October 28, 2019
The Mabuhay Lounge in NAIA 2 was full of passengers as usual. The only vacant table was perfect for me. A small round table beside the glass wall. While I helped myself to a bowl of hot congee, shrimp wonton, fresh slices of mango, I observed the men and women around me.
Three younger women must be in their mid to late 30s, were seated next to my table so I couldn’t help but hear their conversation. They seemed like they were college friends trying to catch up on each other’s lives.
If I were to judge their status in life, they all were carrying expensive handbags. The last one that arrived looked familiar but I couldn’t be certain where I had seen her before or who her famous parents were. Her hand-carry luggage was a monogram Louis Vuitton about $4,000, while her shoulder bag was a vanilla colored Jypsiere bag from Hermes, that retails around US$9,000. If you buy in the US, plus tax, in Europe less tax.
From what I’ve heard from their casual conversation, two out of three are separated. One is a single mom. One is going through the process of annulment. The other girl was just quiet. I tried not to listen but one topic pinched my heart.
The girl who looked familiar said something about her dad.
“My dad is a playboy. He has always been. He has another family.”
“The girl is 41. But he only gives them Louis Vuitton, we, Hermes. Basta they are only up to Louis Vuitton, unlike us, we all have Hermes.”
I didn’t know what to think and feel after hearing those words. She seemed to be a nice young lady, forced to accept her father’s philandering ways. Thrown into a family situation where she has absolutely no control, she is forced to accept and find validation of how much her dad loves them. And this is measured by the amount of money he spends on his legitimate family in comparison with how much he spends for his young mistress and their lovechild.
She finds solace with the thought that her dad only gives the mistress Louis Vuitton bags and not Hermes, which is only reserved for his first family. Her measurement of fatherly love is now based on Hermes vs LV. I feel so bad for this lady. Aside from the almost half-million peso bag hanging on her shoulder and another P200,000 hand-carry she would be dragging with her, I am sure she and her mother have dozens more Hermes bags, scarves, shoes, wallets, bangles, twillies, and Birkin and more Birkin in their closets. But after I overheard her story about her dad having a mistress, whom he showers with LVs, I doubt very much if those millions worth of Hermes possessions make them truly happy.
I think I now know who she is and who her parents are. When I told my husband the story, he instantly blurted out her name. I searched on Google and Edmund was right. Sya nga, the same girl in the photos. They are very famous and the dad occupies a high elected position in government.
I sincerely wish her happiness, peace, contentment, and satisfaction that is found within herself, and not from the material possessions coming from her father.
I wish her love. True love from someone who respect her and value her as a person. I hope she marries a guy who would not turn out to be like her dad.
I hope (though highly doubt) that he at least uses his own money in buying those stuff and not the taxpayer’s money.
It’s hard to separate his personal money from the taxpayer’s money, there’s no more demarcation line.
How sad, Hermes cant replace true love and happiness.