Ika 19 ng Marso 2009: Going Home

Today is the day my helper will return to her homeland after three long years. "Tie a yellow ribbon round the old, oak tree, it's been tree long years, do you still want me?......" is Ninoy's going home song. Well, we know Ninoy wasn't even given a chance to get a glimpse of what his beloved country has become. He was assassinated as soon as he stepped out of the plane on that fateful day in August 1983. We also know that Ninoy's death sparked a peaceful revolution, novel yet so revered, it placed the Philippines in the global political map and became a symbolism of hope for countries facing dictatorial regimes.

My helper's return is not going to be as dramatic..... but there will be an avalanche of emotions that would accompany her trip. There would no oak tree to tie the yellow ribbon on. Instead, there will be mango or banana trees, all bearing fruits, being the summer season. The rap generation might even find the song too cheesy. Of course, her family would all be excited and happy to see her and be reunited with her again. Being the eldest, her younger sibling might not have any recollection of her. Much has happened to her family all this time she has been with us. Her mother got sick. A grandmother and an uncle died. A younger sister eloped. She has changed somehow too. ..... How she will handle the roller coaster emotional ride as well as all the excitement and hope in her return is something I could only pray will turn out well for all their sake.

She was not able to go home not because we did not allow her to visit her family. All our helpers are free to spend some time with their family every year at the right time. My other helper does it twice a year. It's just that so many things happened which disrupted her plans to go home. As far as I can recall she attempted to go home many times. Some of those times were set during school days and I bargained with her to do it during summer vacations. She was kind enough to accede. Her mother visited her here in Manila at some point. When we were ready to let her take her much-deserved break, she backed out two times for some reasons. This time, there is no reason not to allow her. The school is on a break. She needs a break too. She is going home.......

Unlike the uncertain feeling of the hero in the song, I am sure she is wanted and she doesn't have to stay in the bus and forget about the family who misses her and longs for her. Back here, her other family will also be waiting, although we can't wait three long years...... we are surely gonna miss her beginning tonight...... not only for her long and loyal service but because we have grown to love her and treat her like a member of our own family. We all wish her a safe journey to her ancestral home and back to her other home here. God speed......

Back here, I realized I need to be the hero once again and rise up to the occasion. Going to the office, I am about to face my destiny...........

PS: Matatapos na ang klase. Tapos na yun sa pangalawang anak ko. Yun bunso ko matatapos na yata nitong linggong ito. Yun sa panganay ko, sa isang linggo pa daw. Nung isang linggo pa inip na inip yun pangalawang anak ko. Sadyang me pagkalakwatsera ito kaya gustong gusto niyang naglalalabas ng bahay. Mas hindi palalabas ng bahay yun dalawang anak ko.

Tuwing bakasyon, maganda sanang me ginagawang iba ang mga bata at hindi lang panonood ng TV o paglalaro ng computer. Nung araw, pag bakasyon, kontento na kaming maglaro sa labas kasama ang mga kaibigan. Pero ngayon, napakaraming nagbibigay ng mga summer programs na pwedeng gawin ng mga bata. Nandyan ang ballet, karate, taekwondo, summer camps, art classes, swimming lessons, cooking lessons, dance lessons, voice, piano, music therapy atbp....... Komersiyo na rin. Dati ok na magkantahan kami o magturuan maggitara o maglaro sa kalye. Pag nag-aaral ka noon ng hawaiian o piano, mayaman ka. Ngayon, ordinaryo na lang na pag-aralin yun mga anak natin ng ganito. Ok lang din sana. Pero mahirap ang buhay ngayon. Ilan buwan lang na ligtas ka sa gastos ng eskwelahan, maya maya enrolment na.

Me panahon lahat ng anak namin me ginagawang summer activities. Me panahon na dalawa na lang sa kanila ang naenrol namin. Nung isang taon, yun pangalawang anak ko lang ang napagbigyan namin. Ngayon kaya, kaya pa ba namin sila pagbigyan?