CJ, the why-why girl cousin of mine, arrived home one time with her mom. They came from neighboring town where my aunt hails and stayed there overnight. Upon seeing me, she blurted out, "Ate, kamustahin mo naman ako!" Taking from her I said, "Kumusta ka na, CJ?" Expecting her answer was "Mabuti naman po." Then off she went inside their room. Few moments after she came out, thinking she was still in a playful mood, I asked "Kumusta ka na, CJ?" To which she answered, "Sinabi ko na nga mabuti, e...ang kulit mo naman!"

My cousins & my siblings call my granny 'Mama One'. Obviously, she's the number one Mama because she's the family matriarch. She doesn't want us to call her 'lola','apong' or 'bai' as we're accustomed to addressing the old woman or old ladies in the neighborhood depending on the spoken dialect. To distinguish her title from our real 'mamas', we made it a point to add 'One' after Mama whenever we greet or talk to her.

Although Mama One has lost her eyesight over the years, I owe her much where I am now because she's always there for me. She's the one I turn to and make 'lambing' with whatever my mood is because she's taken over the presence of my mother who has left home to work abroad.

I am fortunate to have built a very close relationship with Mama One because I know that other friends of mine may not have seen their grandparents alive or may have lived separately from their grandparents. My Mama One & I share one big room and sleep in one bed.

At night time, before going to bed, I help Mama One with her rituals: put toothpaste on her toothbrush, heat the water and ready the washroom for her night wash and lastly, put eye drops to sooth her eyes.

Well, if she's my Mama One, I'm also her Number One favorite grandchild. :-)