Mountain Momma
by Oliver Carlos
My mother is a retired forester. She has climbed so many mountains in her long career. When I was growing up, there were many times when she’s not home because she was in some mountain doing some reforestation project or conducting some experiment. But it’s ok, she always brought home some pasalubong or souvenir from the places she’d been to.
If mountains symbolize success, the highest mountain that my Mommy has ascended would be her Top 20 Women Scientists of the Philippines award. She got that recognition years ago for her invention- the mycorrhiza biofertilizer. Her trade name for it is the Hi-Q VAM-1.
Her invention is a natural fertilizer that has the mycorrhiza microorganism as active ingredient. It makes forest trees in reforestation areas zoom up in their growth in no time. It can also be used with great success on fruit trees and agricultural crops, except rice. It’s now gaining popularity among our local farmers. I foresee that in the next few years, we can feel the impact of this technology on our economy and forests.
My mother is not only excellent in science, she’s also good in the arts, in the performing arts. She was a champion orator in her elementary days, and a stage actress in UP Rural High School. She doesn’t have any stage fright. Ask her to perform or deliver a speech up front, she would do it without hesitation, and spontaneously. I must have gotten my public speaking and acting skills from her.
Mommy also had her own share of hardships. She married early at age 19, and by age 26, she already had 4 little children. It must have been very exhausting each day of those years taking care of us while doing her office work and graduate studies all at the same time. I have to commend too my Dad for being there to be our pillar of strength. My Mom had a major surgery at age 39 that almost cost her life. She also suffered a mild stroke in her early 60s, and recently she had an accident that led to a delicate head surgery.
Despite all of her achievements and hurdled obstacles, one thing I like about my Mom is that she is very down-to-earth and faithful to God. She would always be quick to acknowledge God for her blessings. She would exclaim “Praise the Lord!” once every now and then. She also posts on social media daily things about God
Now, on her 69th birthday, I hereby greet my mother, Dr. Evangeline “Vangie” T. Castillo. I pray for good health, joy, and many, many more years to be given to you by our good Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I claim Habakkuk 3:19 (NIV)for you as He leads you to your road to full recovery.
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights.”
