One Road, Six Ways

One Road, Six Ways - Part 4

The father of Grace, hailed from Cadiz, Negros Occidental and her mother from Bais, Negros Oriental. When her parents got married, they decided to go to Cotabato and in Cotabato her parents acquired five hectares of farm land. They were five siblings and were all born in Cotabato. Grace was the third child, her two older sisters were both married already, and her two younger brothers were both still studying in the high school.  Her parents could not afford for her study in the college that's why she decided to go to Manila to work as a domestic helper. She was recruited to audition as a cultural dancer and when she did audition and accepted, she decided to come home to let her parents know and at the same time, to ask money for her placement fee to the agency.  She really dreamed to go abroad as most of the Filipinos did. She thought that after the contract of three years she will come back to the Philippines and continue her studies in college, she wanted to be a professional, to be an architect. She dreamed also that her two brothers could finished their study and be professionals too. She dreamed also to give her parents a good life.

"Ay, Rosario, sugot ako nga iprenda ang duta kon segurado nga sa pagbalik sang bata mo, manggaranon na sia." * "Rosario I will agree to pawned our farm land if it's sure that your daughter will comeback rich!" Romulo said to his wife.

Grace heard what her father said and she was the one  who answered her father.

"Tatay, indi sa siling nga kon magkadto ko sa abroad, manggaranon na ko sa akon pagbalik. Ang akon lang nga sa sulod sang tatlo ka tuig, makasupot ako sang kwarta kag makapadayon ko sang akon eskwela kag nga maka-eskwela man ang duha ko ka manghud. Gapangabay ko sa imo, Tay, sugot na lang bala nga iprenda ang umahan naton. Hunahuna bala, dungog sang aton pamilya kon makatapos ako sang kurso kag amo man ang akon mga manghud."*  " Tatay, not because I go abroad I will come back rich. For me, I only wanted to earned and save money within the contract of three years so that I can continue my study to graduate a course and also my two brothers. It would be the honor of our family if we finish a profession. Think about it!" Grace explained to her father.

Romulo did not answered. He's thinking. 

"Kon ako lang ang pasugtan, indi gid ko tani gusto nga hilabtan ang duta, pero wala ko sang mahimo, awayon lang ko permi ni Nanay mo. Kon iprenda naton ang aton uma, ipangako mo sa akon nga gawaron mo gid balik, kay kon indi magawad balik ang aton uma, labi nga mabudlayan gid ta sa aton pangabuhi. Magutuman gid kita tanan." * "If it's to me, I don't like to touch, to pawn our farm land, but if I will not do it, your mother will always quarrel me. If we pawned our farm land promise me that we can take it back, because if not, we will have more hardships. We all go hungry!" Romulo said to his daughter.

"Salamat gid, 'Tay! Salamat gid kaayo. Lipay gid ko kaayo nga makakadto na ko sa abroad!"*  "Thank you, 'Tay! Thank you very much. I am very happy that I can go and work abroad!" Grace was very happy. She hugged her father and gave him a kiss and looked at her mother and said to her happily, "Nakadungog ka 'Nay, maka-adto na gyud ko ug abroad. Nisugot na si Tatay nga iprenda ang aton umahan!"**   "Did you heard 'Nay, I can really go  abroad. Tatay agreed that we can pawn our farm land!"

"Nalipay sad ko, anak. Unya kanus-a ka man mobalik ug Manila? Kanus-a sad ang gawas nyo pa abroad?"**  " I am happy too, my child. When will you go back to Manila then? When will you go to abroad?" Rosario was also glad.

"Kon anaa na ug kwarta, 'Nay, molakaw dayon ko bisan ugma dayon. Kay mo training pa man mi, mga tulo pa siguro ka bulan antes mi makalakaw sa abroad." "If the money is there already even tomorrow I can go to Manila. First we must train for three months before we can travel to abroad." Grace answered her mother.

"Kadungog ka Romulo? Lakwa na dayon ang pagprenda sang uma agud nga makabalik na dayon sa Manila ang imo bata!"**  "You heard it Romulo. Work for it fast so that your daughter can return to Manila very soon." Rosario commanded her husband.