Congratulations Maila

Kuya Romy’s eldest son, Rommel, was a US immigrant. He joined his father in the United States when he was probably 14. He was studying in high school in Hayward but napa-barkada, naglalakwatsa. His teacher would call the house looking for him. Nagka-cutting classes din. My brother didn’t know what to do with him so he sent him back to Binangonan where his younger siblings and his mom were still staying, at that time.

At a young age, nag-asawa naman agad tapos biglang dalawa na anak. He wasn’t able to go back to the US anymore because his plans were overtaken by events. He worked for many years at Ford EDSA and he’s presently doing very well in my Kuya Lito’s company.

His wife Maila is also from Binangonan. I would only see her during family gatherings. I found out that she dropped out of school when she got pregnant with their first child, Denise. I talked her into going back to school. She didn’t show any objection nor excitement when I first brought up the idea. I just told her tingnan mo kung gusto mo ha?
Opo tita was her answer.

When I saw her again I mentioned the same thing “Mag-enrol ka ng nursing, malapit lang naman ang school, ako ang magbabayad lahat ng gastos mo, hindi mo mapapansin, bago mo malaman, graduate ka na”.
Opo tita was her answer.

I was the “tigabayad lang”, pero sya ang nag-e-effort. She would send me her grades every sem and ang tataas ng grades at tila may honor pa yata. It was her assurance to me that my money wasn’t going to waste.

After I’ve given her the January tuition payment, she informed me “Tita, yung susunod ho na babayaran sa February na ho kasi graduation na namin. Last na tuition na ho iyon”.

Abah, ang bilis. Graduate na sya. At graduate na rin ako pagbabayad (happy happy omb).

Yesterday she sent me a message on facebook:

Thank you po tita sa lahat… for encouraging & supporting me to pursue the nursing profession! Tama po kayo na maganda at makakabuti sa amin tong lahat.. I’m forever indebted to you… Sana po one day makabawi din ako sa inyo…

Sulit na ang tuition fee, okay na yung naka graduate sya.

Congratulations Maila, I wish you and your family a good life ahead.