Dennis Augustine
We recently had the joy and deep honor of reuniting with our beloved former live-in nanny, Norlita—who the kids lovingly called “Yaya”—a Filipino term of endearment for a caretaker, and sometimes second mom.
For years, Norlita was an essential part of our family: living with us, traveling with us to Maui, sharing meals, and helping raise our children. She brought a quiet, constant presence of love and care into our lives. We were honored to support her journey—donating clothing for her large family in the Philippines, attending her wedding, and witnessing her become a proud U.S. citizen, and Cecile taught her how to drive. When the kids were grown, Norlita worked as a hospital aide and following her retirement she has been taking on private jobs helping the elderly and/disabled. Over the years she worked hard to provide a home for her family in the Philippines.
To celebrate, we invited her for dinner. Cecile cooked pasta with cherry tomatoes and spinach, and a fresh salad with Persian cucumbers. True to form—and despite our insistence that she just bring herself, Norlita arrived—as she always does—carrying bowls of lovingly prepared signature, Filipino dishes: thinly sliced sirloin steak with sautéed onions and squeezed lemon, a big bowl of rice, and a fragrant noodle dish called pancit, always a crowd pleaser. For dessert we served cheesecake with strawberries, and afterwards, we FaceTimed with kids to have them say hello to Yaya.
The night was filled with laughter, memories. We’re forever grateful to Norlita—for her heart, her devotion, and her lasting place in our lives. As the late Anthony Bourdain once said: “Filipinos are…probably the most compassionate people on the planet.” He should know, his daughter was largely raised by Filipinas.
