My Brother's Graduation...Finally!

I can't imagine and I can't still believe my brother Jessie is already a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Restaurant and Management graduate! Yes indeed! He graduated just this morning with Me at Philippine International Convention Center =)

If you only knew how he surpass every trials that he had been through. He is the so called "black sheep" of the family. He is very naughty, very "pasaway", I thought he will become "tambay, lasenggero and yosi kadiri" guy forever (though he's still yosi kadiri and sometimes lasenggero till now, lols.), I was losing my hope for him before. He loses his track and I guess that's because we have no father to guide and look after him. I can't blame him for being like that before and I am very disappointed with myself as an eldest among 4 siblings for letting those things happen to him. Especially when he almost got killed. He was stubbed by his so called "friend", he was hospitalized for almost 2 months and I thought that was his end already. I am so scared losing another family member. Thank God he survived. I really believe God has given him another chance and so he did. One day, few months after he was finally checked out from the hospital, he told me he wants to go back to school. He's no longer ashamed of his age (he doesn't want to go back to school before because of his age) praise God!
I am a working college student that time, my salary is not that big but I know I can support my brother in God's help. He enrolled as 2nd year high school, I tried every motivation I could give him. I bought him nice bags, nice notebooks and pens. In God's grace, he finished until college! Thanks to my loving husband who's been very kind and supportive. He's my strength. He's giving me more courage to strive harder for my family. And now I can give my 100% attention to my kids and husband. Hope he could get a good job in the future so he could able to help our pamangkins. My other brother wants to go back to school also...hope he could pursue his dreams. I am still willing to help but this time, I should focus on my own family. Thank you Lord for your blessings and guidance all the time.
Congratulations my dear brother Jessie! I'm sure wherever our Papa is now, I'm sure he's so happy and proud!

"Ang Dalampasigan"

Setyembre taong 2008. Ito ang muli naming pagkikita ng Dalampasigang ito, pumanaw ang aming Lola kaya kinailangang umuwi kami ng probinsya. Ito'y matatagpuan sa barangay ng Gabu, Lungsod ng Laoag, Ilocos Norte, kung saan ako lumaki, nagdalaga at nagsimulang mangarap.

Isang taon mula ng pumanaw ang aking ama nang ako'y simulang manirahan sa probinsyang ito . Taong 1992, ako'y nasa ika-limang baitang na noon, magkahalong takot at saya ang naramdaman ko nang malaman kong dito na ako maninirahan at mag-aaral. Takot, dahil malalayo ako sa aking pamilya at ibang tao na naman ang aking makakasalamuha. Saya, sapagkat makakapag-aral ako at di na malayong makamit ko ang aking mga munting pangarap. Ngunit hindi biro ang dinanas ko upang makapagtapos ng aking pag-aaral. Ginawa ko ang lahat upang matustusan ang iba kong pangangailangan. Naglabada't namalantsa sa murang edad, namasukang tagahugas ng pinggan sa isang restawran tuwing sabado't lingo, gumawa ng proyekto ng ibang tao at kung anu anu pang masasabi kong marangal na trabaho para lamang makaraos at makatapos.
Naalala ko noong ako'y unang sumama sa mga kalaro kong maligo sa dalampasigan na ito, hindi ako marunong lumangoy ngunit di ako nangamba sapagkat mayroong akong galon na may takip na alam kong magpapalutang sa akin sa tubig. Nagpakasaya ako, di ko inaakalang isa sa mga kaibigan ko ang magbibirong agawin sa akin ang galong yakap ko at hayaan akong malunod. Nagsimula akong kumampay, sumipa, makipagsapalaran upang di tuluyang malunod. Di ko namamalayang nakakapaglangoy na pala akong mag-isa, paunti-unti at ako'y nasa pampang na.
Alam kong may dahilan ang lahat kaya kinuha ng Diyos ang aming ama ng maaga na siyang nagsisilbing aking salbabida upang makapaglangoy sa malawak na karagatan. Alam ng Diyos na matutunan kong ikampay ang aking mga kamay sa gitna ng mga pagsubok na kanyang ibibigay. Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito'y alam ng Diyos na matutupad ko ang aking mga pangarap ng mag-isa. Ang mga malalakas na hampas ng alon ng dalampasigang ito ang nagturo sa akin maging malakas, matibay at maging mapursige sa buhay.

Ito ang aking kauna - unahang paglahok sa Litratong Pinoy sa temang "Maala-ala Mo Kaya?"