“MA’AM, IT’S THE SAME AS MY MOTHER’S RING”: THE BURY THAT SURPRISED A DONYA — AND REVEALED A SECRET THAT WAS BURIED FOR 13 YEARS
Donya Cecilia is known throughout Makati. She owns the biggest malls in the country. But despite her wealth, her eyes are always sad. No one knows why, except for her loyal driver.

Thirteen years ago, her only daughter disappeared in a carjacking incident. The car was found, but the baby… was never seen again.

One afternoon, Donya Cecilia was eating at an expensive restaurant with an open area. While she was slicing her steak, a young girl approached. Ruddy, thin, and carrying jasmine flowers.

“Ma’am, buy some… just some medicine for my Mother,” the child said softly.

The guard was about to take the child away when Donya Cecilia stopped him. The child’s face made her feel sorry for the owner.

Donya Cecilia snatched five hundred pesos. When she handed it to him, she noticed the boy staring at his finger.

“Why, little one? Do you want some food?” the Donya asked.

The boy shook his head. He pointed to Donya Cecilia’s ring—an antique gold ring with a rose-shaped stone in the center.

“Ma’am… it’s beautiful. It’s the same as my mother’s ring. It’s hidden under her pillow,” the boy said innocently.

Donya Cecilia was stunned. She dropped her fork. It clinked on the plate.

“W-What are you doing?” she asked, trembling.

“Yes, Ma’am. Mother said not to wear it because it’s important. But it’s exactly the same.”

Impossible. That ring was custom-made. Only two were made in the whole world: one for her, and one for her lost baby—which she had made into a necklace for the child that day.

Donya Cecilia suddenly stood up. “Daughter, where is your Mother? Take me to her. Right now.”

They got into Donya Cecilia’s fancy Mercedes Benz. From the shiny buildings of Makati, they drove through the dark and smelly alleys of Tondo.

They stopped in front of a shack made of scrap metal and wood.

“Here, Ma’am,” said the child. “Mom! We have a visitor!”

Donya Cecilia entered. The floor was dirt. In one corner, a thin woman was coughing, lying on a mat.

“Who is that, Nene?” the woman asked with difficulty.

Donya Cecilia approached. “Where is the ring?” she asked firmly. She didn’t hesitate any longer.

The sick woman turned pale when she saw the wealth and clothing that Donya Cecilia was wearing. She shivered and took out a small bag from under her pillow.

She took out a necklace. A gold ring in the shape of a rose hung from it.

Donya Cecilia burst into tears. She took the ring and looked at the back of it. It had small letters engraved on it: Cece & Bella.

“My God…” Donya Cecilia knelt down. She looked at the little girl Nene. “Bella? Is that you?”

“Forgive me…” the sick woman, Aling Minda, cried.

“Did you take my child?!” Donya Cecilia shouted angrily.

“No! I am not a bad person!” Aling Minda explained while coughing up blood. “Thirteen years ago… I saw a car abandoned on the bank of the river. There was a crying baby inside. I waited for someone to come back, but no one did. It was raining, and the water was rising.”

Aling Minda continued to cry.

“I took the baby to save him. I took him to the province. I was afraid to report him to the police because they might accuse me of kidnapping him. I was poor, no one would believe me. So I raised him as my own child… Nene… Bella… I loved him with all my heart.”

Donya Cecilia looked at Nene, who was now also crying because of the chaos of the situation.

Donya Cecilia saw her own eyes in Nene’s face. The shape of her nose… the mole on her neck… It was her.

The anger in Donya Cecilia’s heart disappeared. It was replaced by pity. This woman, even though she was poor, had brought her child back to life. The gold ring was not sold even though they were suffering, because she knew that it was the only sign of Nene’s true identity.

“Mom… am I not your real Mom?” Nene asked.

Donya Cecilia held Nene’s hand and Aling Minda’s hand.

“Son…” Donya Cecilia said to Nene. “I am your real mother. But she…” pointing to Aling Minda, “She is the one who saved your life. You have two Moms.”

Donya Cecilia immediately sent Aling Minda to the best hospital. She treated her and took care of her.

Through a DNA test, it was confirmed that Nene was indeed the missing heiress Arabella “Bella” Villarama.

Donya Cecilia did not press charges against Aling Minda. Instead, when she recovered, she took her as Bella’s personal caretaker at the mansion.

From being a beggar selling sampaguita, Bella now lives in a palace. But she never forgot the lesson her “Nanay Minda” taught her—that true wealth is not in gold, but in love and sacrifice.

Now, whenever they go out, Bella and Donya Cecilia wear the same ring—a symbol of their love that cannot be broken by time or distance.

THE END.