20/07/2026
This land belongs to my father. It is where we grew up, where we learned the values that shaped us, and where countless memories were made.
My two older brothers have built wonderful lives in Paris, France, where they each have homes and families of their own. They continue to live there, while my mother has recently returned to the Philippines for a vacation.
My older sister has faithfully looked after this land, along with the rice fields my father inherited. My younger brother now lives in Rizal with his own family, while my youngest sister has built a life in Dubai. She is also here on vacation with my mother, who is staying at her condo in Manila.
As for me, I live in Metro Manila, working and running my business while taking care of my father, who suffered a stroke.
His condition hasn’t been easy, but we’re grateful that, aside from his speech and vision being affected, he still has good balance and can move around.
Every now and then, he tells me how much he misses the place where he was born and the land he worked so hard to keep. Sometimes he also says he misses his children. Even though they come home to the Philippines, and some of them aren’t even far away, life gets busy. Time slips away. It’s not because they don’t love him.. everyone is simply trying to provide a better future for their own families.
That’s the reality of life. If you stop working, your children may not have the future you dream of for them.
Growing old can be heartbreaking. The people who once sacrificed everything to raise us eventually become the ones waiting for someone to spend a little time with them. Not because their children have forgotten them, but because adulthood comes with responsibilities that never seem to end.
One day, my father looked at me and said, “Maybe we should just sell my land. We can hire a caregiver, and whatever time I have left, maybe I can finally enjoy life without worrying about how to pay for my medicines.”
Of course, I knew it was one of those dramatic moments that parents sometimes have when they miss their children and want a little more attention. 😊
So I joked, “Alright, if we sell the land, then let’s hire you a VivaMax model as your caregiver! Then we’ll send both of you abroad where healthcare is free.”
He burst into laughter.
Just like that, his mood changed, and for a while, he forgot all about his worries.
Moments like these remind me that sometimes our parents don’t need expensive gifts. They just need our time, our laughter, and the reassurance that they’re not alone.
And every now and then, I find myself wondering…
Will we be the same when we grow old?
