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It's All About The Money

My mother graduated with an Accountancy degree and she was the one who budgets the money in our family. Kaya bata pa lang ako, marunong na 'ko mag-ipon. She was the one who taught me how to save money efficiently--kung ano ang matitira sa pera, ilagay sa ipon.

She was the first one who taught me the importance of money. I would remember her telling me not to buy anything that I won't need. Kaya ang mga binibili ko lang noon, puro lang pagkain. Tutal, mahilig akong kumain. Kaya mataba ako noon pa lang.

But I was the black sheep of the family. Charot. Matigas talaga ang ulo ko, kaya kahit sinabi niya na gamitin ko lang 'yun kapag kailangan ko, I followed that rule.

I just convinced myself that I need books.

I found the love for words when I was fourteen. That wasn't something that I couldn't help myself with. I loved reading Wattpad works back then nung sobrang active pa 'ko rito. Now, not that much. More because the landscape changed and I couldn't find myself immersed within the community. My fellow contest friends now had their own lives. Me, too, have my own fucked-up life that doesn't revolve around writing for contests anymore.

So, when I wanted to read Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, I really saved my money back then. PHP 100 'yung baon ko, tapos may packed lunch pa 'ko. I only needed to use that money for transportation, which was only 30 pesos back then, balikan pa. Kaya malaki 'yung ipon ko nung high school.

And I used most of it for books. Some for gala with my friends. 'Yung iba, pinautang ko sa nanay ko na hindi naman niya binayaran.

Before I graduated in high school, I have around 40-50 books. Complete set ng PJO at HoO, Harry Potter, at Divergent. I have a few standalones din. Bob Ong books. I read most of them, lalo na 'yung PJO at HP. Ilang beses kong nire-read 'yun.

Did my mother know I was buying those books? Definitely. I would smuggle those books inside the house, hoping that my mother wouldn't catch me before I could hide them inside my treasure chest of books. Alagang-alaga pa 'ko sa mga 'yun. Lahat ng libro ko, may tape ang edges, may plastic cover pa. Ganyan ako kaalaga sa mga libro ko.

She only confronted me once, though, when she found out I bought two books worth PHP800. She found it while cleaning my bags and she saw the NBS paperbag. She hit me with a broom, but that would never stop me. Nag-lie low lang ako no'n sa pagbili.

Looking back at those moments, I was so proud of my younger self back then. If it weren't for my rebellious side, I would never be in a position like this in the future. If I stopped buying and reading books, I would never dream of being a writer.

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But eventually, my mother's words resonated in my personality up until know. I'm very proud to say na kuripot ako, but not much compared to my early years. I would only buy books back then and never invested on clothes.

Back then, I would only receive clothes from my parents. My mother would buy me clothes that she thinks looks cute on me. Or hand-me-downs from my father. Then, there were clothes from my high school. I really didn't need to buy clothes back then because I wasn't fond of going out. Kung kailangan ko man lumabas, those clothes would suffice.

First time ko bumili ng sarili kong damit bago ako pumasok no'ng college kasi kailangan ko ng damit. My mother and I went to Divisoria. Then, we bought shorts and t-shirts that lasted throughout my college life.

By the time I entered college, my wardrobe was really limited. I only have like fifteen shirts then. The first year wasn't a problem--pumapasok ako sa mga klase ko na naka-sando at shorts lang. Kebs lang, wala namang pake mga tao sa UP kung anong suot ko.