Philippines | The Sporadic One

My childhood memories from Philippines are a combination of many activities, emotions & memorable family events. Mom worked abroad til I was 13 and while she was abroad I stayed in Philippines w/ our relatives. I was raised by a village of relatives & friends, you might say. There were times when I felt lonely after seeing my cousins, friends or classmates together w/ their parents. I would ask questions like “Why does mom have to work abroad? Why can’t she stay here w/ me?” After reaching a certain age I did understood the “why’s” however it was not an easy feat to accept them.

Because mom worked abroad she managed to send me to a good school and she was also able to help the family. While living with my auntie’s family I got to experience a lot of memorable events. My cousins and could get into trouble for doing our duties at times but we had our fun moments together, and with them I felt how it must be like to have siblings.

Grandma had a store and grandpa was a high school teacher. During lunch breaks I would go to grandma’s shop, eat lunch and perhaps help her w/ restocking goods. I’ve learned at an early age how to sell, deliver good customer service and work with my hands. I specially loved making things w/ grandma, either it was making flowers, bags or decorations. Grandpa was a real handyman and made stuff from all kinds of materials. He would recycle things from old material and when he finishes them he would often get into an argument w/ grandma anout what they would use it for. Sometimes they could argue over small things. Nag at each other, perhaps ignore each other if they don’t manage to reach an agreement. However at the end of the day they would come together at the dinner table to eat. And perhaps nag a bit more but more like sweet nagging rather than annoying nagging.

My funniest memory from Philippines are the stories that I’ve heard from my uncle & aunties & grandparents. According to their stories I was a super curious child and would go asking “why this, why that?” all the time. I guess that curiosity has been my most natural trait.

13 years in Philippines, that’s how long I’ve lived there. Back then, there was no fashion or make-up interests. It was play, travelling and hanging out w/ friends. Perhaps even escaping from duties and such. The things that I miss the most are the times when our family would gather (and we have a big family) and us kids would go out and play or perhaps get to join the adults to sing karaoke. I loved singing karaoke.

There are many memories from Philippines. It will always be my home in some aspects and perhaps some of the memories have been glorified. However I’ve come to realize that it is indeed the small details and things in life that you’ll remember. It has been at my case.