The other week, I had a couple friend from New Jersey who visited Manila. I accompanied them around Manila to do their errands and meet with friends and relatives.
One of their appointments was lunch with a family friend - family members of a close friend from New Jersey.
My friend told me that this family from up north is well-off but very simple and unassuming. They own a dormitory building in Manila, appliance stores, restaurants (and I think even a hotel) in the province and a Filipino restaurant in New Jersey.
Anyway, during lunch, I was seated across the mom who’s probably in her late 70s - a very jolly, humble and funny tita. During the course of random topics, she told me about her life story.
She’s a daughter of poor Chinese migrants. Her mom was a great cook and she cooked without following recipes. She strived hard to learn how to cook like the mom by practicing. Her dad became her worst critic. She kept on practicing and didn’t stop until her dishes passed the dad’s standards.
She went to school but never finished college. She got married and had 10 kids (all normal delivery!). She said that she didn’t really have any ambitions in life but she worked hard. She started everything she has from scratch and blessings just came one after another.
Until now, she couldn’t get over the many good things that happened in her life because she’s not the smartest, talented nor the most confident, but one thing is for sure – she has been good to her parents. When you’re good to your parents, great things happen in your life, she told me. :)
