Lola Conching

I never thought I'll be in Baguio in the middle of March. The time amidst Mabe's hectic schedule in school that includes graduation rehearsals, etc. 

My paternal grandmother passed away.

She's 97 years old, pure Ilocano by blood and embraced being Ilonggo by heart, she died peacefully last March 11, 2015.

Lola Conching, the strongest woman in our family and the tie that binds everyone in the clan. 

For me, she's part of my growth as I deal with my young angst mind, trying to find my place and battling with the so-called 'individuality'. It was in the mid-90s, the grunge era and it wasn't easy. When I decided to study in Baguio, I stayed with Lola Conching. It was then that I discovered a lot of things about my own self. The freedom, the strength and weaknesses, the tolerance, self-preservation, everything that a young woman should learn, for the good and worst, I had my own taste of it in Baguio.

In my heart and in my mind, I am grateful to Lola Conching. Forever I will cherish and share the lessons I have learned to my daughter. I will never be the person I am today without the Baguio experience I had growing up.

As I went back to Bacolod last week, in my heart were memories of Lola Conching, alive and inspiring. 

I arrived home just in time for Mabe's graduation ball by the way.