Stuck in the office due to heavy rainfall

April 27, 9:15 PM. At the office. It's been quite some time since my last blog. My golly! it's been more than half a year. Well, it just goes to show how much of time has been consumed and dedicated both to work and my family and vice versa. It's just fortunate that due to heavy rainfall, I am stuck here in the office until such time that the rain will either stop or just mellow down enough for me to walk home. Wonder why? Well it's already past 9:00 PM and during this time where I am living and working there are very few public utility vehicles and if there happens to be some still on the road the fare for home is way much higher than the minimum fare. The last of the multicabs have ferried the last of the workers from the nearby department store and the ones left are the tricycles and the habal-habal. I have gotten used already to walking home even on the most unholy hours. For the following reasons, I have little or no more money left because I devote it all either for the food, the fare and other basic needs of my kids. At my present salary rate and employment status I am really finding it quite hard to make ends meet. But until such time that the Re-engineering program that the office is going to implement is finalized and new items will be opened I have to make do with what I have now.

I just wonder if time comes when I will still be in the same status and my eldest will be entering college. I guess I'll be experiencing what I have often heard from other folks which is in the vernacular "magka dipu-dipug pinangitag asa makahagdaw para lang ibayad sa tuition". I choose not to translate this Bisayan phrase in English because it's essence and weight can be more preserved in the vernacular.

Tomorrow, April is my birthday and as usual it is will be a lonely one. Not because my wife is not with us but because this falls before my salary comes. But this time, this birthday is more "impoverished" since I will not be receing a single cent out of my salary since it is already allocated to pay most of my "utang" and the examination fees of my eldest son who is taking up summer remedial classes in a private school because he was foolish enough not to study hard during the school year in Science-1. I hope he has lewarned his lesson not to be lazy in school.

It seems that the rain has slowed down a bit though I hear the rumbling of thunder. I'll just take my chances in walking home I'll just have to take a bath in case I get so soaked by the rain when I get home

Going home late

Last night I bonded with the kids. While doing "offer-time" (over-time without pay) at the office I helped my eldest start with one of his school projects. While the 2nd & the youngest watched a movie on DVD (Rattatouille & Kung-Fu Panda). If I was'nt pressed for the due date of the rented DVDs we would have watched it on the weekend but, I have an accreditation seminar and exam this coming weekend plus the mountainload of dirty laundry so I was forced to let them watch movies on a schoolweek. I have a strict policy on watching movies or TV during the weekdays. But I had to maximize my time. A week after next, I'll be staying over at a resort for an office activity. I guess I'll have to turn over the care of my two younger kids to their elder brother (he's 13 years old) if he had shown me the sense of responsibility I had when I was even in the elementary years then I wouldn't have to worry but unfortunately he is still quite a scatter-brain. But there is always a first time for everything. I just hope he can come up to the challenge. So far, I am still in the adjustment period as InaTay but sooner or maybe a litlle bit later I'll get the hang of it.

Week-1 as InaTay

It's been a week since I have been an InaTay. In the Tagalog vernacular it means "Ina" na "Tatay" pa. Or for those who still need to learn the Bisayan lnaguage, it simply means I am now doing the roles of a mother and a father to my two sons and a daughter. For now, I still am experimenting on finding the most efficient way or strategies in caring and providing for my kids. From preparing them for school and then working at the office until when we go home, prepare again for dinner, helping them with their studies working on take home work. It's tough, but so far I never backed down from any challenge or problem whether or not if I brought it on myself.

Some people say, blogging helps one survive through rough times so out of curiosity I've tried making one.

Most people who know me and the problems and the pressures that I go through comment that they are surprised why I am still alive. I wonder why...

For now this will be what I'll post. Maybe later on I'll probably be more open ( I wonder if that will happen...hehehehe...)