Today felt different. Kasama ko si Mommy at pamangkin ko, and we decided to go to our favorite merienda place. Hindi naman siya fancy, hindi rin siya bago. Pero may magic talaga sa comfort food, yung tipong kahit ilang beses mo na siyang nakain, it still feels like home.

We ordered our usual: potato corndog and brown sugar pearl milk tea, and just… slowed down. Ang sarap ng feeling na habang kumakain, wala kaming hawak na phone, walang notifications, walang gadgets na sumisingit sa pagitan ng kwentuhan. Just us, enjoying the moment, listening intentionally to each other’s stories.

Ang dami naming napag-usapan mga simpleng kwento ng araw-araw, mga funny stories ng pamangkin ko especially sa school nila at mga friends nya, at mga real talk moments with my mom. Ang gaan sa puso. Nakakatawa kasi kahit simpleng pagkain lang, nagiging tulay siya para mas lumalim pa yung connection namin sa isa’t isa.

And I realized, comfort food is not just about taste. It’s about the company. The laughter shared, the gentle nods and “ahh, oo nga” habang umiinom ng milk tea. The warmth of being fully present with the people you love.

Minsan kasi, we get so caught up sa hustle ng life: work, deadlines, scrolling endlessly on social media na nakakalimutan na natin what really nourishes us. Hindi lang tiyan natin, kundi puso rin natin.

So this simple merienda date with my mom and niece reminded me of what matters most. Quality time. Intentional presence. And choosing to give the right parts of ourselves to the right people.

Hindi ito sponsored post (haha!) pero who knows, baka one day. For now, I’m just grateful — for the food that warms the belly, and the people who warm the soul. ✨