“Paano mo nalaman nung bata ka na mahirap lang kayo?”
Gaas ang gamit namin nun maliban sa kandila kapag napuputulan kami ng Meralco.
Nangunguha si Papa nuon ng mga kahoy pangsiga pangluto. Nasa Manila kami, wala sa probinsya.
Kapag nakaipon ng bote bote, binebenta namin ‘yun sa nagddyaryo bote. Araw-araw nakakabili naman si Papa ng Abante na dyaryo, kapag naipon, benta ulit.
Mama ko nuon nagtinda ng pansit at spaghetti. Nangutang sa bumbay pampaikot sa maliit na negosyo. Naranasan din niya magtinda ng mga Giordano na T-shirts, Dakki pillows, Tupperware.
Paano ko nalaman na mahirap kami?
Kapag pumupunta kaming magkakaklase sa bahay ng kaklase namin. May orange juice, may sandwich! Tatlong palapag ang bahay. May billiard table sa 3rd floor, grand piano, drum set. Sa baba nakapark lang andaming sasakyan. Nung pinasakay ako sa harap, hindi ko alam ‘yung kunsepto ng seat belt. Hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ‘yung lakad na ‘yun for a school project kasi ‘yung song composition ko, kinanta ng kaklase ko habang tinipa sa piano. It was a magical moment for me as a student-songwriter.
Everyone knows my balat ng manok story. Tokneneng, kwek-kwek, sobrang sarap na hapunan niyan. Sinasabaw ko na lang ‘yung suka na galing din dun sa nagtitinda. Naikwento ko na dati nung kapag dumaraan kami ng kuya ko sa mga carinderia eh nakatungo na lang kami. There was also a time na hindi na kami pinapautang ng pagkain kasi sobrang haba na ng lista.
I could go on and on with my life story. Nasa Lady Boss Book lahat ‘yan.
Maraming turning points nung bata ako eh. Nung sinisipat talaga namin mga bag if may natitira pang barya. Nung naghahati-hati lang kami sa sardinas. Nung binilhan ako ng typewriter sa panahon ng laptop at desktop.
Nung tinanong ako ng tita ko na medyo maykaya ano inulam namin, sabi ko, “Tuyo!” Natawa na lang siya. Sa isip-isip ko, totoo naman ‘yun kinain namin. Hindi ko alam na pangmahirap pala ‘yun. Eh kung makakain pa ako ng kanin nun.
Grabeng hirap ng buhay namin nun. Pero lagi ako nagpapasalamat na nangyari ‘yun sa buhay namin nuon. Nuon.
Mas gugustuhin ko ‘yung story na rags-to-riches kesa riches-to-rags.
Mas motivated akong yumaman. Mas nag-aral ako. Hindi ako maarte. Hindi ako maselan. Kahit saan ako isabak, I will always do my best.
My parents are not rich but I will always be grateful for them. Kung hindi sa kanila, wala ako ngayon sa kinalalagyan ko.
Totoo ‘yung no rich parents, no network, no backers – pero kinaya. Mahirap sa una, pero sa loob mo, alam mong kaya mo. Kasi ang totoo, my parents are there to support me. My friends are happy to see me evolve. My backers? My invisible benefactors who paid for my scholarships ever since I attended school. Kung hindi sa scholarships, hindi ako nakapag-aral.
Kaya kung wala kang privileges at nahihirapan ka makaahon – naiintindihan kita. Ito lang din masasabi ko: Kung kaya ko, mas kakayanin mo.
Fast forward today, I have about 40 properties. Businesses, dividend stocks, global and local funds, insurances. My insurances alone can build day care centers in rural areas.
I’ve traveled the world without telling social media. I live a private life. I have made my Mama happy all the time. I have helped charities and individuals anonymously. Privacy has given me so much peace and inner happiness.
The universe wants to see you successful.
The Lord wants to bless you with His love.
What’s next for me? Reinventing myself. Rebirth. There’s always a new “me” in another chapter of myself.
If I look back and God will ask if I wanted my life to start that way, I’d say poverty made me rich.
Rich in motivation. Rich in determination. Rich in priceless memories. Things money can’t buy.
You too for sure would have your own “rags-to-riches” story.
I hope you are proud of the life story you are creating. And when it’s time for you to give, I hope you give like a cheerful giver.
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