Skip to main content

Keeping Faith

My fiance and I were on the phone again earlier, talking about stuff that we want in our little home. I have been browsing through Shopee and Lazada for hours to find cute covers for our inexistent sofa bed. I really want to have a chic yet functional living space. I purposely avoided buying furniture or appliances, save for a dining set, because I want to do it once Ambin gets here. I sound clingy but honestly, I just don't want to get solely blamed when things don't work out. Haha. Ambin, on the other hand, has been hankering for a SONY TV. I told him there's none here. He said we could go to Cebu City to buy one. I responded, yeah since there's a direct trip from Calbayog City to Cebu. However, due to strict measures currently imposed, Cokaliong Shipping Lines only allows cargo shipment at the moment. We both let out a deep sigh. Then somewhere in between our frustration of our present state and excitement of what's ahead, fond memories in the Queen City of the South were brought up as well as the rueful ones.

Back in law school, I'd endure eleven-hour travel to Cebu City whenever classes begin. From my hometown to Tacloban City, four hours. From Tacloban City to Ormoc City, two hours. And from Ormoc City to Cebu City, five hours. I would bounce from one vehicle to another, race against time, make my way through crowded piers and terminals, endure loud chitchats of fellow passengers, and transport luggage bigger and heavier than me. 

I often traveled to Cebu City via Roble Shipping—only patronized SuperCat and OceanJet in my final year. I was always in the economy class because I believed that tourist was beyond my means. Anything beyond the budget, beyond necessity, was a luxury for me. I couldn't ask my parents for more than they could provide; they, too, were struggling enough. One time, I was in the sitting area for the entire five hours! I wouldn't sleep deeply because I had to watch for my belongings. Twenty minutes before docking, I would walk to the exit area so I'd be one of the first passengers to debark the vessel and get into the van or taxi. And you know how much was a bed in the economy section? Around ‎₱300. For tourist? ‎₱500. Only about‎ ₱200 difference! 

I never really made a big deal out of my hardships for I knew I was blessed despite everything. I had classmates who were working full time and/or had families to support or attend to. But looking back at it now — my experiences as a law student — almost makes me feel sorry for myself. I can't believe the storms I had to weather just to make a dream come true!

Through God's grace, I can now afford to fly to Cebu or anywhere for that matter. If I had known before that time will definitely come that I'd be able to live comfortably, I would have accepted my trials with unfaltering faith and virtue. I would not have cried to God asking why I had to experience heartbreaks in varying levels of pain in all the churches I went to. I would not have questioned my capabilities. I would have kept going with so much eagerness and tenacity. But like what they say, it's all part of the journey. I don't think I'd feel that inexplicable humility and serenity that I felt once I achieved my goal if the circumstances were otherwise. Besides, like what Ambin said, asya ak magasa han una dara han ak mga pagkukuri. Yana mataba na kay hayahay na! ðŸ˜‚

Today, classes start for public schools. I can only imagine the troubles both the students and parents are going through in these trying times. The mental, physical, environmental, and financial exhaustion must be at the tipping point. I've seen students sell their precious books to buy laptops or tablets for their online classes, teachers solicit paper and ink donations for their students' modules, and parents go nuts working from home while attending to their rowdy children.

Even so, you who have a dream, who want to change your life or your family's, or who crave the freedom to be, must not be shaken. Certainly, your ordeals are different from mine. It may be harder, longer, or more complicated. Nevertheless, I guarantee you, your time will come, too. These are only bad days, there will be better days for sure.  Survive today so you can behold the fruits of your labor with such pride and joy in the future like I did years ago. Don't quit now. Keep the faith and keep at it. Your hard work will someday be rewarded.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

There Will Be Days

Dandelion by Kamsar Ohanyan, 2021 There will be days when you wake up to a cuddle There will be days when mornings are a struggle There will be days when dancing feels good There will be days when music just can't give the right mood  There will be days when the food on the plate is wiped clean There will be days when a grain's left untouched or so it seems  There will be days when laughter echoes everywhere There will be days when not even a cricket's sound you can hear   There will be days when a short walk is enough to keep it at bay There will be days when you kneel and plead to make it go away There are days when the faintest of sunshine hurts your eyes And there are days when raindrops sound like solemn lullabies. PK.K.M.
Post a Comment
Continue

Girl Dad

Yesterday, I assisted an accused during his inquest. He was charged with violation of the Safe Spaces Act. He drove around the downtown area then stopped and grabbed a woman's breasts. He was apprehended minutes later and brought to jail. He was a small guy and relatively young, only twenty-three years old. During his inquest, he never once looked at me. His head was always down and he almost sounded like he was sobbing. After the proceeding, the accused's father came to our office to ask for assistance in filing a motion to post bail for his son's temporary release. I looked at him and saw sadness and shame in his eyes. I told him to inquire at the City Prosecution's Office how much was the recommended bail amount. Then a security guard who was listening to our conversation said that he heard it was thirty-six thousand pesos. I turned to the father and asked, "do you have this amount?" I explained to him that we can wait until the case is filed in court so we...
Post a Comment
Continue

Not Like Me

Signing of the Roll of Attorneys, Supreme Court of the Philippines, May 24, 2017 I was invited to give an inspirational message to the students of my alma mater in celebration of its 47th Founding Anniversary. The first thing that came to mind was, "Wait, what can I talk about eh I have no significant contribution to the society pa naman?" The second was, "why did they invite me?" What do they hope to hear from me? My politics? My hobbies? Or maybe my journey? 😅 I haven't really told anyone outside my family, even my best friends, about my entire law school journey so I was in a bit of a dilemma. Should I tell the truth about my humiliating struggles to strangers? Or sugarcoat things and skip the parts which are totally embarrassing? To be honest, I didn't want others to hear about what I've been through for not only does it bring back awful memories of the past, I likewise feel that no one is actually interested to know my story. I don't like t...
Post a Comment
Continue