes sure to come home on weekends to see and bond with his mother.
“Yung pamasahe ko parang budget ko na ‘yan eh sa isang linggo, dalawang linggo. Pero dahil nakikita ko nga na si mama tumatanda na sabi ko, okay lang kasi mahahanap naman ‘yung pera,” he shared.
Adding, “Umuuwi ako ngayon weekly. Makita niya na nandun ako para sa kanya.
Kasi nakikita ko na presence ko pa lang, happy na si mama.”
Nodalo did not come from a wealthy family, that’s why at an early age, he worked hard to earn money while studying.
“Simula pa lang pagkabata, nagtitinda na ako ng ice candy. Naglalako din ako ng mga gulay, kalabasa, sitaw, talong. ‘Yung kinikita ko doon sa pagtitinda binibili ko ‘yun ng gamit para sa school,” he recalled.
After his father died, he became the breadwinner of his family.
“Ang aking nanay ay isang mananahi. Kilala siya dito sa Bicol. Ngayon, hindi niya naman masyadong magawa dahil merong cataract ‘yung parehas niyang mata. Ako bilang breadwinner, grabe ‘yung pagpupursigi ko para matulungan ko si mama at maibigay ko talaga ‘yung pangangailangan niya,” Nodalo stressed.
He said that his social media posts were his way to appreciate everything that his mother has done for him and their family.
“Lagi kong nakikita si mama na umaga pa lang gumigising na. Kung ano ‘yung kaya niyang lutuin, talagang gagawin niya ‘wag lang akong magutom, ‘wag lang magkulang. Do’n nag-start ‘yung post na ‘yun na nasabi ko na, kapag meron kang magulang na talagang sumusuporta sa’yo, nando’n ‘yung motivation para ipagpatuloy mo ‘yung buhay at bumangon ka araw-araw,” he said.
While navigating his own life, Nodalo vows to give his full attention to Nanay Wilhelmina and pay back all her sacrifices.
“So si mama ngayon, siya ‘yung pinaka-goal ko sa buhay.Gusto kong mag-work nang mag-work para at least makita niya na ‘yung pinaghihirapan niya. Na ‘ito ‘yung bata na ginapang niya talaga sa hirap. Nag-ulam kami ng asin, tubig, ng chichirya. Ang bumuhay talaga sa amin noon ay si mama,” Nodalo noted.
Nodalo aims to buy his mom a small piece of land to call their own home. On his mom’s birthday, he gave her a mini sari-sari store.
“Pinag-ipunan ko talaga doon sa mga sahod. May mga punto pa na nasasabi ko sarili ko na, hindi ko na nabibili para sa akin. Siya ‘yung pinaka-validation ko sa buhay. Kapag masaya siya, masaya na rin ako,” he said.
“Konti lang ‘yung panahon, maikli lang ang buhay. Mas maganda na umiyak tayo dahil na-miss natin sila kaysa umiyak tayo dahil may regrets na hindi natin nagawa nung nabubuhay pa sila. So i-treasure talaga natin ‘yung moment na kasama sila. Iparamdam natin kung gano sila kahalaga,” he added.
