Papa Worked for over 25 years at HCA.
Mama worked for over 31 years at HCA
First at East Houston regional Medical Center. Mama fondly called it her "sweetie." Harvey cause the facility to flood and they continued their HCA services at Kingwood and Bayshore. They are now HCA Houston Healthcare Kingwood and HCA Houston Healthcare Southwest, respectively. They started an HCA legacy of being healthcare heroes that was carried on by daughter Irma who worked 16 years for HCA and granddaughter Kaylinn.

Mama worked as an intensive care unit nurse caring for her patients as of they are her family. I sometimes helped her give baths when we worked together at East Houston. Watching her wipe their arms and faces and talking and conversing with the patient even though they're unresponsive....i wanted to be just like her.
Working nights in the same facility, sometimes we ate dinner together.

Papa worked in the tele room. He didn't want to practice nursing anymore. So he became a cardiac monitor tech. He oversaw the patients with telemetry monitors to make sure they were safe.
He called so much when i worked with him. "Leads are off in room 123." "Battery change in room 456. But it was because he was diligent in his job. And that's how he taught me integrity and good work ethics.
If i forgot my food, I raided my dad's locker and ate some of his food. 

They adored their granddaughters. So much.

I've only seen my papa cry a few times.....and the first time was when i got pregnant at 19.
Everything happens for a reason....when he became Papa to his grandbaby....he was so proud. And he was able to see his oldest granddaughter graduate from UT with her Bachelor's in Nursing. He was beaming.....

Mama spoiled her behbehs. Secretly sliding money, buying them desserts, boba drinks, constantly making them their favorite foods and she always got the cake for birthdays. 

There was nothing they couldn't do for their grandbabies. They were was their mama and papa (a duo in life and even in death).....the best cooks in the world....papa's barbecue and pansit  during every special occasion.....mama and Papa's cooking is like no other.

My biggest regret is not learning his recipes....he had none. He cooked with smelling and occassional testing. Mama always wanted to keep her recipes "seeeeecret!" And joked that the secret recipe is her love. 

Then there was the four of us.

My papa and mama. Me. Then my broder Shaun.

My papa made the sacrifice of being the provider to letting my mom take the reins in order to realize her dreams as nurse as well. He was a proud man but always sacrificed for his family.

They catered to us all without complaining. Papa may grunt here and there but he truly spoiled us all.
Mama, as well, took care of us like noone ever will. Each time i was in the hospital, she worried and prayed and bathed me. She started my IVs when the nurses couldn't get it, she put my foley in, she washed my hair.....

Love you so much mama and papa.

For 10 years i had the privilege of being the only child. I was spoiled with all the toys and goodies and Balikbayan boxes. I was mama and papa's "bunso" meaning youngest baby....i remained the bunso even as I got older. My broder Shaun was "bunsi." 

My papa became an OFW (overseas filipino worker) in order to give my mama and me a good life in the philippines. He was gone for months at a time and i would miss him. Even to this day i still didn't like that he left, but i do understand that it was because he was our provider. He has been to many different countries because of him working on a barge as a nurse. 

Then it was mama's turn in 1989 to become an OFW nurse for Sunbelt Regional. She visited at end of 1990 because she missed me....then revisited again a few months later because she missed me too much and I ended up going to the States with her in March 1991. 

My broder Shaun was born September 1991

He and my mama met in nursing school. They have a special love story and i'll keep that in my heart for now.
He cherished my mama so much. Loved up and spoiled her.
He showed me how a man should treat his wife....like a queen.

I don't know much about papa's childhood. He was the eldest of 5 children. At a young age, he already started working doing odd jobs to help his family.

He tried to put his siblings thru school first, sacrificing his own in order to put them as priority. He didn't go to college, until late, because of this sacrifice. He graduated with his Bachelor's in nursing.