Back in my teenage years, I have already thought of a kind of family I wanted to have. I remember one of my teachers quoting that “The future of a child should be planned 20 years before he is born”. Wow! I said to my self if it would be the case if I start now then I would only be qualified to have a child at the age of 35. My goodness, quick, lay down the plans now or else I won’t meet the minimum requirements to have a baby! I might not have enough strength anymore to make a baby if I reached 40. So I quietly looked around the classroom hunting for a prospect mother of my children. A lot to choose but none of the girls looked straight to my eyes. I started to get more worried. Don’t I look even a mile near the likes of Romeo or Romnic Sarmenta? - yeah, go ahead and laugh cause I bloomed during the time of Romnic and Sheryl Cruz. Was I not that husband material enough that no one dared to look straight to my eyes? Well, OK! That time I forgot to comb my hair and brush my teeth but was that a big deal?
At 15 I already started worrying about the life I would have when I get married. Much more the lives of my future children. Would I be a good husband and father? I didn’t know yet as that time I was only struggling to become a good son to my parents. Then I started imagining me as the head of the family and my wife sitting beside me while watching the kids play. I dreamt of having a God-fearing family. That simple!
And so, after high school graduation I and my mother migrated to Zamboanga City hoping to find my future. I went to college with one thing in mind – I need to finish my studies! Not only to help my siblings (though I’m the youngest of nine) but most importantly so I could give my children the best life they could have.
In college I only had one relationship but unfortunately, it didn’t work (or should I say, fortunately!). I have always thought to myself that if I ever get involved with a girl I would make sure that she would be it. I should be very careful in choosing so that if something happens I won’t regret it later on if I am forced to marry her. Hmm did I say “forced to marry her?” I know what’s on your mind you green-minded homo sapien! Well, OK you’re right! But hey, I am not the type who runs away “if something happens”.
After college I worked at an internet café as systems administrator, in short “tagabantay” (attendant). They just made the position to make it sound appealing to the ears. In no time I quickly learned the job. Who in the world can’t learn it right away? You only have to watch, that’s it! Then I was learning everything from cleaning the counter, mopping the floor and selling candies to walk in customers, not bad for someone who spent five years in college!
Well it’s not all that, I also learned encoding thesis, making websites for customers(now that’s getting technical yeyy!) and more importantly I learned chatting at mIRC. Where in the world could you chat while being paid? Haha now this is fun! Lemme clean some more!
At mIRC, I met this girl, her nick was “jiezelle”. She was chatting from another internet café. It all started with a joke that after 3 years led to the aisle of Tetuan Parish Church.
At first I was skeptical. Was she the right woman for me? Would she be understanding enough with my lifestyle? – I go home in the wee hours of the morning and go out early for work. Does she know how to cook and do the dishes? My goodness she is a police colonel’s daughter what does she know about taking care of the house, and the kids? These questions keep running in my mind. Well, I had no choice. That “if something happens…” has already happened!
After countless sessions of heavy weightlifting exercises at their house with her father, as a requirement in order for me to be permitted to visit her daughter, the wedding bells rung!
After countless sessions of heavy weightlifting exercises at their house with her father, as a requirement in order for me to be permitted to visit her daughter, the wedding bells rung!
After almost ten years and five kids, I look back and get embarrassed. It shouldn’t be me who should ask those questions. I was skeptical of marrying a colonel’s daughter because I was wondering what good she could do to my home. I figured out that the questions should be - am I the right man for her? Would I be unconscientious enough to continue with my late night activities? Would I care to do the dishes and watch the kids?
With the kind of work I have, I go on travel on a Monday and go home on a
Friday on a weekly basis, she is left all alone with the kids, five kids with no household help! It makes me wonder where she gets the strength and patience to take care of them while I’m away. Three of them are already going to school, my eldest, Caresse Joiece - 9, Carelle Jahnn – 7 and Jaymuel Charles – 5. I still have two babies at home, Jabe Carl – 2 and Carenne Jeiz – 3months. I know, I know we were family planting then. Now we are planning, OK?
She prepares them for school every morning very quick so that when the babies wake up she is already done with the school kids. Yet, I didn’t hear her complain.
The family that I have always dreamt of is coming to a reality. I have five wonderful and adorable kids, a loving, understanding and very supportive wife. What more can I ask for? Yeah life is hard, it is a struggle for me nowadays, but for as long as they are there for me, I will break all the barriers that keep me from making my family happy!
I have my family now, my dream family. Next, my dream house!
