Family

 Having a place to go - is a home.  Having someone to love - is a family.  Having both - is a blessing.  ~Donna Hedges




Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family.  ~Anthony Brandt

Add cap

In my 27 years of existence, I've been through a lot. To start off, my mom died when I was 9 years old, then our house got burnt down, I was left with my dad and two younger siblings at that time, age 6 & 3. At a young age, I never felt so confused & betrayed. Why?  just plain and simple I lose someone I loved at a young age, starting all over again.. it's just too much for me. I can still recall whenever there's special occasion's or like fiesta's(this is usual in provinces) and I am being asked to join santacruzan,  i would feel like no one is there for me, i have one of my aunt to help me but having a family of her own that she need to attend to, makes it very hard for her to. At that time, I was lucky that even if my dad doesn't work(due to his legs got 2nd & 3rd degree burn's) I got my grandfather to help us, me and my siblings finish our studies, not that easy though, I had this experience wherein I don't have allowance to go to school and that sometime's my dad need to lend money from our neighbors, sometimes I feel like even my own relatives don't care for us. But despite all of it, I was able to graduate college , May 2004. First thing that came into my mind is to work, I got a job through my aunt but kept it for only 6 mos due to fact it's not really what I like to do. Then I joined the call center business , wasn't that lucky the first few tries, but eventually got my 1st call center experience or technically 2nd ,the 1st one I only stayed for one week, but with the second one, I manage to keep it for 2 1/2 years. This is when I had my family taken for granted, I didn't keep in touch for almost 5 years. I guess,. I am broken, lost ..me and my brother got into a fight and didn't talk for more than 2 years(I think) I want to show them that I can make it despite of everything I've been through, but I didn't do it the right way. .Got a job in one of the top financial services firm in the U.S in 2008 which I still worked with then I got in touch with my family mid 2009.. it was like a mini reunion.. just the words how are you?is what I can hear from them, I didn't hear any other words "where the hell have you been??"  nothing.. just like what my brother said to me, It's just the four of us left, our family is not perfect, whatever happens, we should learn to accept each other, love each other, beside, mom will not be happy seeing us four separated , one thing is I gained a lot of weight and my brother only told me, as long as you are happy, that is ok,, Isn't that sweet? hehe.. I was like a balikbayan, only difference is I don't have "pasalubong" the first time me and my family see each other after almost 5 years, one day is not enough for our exchange of stories, make up for the time that had passed. But one lesson I've learned is no matter what, where or who you are with , never ever take your family for granted, because at times that no one else is there for you, your family will and always be there for you. Every achievement is not worth it without your family.  I love you papa, and to my siblings- marc and andrei.. and to my mama(wherever you are..)