I lived in Batangas for the most part of my life since he time my father chose to retire as a government legal officer early back in the 80s. I believe it was after the EDSA revolution and I was just around 9 years old.
The first year in that sleepy town and that beautiful province was relatively easy and comfortable than when we were in Manila. We built our own house out of bamboo poles, a few kilos of cement, and patches of plywood behind our ancestor’s old house. But the land where our small house stood was not my father’s. It was my uncle’s.
My parents ran a small restaurant called “Chow Nook” in that small hometown of Alitagtag, several years before Chowking was invented. The food was great, the prices were cheap, but our profits were small.
In short, we always run out of cash whenever my brother and I got sick. ‘Good thing’ we were living just around our relatives.
When Life Started Falling Apart
Fast forward to 1994, my father started to get sick and was diagnosed with aneurysm and kidney cancer, plus complications in his heart and lungs. My mother, brother, and I got totally devastated.
We were already behind bills, burdened with debts, and had to stop school in spite of the scholarship grants that we were enjoying.
I kept on asking how come I’ve got a lawyer father and we didn’t have money? It was only later that found out that my father invested his retirement pay in a couple of ventures, a fishpond business, and a furniture distribution business that both did not go through studies.
I also learned that he sold our only property, a small farm lot, in order to add up more funds to these businesses. And as with business without a business plan, the fishpond and furniture businesses failed.
My father was my mentor in education, frugality and living simple. He taught us how to save money for our future. He tried to get us educational plans although there was no more cash from our bank accounts to pay for the premiums.
But there was just one thing he forgot to acquire for himself and for us that could have been a source of relief for my mother when he left us: A life insurance. He did not even have a health insurance to begin with except for his SSS and GSIS. We would borrow and beg money from relatives and friends to pay for his expensive medicines and dialysis.
When he died, we had no choice but to look for ways to earn while studying. My mother bore all the sacrifices after Papa left. It was hard to grieve as it was harder to find food and money for our needs.
Then my brother and I had to juggle both helping Mama and going to school. Sometimes with no more time left to study and review for the exams.
Life Would Have Been Better If My Papa Was Insured
I knew my father was insured during his employment term with the government. But that insurance coverage expired when he retired. And he forgot to buy a new one. Probably he intended to forget about it. Maybe he thought he won’t be needing it anyway.
If Papa only bought a life insurance, we would not have stopped going to school for sometime. There would be no need for our Mama to overwork making and selling kakanin and make both ends meet for us. She could have employed other people instead to help her.
We could have found a way to replace our dilapidated house in Batangas in a new property under our names. And I wish we could have all the other could-have-been’s.
But Don’t You Worry, Papa (A Letter to My Father)
Don’t worry Papa. I’m not blaming you for everything that went bad. Whatever happened to us was a blessing in disguise. And that I finally learned that breadwinners like us have to be insured. To protect whatever earthly riches we have. To protect the lives and their quality of living when we leave this beautiful world of the mortals.
Yes, Papa. You were not able to see and touch your two very pretty and very smart granddaughters. They both excel in different ways and they are so talented.
Your granddaughter Bea from your son Vince is always on top of her class. Just like you, your son Vince, and her mother Joanna.
Your granddaughter Ruru, (by the way, Maria Isabel is her real first name. Sorry for nicknaming her differently.) yes Papa, my daughter Ruru is just like her mother Monic. They both love to sing and dance. And they’re both great singers, artists, and musicians. She’s very intelligent too. She speaks English, a bit of Japanese, and a bit of Spanish too. It’s just too hilarious whenever she pronounces the Tagalog word “suklay” (comb) as “sook-leigh”.
Do you remember when you challenged me to learn how to play the guitar? Well, I did improve on it. And yes Papa, I did become a rockstar (albeit, underground) and did play for and with real rockstars for sometime. Kaso ngayon, laos na. Ako ang rockstar na nalaos pero hindi sumikat.
And Mama is doing fine. She’s alone back in Manila but I’m pretty sure she’s excited to finally go back to Batangas by next year. Yes, we finally have our own piece of land where we will plant some trees and build a new house. It will be cool and fun for sure. Mama will surely enjoy her stay there with us.
Papa, don’t worry. I am insured today and will continue to be insured for my wife and child. I know you would do the same now if you were to come back today. Because I know you have been reading my blog from where you are now. 😉
Happy Father’s Day/Merry Christmas, Papa!
I wish you were still here.
Love,
Bernard/Bing/Burn
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