When I was in grade school, I usually reach home at 4pm, umaga-hapon na klase at hatid-sundo ng service. Madaming kondisyones kung gusto makapaglaro or makapanood ng TV on school days. First things first. Ang homework. Yan ang inuuna dapat. If no homeworks given, at least magreview ng sandali for the next day para “daw” kung may recap si teacher, di ako mapapahiya sa klase pag tinanong. Kung tapos na, then I can go on with whatever I have in mind, either maglaro sa labas ng bahay or manood ng TV.
But only until 6pm kung maglalaro sa labas ng bahay. I should keep a track always. Otherwise di na mauulit. And when I’m done, dapat kusa na akong maglinis ng katawan.
8pm, in bed. Que inaantok or hindi.
I had no questions during that time. I know it’s for my good sake. Bata pa kasi.
When I entered High School, nakuuuuu! Akala ko pwede na hehehe! Buti na lang wala pang celfones noon na pwede akong icheck lagi.
Ok, here it goes. Our classes finish at 4:10. Di naman traffic sa Olongapo so expect na I should at least be home by 4:30. 5pm okay pa yan, lalo na kung alam na “cleaner” ako. Pero kung dumilim na at wala pa ako sa bahay at walang pasabi bago ako umalis ulit ng tanghali for school, I’d better keep my ears ready. Kasi nakaready na din ang nobela ng mother ko hehehe!
Mas lalo na nung I joined CAT. I luckily got in the Model Company. So basically we have trainings after class. And sometimes natatapos kami past 6pm na talaga.
Asahan mo ang mother ko nakaabang na sa gate namin, and if I reason out na galing sa training na totoo naman, she would say “anong klaseng training yan, nagkakakitaan pa ba kayo sa dilim?”. May point sya dun pero totoo naman.
I could say na obedient child ako. I always obey what my parents tell me, especially mother ko, takot ko lang hehehe!
Nung college na ako, medyo may freedom na. Di ko alam kung nagdeclare ako ng sarili kong freedom hahaha! Or let’s say mas “nakawala” na ako coz I studied in Manila. Naka-boarding house and weekly ang uwian sa amin. But I’m proud to say naman na di ako nanamantala. Pero syempre there were times na medyo sumasablay hehehe! Lalo na kung “barkadas” are around.
Dati, naiinis ako. At nagtatanong bakit yung iba di naman ganun.
Ngayon, I completely understand why…. I’m now a parent. And I’m starting to fear for my daughter already. Babae eh. Paano kung lumaban sya sa akin? Paano kung di ko siya katulad na sumusunod sa parents ko? Paano kung magset sya ng sarili nyang rules?
Especially nowadays, iba na sila. Nakakakaba.
being the eldest, sobrang strict sa akin dad ko.. as in.. no boys, no suitors, no late-night outings with the barkada, no gimiks, bahay-school routine only, dapat above average yung grades, worse than Marcos’ curfew time, etc..
i felt so bad about the set up so when he left for the States, talagang parang nakawala ako sa hawla nun..
then i had jenna at 18 and things changed. nasabi ko tuloy na alam ko na kung bakit ganon dad ko. although i have no regrets having jenna, i would have been better if i headed my dad’s advice to focus in school then sana prepared ako when jenna came into my life.
narealize ko na my dad didn’t do these things to torture me but to make me a better person. (although i promised myself i wouldn’t be THAT strict sa mga kids ko)
I can so relate… I have a daughter of my own, and I must say na kahit baby pa sya.. I fear for what it will be like kapag teenager na sya (at least).
We will only realize kasi once naging parent na din tayo.