This is a very delayed Mothers Day greeting to my aunt, Tina Bonifacio who incidentally had her beauty session with me at the beginning of this year when she attended a nephew’s wedding.  I’m paying tribute to her because in many ways she is literally a second mother to my sister Sarina and I, she also being the sister of my mom.  My Mom had passed since 2006.

To quote the late Maya Angelou, she is a Phenomenal woman.  Her spirituality comes to the forefront to those that know her and even to those that meet her for the first time.  It is this for this reason that her words and actions are genuinely coming from the heart and you know that there is a beautiful soul inside.  We also chose her as one of our wedding sponsors in 1996 mainly because we hold her in the highest esteem and regard.

Growing up even if she had her family to take care of, she always looked out for my mom and us, always with a kind word, a token  or a call to say we were in her thoughts.  Humble and unpretentious, she carries herself with grace, intelligence and warmth, it is almost impossible not to be in your best behaviour when you are with her.  She simply draws that out from you.

Jackie Onassis once said that, “If you bungle up raising your children, whatever else you do well will not matter.”  She has had her trials and successes but one thing that she is most proud of is her children.  Two of her children are pastors, the more visible one is Joey Bonifacio who is the senior pastor at Victory Church in Fort Bonifacio.  Bonifacio in Italian or Portuguese means Good fate,  is this a coincidence?     She also has a son she named Andres.  Cool huh?  Her other children are accomplished in their own right and doing well in their respective fields and careers.

She has nothing more to ask or achieve since she is very content with what life has given her or has to offer her.   Although I don’t get to see her much often now, she is always in our thoughts and good wishes.  A belated Happy Mothers Day to you and know that you are loved and appreciated always.