HIDING HIS DAUGHTER (TAGLISH)

CHAPTER 11

ANGELA'S POV

I was leaning against the doorframe, watching my daughter Althea play with my three older brothers—my legs felt like jelly, and my whole body was drained from today’s meeting. I just got home, pero parang hindi ako makapagpahinga ng maayos. Ang bigat ng pakiramdam ko, parang may bato sa dibdib ko na hindi mawawala.

And to make things worse… the Velazquez I had to meet with was Jaiden.

Bakit pa kailangang magkita kami? Sana hindi na lang ako pumunta. Sana binalaan ako ng secretary ko para cinancel ko na ‘yung meeting. Bumabalik lahat—the way he talks, the way he gestures with his hands—lahat ng mga bagay na akala ko nakalimutan ko na.

“Tito Alvin, can you give me information to train a dog?” Althea asked, her big brown eyes sparkling with excitement. She’s been asking for a puppy for months now, at parang ngayon lang niya naisip na magtanong paano magtrain ng aso. Kuya Alvin just smiled at her—he’s always been a softie for kids, lalo na kay Althea.

“Number 1: Start with basic commands,” Kuya Alvin began, sitting down on the floor para makasabay sa tangkad ng anak ko. “Begin by teaching your dog basic commands like ‘sit,’ ‘stay,’ and ‘come.’ You can use treats as rewards to motivate them to follow the commands. Show them the treat and guide them into the desired position while giving the verbal command. Repeat this process and gradually reduce the use of treats as they become more familiar with the commands.”

Althea was nodding along, her tiny fingers tapping on her knees habang nakikinig ng maingat. Kuya Anthony and Kuya Adrian were watching her too—they love spoiling their pamangkin more than anything.

“Number 2: Use positive reinforcement,” Kuya Alvin continued. “Positive reinforcement is an effective training method. Reward your dog with treats, praise, or playtime whenever they successfully follow a command. This encourages them to repeat the behavior and strengthens the bond between you and your dog.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle—Kuya Alvin’s been a dog lover his whole life, kaya alam niya talaga lahat ng bagay tungkol sa mga aso. Ako naman, cat lover ako—iba kasi ‘yung lambing ng pusa, hindi katulad ng aso na sobrang energetic.

“Number 3: Consistency is key,” he said. “Be consistent in your training sessions. Set aside regular time slots for training and keep the sessions short and focused. Dogs learn best through repetition and consistency, so practice the commands regularly to reinforce their learning.”

Natawa ako ng makita kong binibilang ni Althea ang mga numero sa kanyang mga daliri, at binubulong-bulong niya rin ang mga sinasabi ni Kuya Alvin. She’s always been like that—mahilig siyang ulitin-ulitin ang mga bagay na bago niyang matutunan.

“Number 4: Be patient and persistent,” Kuya Alvin added. “Training takes time and patience. Dogs may not learn commands immediately, so it’s important to remain patient and persistent. Celebrate small victories and gradually increase the difficulty of the commands as your dog progresses.”

“Number five na po, Tito?” Althea asked, her voice full of eagerness. Kuya Alvin laughed and ruffled her hair—ang laki ng ngiti ng anak ko, parang nagwagi siya ng jackpot.

“Number 5: Seek professional help if needed,” he finished. “If you’re facing difficulties in training your dog, consider seeking guidance from a professional dog trainer. They can provide personalized advice and techniques to address specific training challenges.”

“Why should I look for another professional dog trainer when you can do it po, Tito?” Althea asked, making all of us laugh. She’s such a smart kid—alam niya kung paano manlambing sa mga tito niya para makuha ang gusto niya.