Start of Something New

2. It's more fun in the Philippines!

I arrived excitedly home from school. I just couldn't wait to tell my parents about the school choir competition and that I will be singing solo at some point of the song that we will be presenting with.

Taking a deep breath as I opened our front door, I smiled when I saw my mom and dad talking in our living room and I just couldn't find a more perfect opportunity than this, I thought to myself.

"Mom, Dad!!!" I called out happily with a very big smile on my face, making them draw a confused look on their faces.

"What is it daring? you look like you just won a lottery," my mom asked, still giving me a confused look as I took her hand and held it unto my forehead with a slight bow. This is how Filipinos show respect to the elders especially to their parents. I may have grown here in Australia but I still have practiced some of the Filipino traditions because both of my parents are Filipinos.

"Oh, it's more than that mom" I told her, then went to my father sitting beside her and did the same to him.

"what is it then Jade?" my dad asked as he placed his cup of tea on the table beside him and gave me a look of curiosity.

"Mom, Dad" I said, "remember when I told you I want to be a singer?" I continued, I have always been vocal about my parents about my dreams of becoming a singer and they have always been very supportive about it. They were the reason why I joined the school choir at the first place. 

"Yes??" They both replied.

"Well, it's about to come true because our school is joining an inter-school completion for school choir and I was asked by Mrs. Hanley our choir teacher to sing a solo part on the song that we will be singing. Isn't that cool?"

"Oh! that's great Jade, we always knew you will. Me and your father are so proud of you darling" said my mom and she gave me a big kiss on the cheek. I can really see it in her face that she is indeed very happy for me. Dad looks happy too however, I could see a worried look in his face when he heard what I had to say and I can't help but wonder why.

"Dad? is something wrong?" I asked him, I could sense that something is really bothering him.

"Jade, darling" my mom calls me as she reaches my hand, trying to take my gaze away from my dad.

"Listen, your dad and I have been talking and....---" she stops as my dad continued her sentence.

"and we too have some good news" my dad told me, now making me to draw a confused look on my face. Yeah, the exact thing that they just did a while ago.

"Good news??? really dad? what is it? " I asked him hastily. Two good news in one day? Well, this might my be my luck day. I thought to my self.

"I got promoted again" he said "I got the promotion as the Head Manager on one of our company's international branches" he then continued with a slight smile on his face.

"That's great dad! " I said to him and gave him a big hug.

Well, he deserved it. My dad is very hard working that's why he always get promoted. I am very happy that the company that he is working is really giving him an opportunity to grow as an employee and to have been able to get the top management position is a really big deal for my dad. I have seen how he worked so hard for him to get to where the fruits of his hard works are taking him. 

On the second thought...

"Does this mean we have to move again?" I asked, knowing for the fact that we will. No doubt.

" I am sorry darling but I guess you will have to pass that school choir competition, for now" my mom told me, looking worried about me.

"But mom, the competition is happening next month, Does this mean we will be moving before that? " I asked, hoping for a miracle to happen and allow me to join the competition or somehow make us stay for a month.

" I'm afraid we will have to move before that." Said my dad, giving me the idea that we might probably be moving to the end of the universe to make it very impossible.

"Where are we moving then dad? I hope not in Sydney or Queensland, I hate to go back to my old schools there." I blurted. It's true, i had a bad memory of some schools I have been to here in Australia and I don't want to go back there ever again though all these moving thing got me used to it.

"You will not be coming back to any of your schools before Jade, nor you are going to another here in Australia" My dad said

Now I'm more confused!

"We are moving to our new home in the Philippines. Your dad's company have assigned him there darling, inst that amazing?" My mom said "you have always wanted to go to the Philippines, remember?" She continued.

"Yeah mom, like a long time ago?" I said to her in a sarcastic way.

It's true, I have always wanted to go there since both of my parents are Filipino thus making me a fool-blooded Filipino too and I have always wondered what Philippines look and feels like. I thought to my self.

"Oh common Jade, I'm sure your gonna love the people there. Your gonna make a lot of new friends there too!" My dad said, giving me a convincing look.

"Dad? You know I never made a stable friend since forever right?" I told dad.

"I know but Filipinos are different, were friendly people" said my dad, trying his best to really make it sound easy for me.

"But what if they wont like me there?" I told them, I was a bit worried for the fact that they speak a different language there like Tagalog. Though, I know some of the words but I really find it hard to understand and speak sometimes.

"I know it's not going to be easy darling but me and your mom are always here for you and you know that." dad told me and I believe him. My parents have always been here for me and I never questioned their love. That is why I never argue with them when it comes to these kinds things because I know they are just doing this for my own sake and future.

wherever life may take me and whatever challenges life brings, I can face it all because I know they are always at my back.

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