My grandfather died when I just entered my first year in college. That was a year after he persuaded me to take the scholarship exams entitled to all residents and high school graduates of my mother’s hometown in Pampanga. He was very patient that he even accompanied me throughout the application process. He even waited outside the examination venue until I finished.
The reason? I didn’t know much about the Kapampangan dialect except for “mekeni”, “nanung lagyu mu?”, “ebun”, “masanting”, “maragul”, “manyaman”, and…never mind. 😛 He had to be there for me to be my translator. To speak the dialect was supposed to be a proof that I am a legitimate half-Kapampangan. A requirement to become eligible for the scholarship. But technically and biologically-speaking, I’m a Batangpangan (Batangueño–Kapampangan) born in Manila.
To cut the story short, I passed the scholarship exam and went on to finish college with top honors. I placed 46th…among 55 students. 😛 And I owed everything both to my parents and to my departed grandfather for believing that I could get the scholarship and finish it. Continue reading Should You Rely Your Retirement on SSS/GSIS Pension Alone?