My uncle is a very jealous person. I think it stems from the fact that he’s away from his family, working abroad to provide a better future for them. He checks on his wife every half hour or so. It’s not that he doesn’t trust her. He just wants to make sure that she’s with [...]
Whenever I hear this Kenny G song, I remember my brother. The song is from the soundtrack of Dying Young. My brother died young. I still miss him a lot… It’s been years but there’s still a lot of why’s and what if’s in my mind when I think of my brother. I will forever [...]
This year, our family went on vacation only once. In Bagac, Bataan during the summer. Unlike in the past years, there’s nothing much special on that trip. We were disappointed with the place. It was not like what we were told. The strong, big waves prevented us from enjoying the beach. The black sand was [...]
When I was a little kid, I only get to have new clothes, usually a shirt and pants or shorts, on Christmas. I didn’t get to have something new until then. First and foremost, my parents couldn’t afford it. There’s just too many of us and getting me something new would mean getting the rest [...]
Balikbayan boxes or packages from overseas workers are already arriving. It’s that time of the year again. I don’t know if this is the same with other countries but here in the Philippines, it is somewhat a tradition to get at least one big balikbayan box from a family member or relative working abroad. It [...]
…anything related to finance is being asked on me. Like matters on taxation and accounting. It is okay with me. In fact, I feel flattered at times. Because I know they trust me with important matters. Like today. My aunt’s husband called me up regarding a tax matter on the house they are buying. He [...]
We are not on speaking terms with my uncle’s wife. Do you know why? Because my dad reprimanded her and her cousin (who happens to be the wife of another uncle) for allowing her 14-year-old daughter to have a relationship with her teacher! My uncle is working abroad and he doesn’t know anything about it. [...]
A younger cousin of mine, Felice*, got pregnant when she turned 18. It was a big issue in the paternal side of the family that time. My cousin was banished from the ancestral house where her whole family lives. She can still come visit but she can’t live there anymore. My aunts, who shell out [...]
I cannot understand the logic behind being hateful to a relative that’s doing better than you in life. Will it make you happy to be saying bad things about your own relative? Will it enrich you somehow? I don’t think so. Unless you are a relative of a celebrity and you are dishing out their [...]
Last night, news programs reported the birth of a baby with two heads. It’s actually a case of conjoined twins wherein one of the babies didn’t develop on its own inside the womb of the mother. You know, this could have been avoided had there been an early detection of abnormalities with the pregnant mother. [...]
When a relative borrows money from you and reneged on their promise, it’s disappointing and frustrating to say the least. Especially when you don’t hear anything from them. No nothing. I know they are slowly paying off debts from different creditors. But they were specifically told that the money is needed by end of June [...]
I don’t like it when one of my siblings or my dad gets upset over something. I don’t like it at all! Today, my dad got so disappointed with someone from Hazel’s family. He arrived home from Baclaran church. He saw Hazel sitting on the lap of a boy from the neighbor. He called her [...]
Our family has a history of early marriages. My parents married when they’re in their 20s. An aunt married when she’s just 19. And some uncles even married in their early 20s as well. So it’s no surprise that a cousin is now planning to settle down while still in college. His mom has a [...]
One of the things I am thankful for is that I was born to a family with simple dreams and simple joys in life. We live in a modest house. My siblings and I went to private schools but nothing too fancy. We don’t have a car at the moment but we used to have [...]
When you say family, what does it mean? Does it mean immediately family only? Does it include the extended family? Does it include a few very close family friends? Personally, family for me includes my immediate family and only close relatives. By relatives I mean my father’s side of the family and not all of [...]
