Carol Banawa remembers late mom through changing colors of autumn

Actress and singer Carol Banawa finds herself remembering her late mother, Celine, as the arrival of autumn brings back memories of one of her favorite things: watching the leaves change color.

In a social media post, Carol looked back on how her mother would delight in seeing the changing colors of the trees and the transformation of their surroundings as the seasons shifted.

“Isa sa mga paborito mong tanawin ay ang pagbabago ng kulay ng mga dahon. Tuwang-tuwa kang panoorin ang unti-unting pagbabago ng kanilang kulay hanggang sa tuluyan na silang malaglag,” Carol recalled.

She went on: “Hindi ka masaya kapag wala nang mga bulaklak, nalalagas na ang mga dahon, at napupuno ng yelo ang paligid. Malungkot itong tingnan at napakalamig. Pero bumabalik ang saya mo kapag nagsisimula nang muling sumibol ang mga dahon at namumukadkad ang magagandang bulaklak.”

Now that her mother is gone, Carol said these familiar sights have taken on a deeper meaning, becoming reminders of the woman she continues to miss.

“Ngayon, alam kong lagi na kitang maaalala sa tuwing makikita ko ang pagbabago ng kulay ng mga dahon, ang unti-unti nilang pagkalaglag, at ang muling pag-usbong ng mga bulaklak. Nakikita kita sa lahat ng bagay sa paligid ko. Parang sa bawat pagbabago ng mga panahon, naroon ka pa rin, nagpapaalala sa akin ng mga bagay na minahal mo,” she said.

Despite the passage of time, Carol expressed how deeply she misses her mother, ending her heartfelt message with a longing for the day they will see each other again: “Sobrang miss na miss na kita, Mama. Hanggang sa muli nating pagkikita. Hanggang sa huling yakap at halik, Mama. ❤️.”

In May this year, the “Iingatan Ka” singer announced the passing of her mother, who had been battling cancer.

In a lengthy Instagram post, Carol shared that her mother peacefully passed away in her sleep, surrounded by her loved ones.

“Last night, our beloved mama passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by the people who loved her most. Our hearts are broken, and we already miss her more than words can ever express,” she began.

She also remembered her mother as a selfless woman whose kindness, generosity, and unwavering faith remained evident even through life’s most difficult moments.

“She had one of the kindest hearts — humble, generous, selfless, and always thinking of others before herself. No matter what she went through, her trust and faith in God never wavered,” she wrote. 

“She carried herself with so much grace, strength, and love, and she touched so many lives because of it,” she added.

Carol first rose to fame as part of Batch 4 of Star Magic, ABS-CBN’s talent management arm. She moved to the United States in 2003, initially to support her father during his recovery.

Since then, she has built a life in the US, pursuing a career in healthcare alongside her background in entertainment. She earned an Associate Degree in Nursing from Northern Virginia Community College in 2018, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and later became a registered operating room nurse.