Aling Belen’s family lives in the outskirts of Quezon City, where there is a land fever because of the newly approved expressway project. Her 300-square-meter plot of land, which was used to grow bananas and sweet potatoes, was suddenly compensated with more than 3 million pesos. It was a figure she had never dared to imagine in her life.

Mrs. Belen has two children: her son Marco, Liza’s husband, and her daughter Roselyn, who has married and moved to her mother’s hometown, nearly 20 kilometers away. Since Marco married Liza, the couple has lived with her in a bungalow on her ancestral land.

But Mrs. Belen does not like her daughter-in-law. In her eyes, Liza is always a “nakikitira lang” (freeloader). Even though Liza endures, works as a factory worker for 8 hours a day, and takes care of her young child at night, she still complains incessantly.

When the government announced compensation, Marco discussed with his mother:

Ma, I think we should rebuild the house. The rest, we can save for the kids’ education. You can keep it, pero sana later on, hati tayo.

Mrs. Belen curled her lips:

– Ano ka ba? The land is under my name. That money is mine! Don’t even think of touching it!

Marco was silent, while Liza just suppressed her anger.

A week later, Marco discovered that his mother had secretly withdrawn 1.5 million pesos, saying that it was “to help an acquaintance”. But in fact, she gave it all to Roselyn – her biological daughter – to renovate the house and buy another piece of land next door. She also told Roselyn to keep it a secret, not to let her brother and sister-in-law know.

Liza heard the news from the neighbors, but she only gently told her husband:

– I don’t need her money. What hurts is the unfairness. I just don’t want our son growing up seeing us treated like outsiders in our own home.

Marco could only hug his wife, feeling helpless.

That weekend, Mrs. Belen happily carried the gift basket to Roselyn’s house. But when she got there, the scene made her collapse: the door was locked, the yard was quiet. A strange woman opened the gate:

– Sino po ang hinahanap ninyo?

– Anak ko, si Roselyn. She lives here.

The woman shook her head:

– Ay, hindi na po. She sold this house two weeks ago. I’m the new owner. Narinig ko, they left for abroad.

Mrs. Belen was stunned. She called her daughter but the phone was turned off. A neighbor added:

– Aling Belen, two days ago I saw them at the airport with big suitcases. They left for good.

Mrs. Belen sat down on the steps, muttering:

– Roselyn… anak… you fooled me?

When she returned, she went into her room and closed the door. At dinner, Marco asked and she burst into tears:

– I gave Roselyn everything! And she left… she didn’t even say goodbye!

No one in the house was happy about that, not even Liza. She just sighed:

– Now, money can come and go. But family… if we lose each other, that’s worse. Maybe she had her reasons.

For the first time in her life, Mrs. Belen turned to look at her daughter-in-law with teary eyes. She whispered:

– You… you never hated me? Even though I treated you so badly?

Liza just smiled sadly:

– I’ve thought of it many times, but where else could I go? My husband, my son… they are here. I endured because this is my family too.

In the following days, Mrs. Belen changed completely. She no longer scrutinized Liza about cooking, did not scold her grandchild when she spilled milk. She quietly swept the yard, did the laundry, and even cooked porridge for Liza to take to work. The neighbors were all surprised that “Aling Belen masungit” was now unexpectedly gentle.

One night, she called Marco and Liza:

– I’ve decided. Half of what’s left I’ll keep for my retirement. The other half, I’ll give to you. This house will be yours later. I don’t want to leave this world remembered as selfish. This is my way of making up for my mistakes.

Marco and Liza were in tears. Since then, their small house has been renovated, with an additional classroom for JR, the grandson whom Belen loves very much.

One day, Liza saw Belen sitting pensively with a letter. It was a handwritten letter from Roselyn sent from abroad:

“Ma, I’m sorry. I couldn’t face you. My husband was drowning in debt, gangsters were after us. Leaving was our only way to survive. I never wanted to take your money, but at that time it was the only way out. Please forgive me.”

Mrs. Belen was silent, tears falling on the page. Liza sat beside her, placing her hand on her shoulder:
– If she ever comes back, I know you’ll forgive her. Blood is blood.

Mrs. Belen nodded, choking:
– Yes… but I won’t lose anyone else again. I still have Marco, I still have you, and JR. That’s enough.

The story ends with a mother’s awakening after the shock of being betrayed by her own daughter, and then learning to appreciate and love those around her – those who deserve to be in her home.