A Journey Through Life

Today I received a text message from my Tita Marlene about her conversation with my Tita Eva who lives in the states. The message reads:

"Nono, Tita mo Eva wants to speak with you ASAP. She said she has something for you but I cannot tell you about it. She wants you to text her the best time to call you. Swerte mo."

The message rang like church bells in my ears. I cleared a big lump on my throat as I hurriedly called up my Tita Marlene as if not sure if that text is really for me. Tita Marlene was ecstatic and happy when I called her up. She said that Tita Eva has finally deviced a plan for me to go the States and live there. She said that I was so lucky.

For a moment I recalled that Mama Eva really wants me to be there in the US. Ever since I worked in SGV in Makati after my passing the Philippine CPA Board Exams back in October of 1994, she has been inviting me to visit her there and see what America has in store for me as a working professional.

She was aware of my successes in the corporate world here in Manila through my father's constant talks and letters to her. She was so proud of me like and my family because she knows what we have been through back when I was still studying in high school and college.

Like many of my cousins that she has been trying to convince to live and work there, I am always in hesitation. We are not like many of the Filipinos who wants to go there and take their chances. I know some would even go as far as becoming a TNT (Tago ng Tago) or illegal aliens. But we are not interested to work or live in the states. Well as far as I know my cousins.

I guess me and cousins believe in the same thing - that we can survive here in the Philippines no matter what. After all, we have proven that already to Mama Eva several times. The successes we have here in our own fields of expertise has proven to everyone that we share the same genes and same set of values instilled to us by our fathers. And we are proud of that for the most part.

Then Tita Marlene continued as if sharing a secret that Mama Eva wants to meet with me to discuss a business venture. She further said "Gusto yata nya na imanage mo yung business nila dun kaya ang swerte mo. Buti ka pa. Di kagaya nitong pinsan mong si...".

And so she said other things about her eldest son who has not really made it big yet. She sounds frustrated with my cousin but not envious about my fate at all. I guess its unique in our genes. We don't feel bad about another's successes even if we are not successful at that time.

So I asked Tita Marlene to text me Mama Eva's number in the states. And so she did and the rest was history...

Will continue on my next blog. I was sleepy already...