We can not help looking back as we, siblings sit down together reminiscing our younger years. Snippets of the past brought out laughter and chuckles. We can not imagine how 11 plus 2 sisters of Mommy could fit in a small house with 4 small rooms and one outside "kasilyas" (washroom) in Rosario st, Ilagan, Isabela. We had a cemented side yard where as young kids we would watch "jam sessions" from our room windows and we would hear someone shouting, the next dance were those in white rubber shoes (spartan). Sometimes, we would also be horrified watching "preparation" of kalderetang aso especially disturbed by the whimpering sounds. There was no dressed chicken also during those times so we helped as children, plucked out the feathers. Being the older children, we would be taking care of the babies in the family and we would have turns. My shift would be until 12 noon but sometimes, when baby Boyet would poop at 11:30 am, I would move the clock hand to 12:10 and Boy would do the cleaning. He would notice though the time change later when at 3 pm , he would hear on the radio "Eto ang inyong tiya Delyyyyyy". It was not all work. Boy and I would be selling coke and mani inside the theatre yes, inside the theatre and later we will be lying down on the stage in front of the screen. So during those days, Boy and I would already be enjoying big screen. We would also be earning extra money shining shoes and it was challenging then as the shoes were in black and white. We walked about a kilometre going to school. We did not have bags then and we just tied our books together. Our drones were salagubang on a string, our lego consisted of empty cans , bottles and pieces of wood. We did not have shooting arcades then but we did have our "tirador". Those were the days and they were fun. Surprisingly, we never felt poor. Perhaps because there was no comparison as we did not know how the rich felt. Yes, we saw children of doctors and engineers on cars but we just did not care. We were happy and inside the classrooms, they were no better than us. Our eldest,Justice Baby was the trail blazer in the family. She was the first to get into UP. Daddy and Mommy were unrelenting in reminding us to "Agadal kau unay " as education is the key to limitless opportunities. And they were right!
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