Mothers are a lot of things.

Mothers are sweet, generous, chill, goofy, cheerful, chatty, and supportive. They are sometimes stubborn, tough, hot-tempered, emotional, and sensitive. But in the face of everything, and against all odds, mothers are always mothering. 

And we have all been mothered – in one way, shape, or form – which means we’ve eaten good breakfast, prepared for an exam using a handwritten reviewer, and sang at a recital or two back in elementary. 

Mothers are a lot of things. They make the most confident pronouncements, as they are the strongest proponents of the “mother knows best” agenda, not out of superiority complex but by way of their naturally distinct network of hunches that’s more effective than the most advanced sonar. 

They possess hard to replicate sensory receptors that make up what is called the ‘maternal instinct,’ which functions like a ‘spidey-sense’ of sorts. So when moms insist on their advice and suggest they know better, they are not narcissistic – they simply know best.

“My mother knows when I am having a hard time, when I am confused, and afraid. (She knows) my strengths, like my number 1 observer, tapos (she is) supportive sa achievements. This can be the case with every mother who knows their child’s character in terms of instinct,” shared Andrew Martinez, 24, a Legazpi City, Albay native currently residing in Cebu.

“I would give it to my mom – she just knows what to shop for me. It baffles me how she knows exactly what to buy, even when we’re not together, even when I change in clothing size. The way our mothers anticipate our needs!” Caviteña college student Vera Lilagan, 22, told GMA Regional TV News.

Mothers make the best breakfasts, too. And lunch. And dinner. Their version of scrambled eggs are our favorite, and home is where our moms’ sinigang is. Whatever the case may be, they are just so capable of making the best comfort food. In fact they’re the best at procuring anything that is synonymous to comfort, precisely when we need it.

“She would cook food for me when she knows I’ve been studying for five straight hours and without me getting up. That’s love,” said 24-year-old law student Joshua Dita who hails from Biñan, Laguna.

“She just knows when I need some help. Weirdly. I’m a young adult now at 24, and so I’m mostly independent from them - but she would omnisciently call me whenever I feel so alone and exhausted in life, all without me telling her,” Joshua added.

Mothers are a lot of things. They wear so many hats and serve so many roles. Their sacrifices go beyond what is convenient, because, as Bacoor, Cavite-based creative Ferline Presillas, 25, puts it, “Mama always says my brother and I are her greatest achievement, and we are God’s greatest gift to her.”

But in all their forms, mothers are always such tremendous and impactful teachers. Their words are like an anchor that keeps their young ones steady and grounded, their presence like a weighted blanket on rainy days. 

“Don’t be afraid to try,” said Andrew Martinez from Albay when asked about his greatest learnings from his mother.

“One of the things my mom would teach me is to not be afraid to ask, that there is nothing bad when seeking help. Then, (to) pray in times of trouble, and to always be brave,” the 24-year-old Bicolano added.

“She taught me the value of willpower. Everyone else may have a leg up in life that I don’t have, like wealth, beauty, power. But I have an unlimited amount of untapped willpower that can get me farther than them,” Laguna’s Joshua Dita said.

“They know who and what is best for you… they give the best advice but still respect your decision as they know that we learn best from our experiences. Yet, no matter what, they are still there for us,” Anouk Josh Tan, a law student based in Cagayan de Oro, shared. 

“Everything in its place and in its place everything. Sometimes kahit nail cutter, she would go hysterical if she sees it somewhere it shouldn’t be in. Somehow it teaches personal responsibility, where everything I own has a designated place and I should take care of it. I somehow managed to grow up organized and save so much time by knowing where things exactly are,” noted Vera Lilagan. “As much as possible, I always come from a place of love, I treat others with respect and empathy, because our actions towards each other can have lasting impacts,” she added.

“(My mother taught me to) put in the work. My mom is not only a hard worker, but also loves her job. Because she showed me the results of hard work, this is also what I strive to do everyday – put in the work and just try to do my best,” 30-year-old Pamela Jay Orais from Cagayan de Oro told GMA Regional TV News.

"My mom taught me to always work hard at whatever I do. At the end of the day you can take pride in the work that you do and know that you've done your best. I learned this from the way she lived her life and still does to this day," entrepreneur Krystian Abad from Cagayan de Oro said.

Mothers are a lot of things.

They transcend time and space. They transcend cultural differences and generational gaps. They are nature and nurture in one, because they are naturally nurturing entities. Happy Mother’s Day to all who have mothered, and are continuously mothering in this Mother Earth!