Ang simula ng pangarap

Bakit nga ba kami nangarap at nag-pursige na mag-apply sa New Zealand? Katulad din kami ng iba na gustong bigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang mga anak. At yon ay di namin nakikitang madali kung nasa Pinas kami.

Year 2001 when Henry and I seriously considered moving to a new territory to raise our family. We only have Vince then. Oo nga’t libre na yung bahay namin (we live with Henry’s parents) at stone-throw away lang sa simbahan, school at palengke kaso mo, Malabon naman yon. This is spelled out as B-A-H-A. Kahit siguro mansion ang bahay ko, kung para naman akong nasa island pag high-tide, wala ring kwenta. Nagsimula na kaming magplanong lumipat ng Bulacan (where I grew up). We purchased a lot in a subdivision in Malolos. Nagtanong-tanong ako sa kilala kong contractor kung magkano aabutin ang house construction. My jaw dropped, nakakalula ang presyo. That was the time when we thought of using the money for migration instead. Nice idea di ba.

Lahat kami sa family are fixed income earners, mga bayarang manggagawa 'ika nga. Kung magkasakit ang isa sa amin na matindi (wag naman sana), malamang na pati pamanang hapslip ng lola ko eh maibenta namin. Oo nga’t managerial capacity na kami pareho ni Henry pero sa mga routine and emergency expenses lang napupunta ang kita namin. Nalilimas kami everytime may nagkakasakit o kaya kung may kailangang ipaayos sa kotse. We think that we are almost at the peak of our careers and yet we can’t provide a safe, healthy and secured environment for the kids. Pano pa kung may nawalan ng trabaho sa amin? Nakakatakot isipin.

If my dad is still around, he’ll probably make me think twice. Kahit na puro freckles ang balat at banyaga ang apelyido nya, may pagka-patriotic yon. He never entertained the idea of leaving the Philippines for good. Aba, sasabihin ko naman sa kanya that our plans don’t mean I love my country less. Priority ko lang talaga yung mga bagets. However, if he is able to witness all the controversies our economy and government have been dealing with, malamang sasabihin non “sige anak, suportahan taka�.