Dati sabi ko sa sarili ko, kami na yata ang pinakamalas na pamilya sa buong mundo. Madalas ko maikumpara ang family ko sa ibang pamilya. Dati, I was hoping to be as rich as the richest man in this world. I wanted to have all those things that a child could ever have. I want to live in a mansion, to be in a famous school, and the things money can buy. Because I want to have a great life as long as I’m living. Money is my basis of true happiness in life. Pero as years passed by di ko parin naabot yung dream ko at mas lalo pang humihirap ang buhay. But I came to think sa part na hindi pera ang basehan ng kasiyahan. Minsan nga, nai-compare ko pa kaming family ng dad ko sa family ng tito ko. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, “Ang swerte nilang mag-asawa, kahit nagkaroon sila ng problema sa mga anak nila, matatag parin silang lumalaban sa hamon ng buhay. Nakakaya nila lahat at higit dun swerte sila dahil kumpleto silang pamilya.” Kahit nga sa pamilya ng tita ko, naikumpara ko rin ang pamilya namin. Sabi ko, “Kahit maaga nag-asawa yung tita ko, kahit wala pa silang trabaho, nakaya nilang buhayin ang mga anak nila. At tinutulungan din sila ng kani-kanilang magulang. Pero higit din sa lahat kumpleto silang pamilya.” Kasi ako, kulang na kami sa pamilya. My father left me when I was just 7. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, hindi ko na maabot lahat ng gusto ko kasi mama ko na lang bumubuhay samin. Pero as I grew up, there’s lot of things I realized. I became open minded to things. Narealize ko na family pala namin ang pinakamaswerte sa buong mundo. Because even my dad had left so early, nandiyan parin ang mama ko na kinakaya ang lahat para sa amin. Kahit kulang kami sa pamilya, nagagawa parin naming maging masaya na kaming tatlo lang. And I know how lucky I am to have a great mother like her. Besides, I know my dad doesn’t forget to guide us. He always takes us away from danger. Maswerte parin kami kasi may malaki kaming pamilya na gumagabay samin. Nagpapasalamat ako kay God kasi kahit may sari-sarili ng pamilya ang tito at tita ko, nandiyan parin sila para samin. And mas lumaki pa ang family namin, dahil nandiyan din ang bawat family nila for us. God never fails us. Kaya kung ako sainyo, be thankful for what you have. As long as you have a complete family, you are lucky, because some of us do not have a complete family. Hindi lahat kagaya mo na meron pang nanay o tatay na nagmamahal at gumagabay sakanila. Kaya mahalin at ingatan mo ang pamilya mo, kasi kung ako lang tatanungin, naiinggit ako sa mga may kumpletong pamilya. Money IS NOT the basis of true happiness. It starts with God and continues with your family and loved ones and again, ends in God. Be thankful and I’m thankful because I have the greatest family in this world, and I’m so blessed to have them. LOVE them.
I was able to think of this when we’re going home from a family (I’m referring to my tito & tita’s family) outing (05-01-12). I never thought that I would be happy with them. Because it’s vacation, I & my brother are staying in our grandpa’s house. And I enjoyed the company of my extended family. They love us like how our dad loves us. (I just want to make it clear. My mentioned tita & tito are my father’s sister & brother.) And, I’m missing my mom.
