Today September 24, 2005

Recollections:

Now the time would get confusing... In the US it would still be Sept. 23 in the evening... while in the Philippines it would now be Sept. 24 in the morning... about 13 hours gap.

Today September 23, 2005

Recollections of what took place.

Still aboard the planes and enjoying the movies. So excited to finally see the Philippines after 5 years or so.

Today September 22, 2005

I am sked to leave for the Philippines via LA/HongKong/Philippines.

I will take American Airlines to LA. In LA, I will take Cathay Pacific to Hongkong, then Manila.

Today - September 11, 2005

What a day!

My hubby and I was looking forward to eating some barbecue food. We bought some hamburger, hotdogs and buns, and pork chops. I cooked some rice and sliced some tomatoes and onions. My hubby prepared the grill outside the house.

As he was starting the fire, he noticed that the grill was a bit shaky. Some screw seem to be loose. He opened the cover and found out that the whole grill was going to fall if he let go of the cover. So he told me, "Honey, our grill seems to be retiring. I hope it will be able to cook our food. But I will try what I can do." So he did.

He had to be extra careful when he placed the pork chops, he had to use one hand while the other was holding the cover. He made it thru the pork chops just right. I was so hungry looking at the pork chops for they looked so yummy! Then he placed the hamburgers. He left the hamburgers for awhile, before he got the hotdogs. When he was opening the cover and about to place the hotdogs... the grill cover was already too hot... and he accidentally let it go...

Yes, it sure did! The top grill went over! I saw it happened from the kitchen and I gave a long shrieked! Oh, my God! Well, we knew it was eventually going to retire... we just didnt know it would not want to finish our hamburger and hotdog first(smile*). Now we definitely have to buy us a new one.

Then I had to bring Skip to the airport in the afternoon.

Today - September 10, 2005

An interruption again...

I just want to take note that today we got a call that our dinnette set will be delivered next weekend. And that our order for the bedroom suite has been placed and will be delivered same day next weekend. Both furnitures are from different stores. I am so excited! And for sure I will be showing you all the photos!

Gina Daroy, Danaea and me headed to Malaysia. We took the back route as they call it. It means, we took a ship from Pagadian City to Malaysia. In the boat we saw a familiar face, Mrs. Busico. She was a tour guide for other Iliganons. Before we were allowed to go embarked, the customs officers went onboard for inspection. Mrs. Busico was given a hard time by the officers. We heard them talking and Gina and I felt that we should at least help. So we told the officers, that yes we certainly know these people and we came from the same place. I can't remember what the problem was, but it seemed like they were asking if anyone could verify their identity or something... I just totally forgot what it was, all I know was that we had to approach the officer and Mrs. Busico and said we know them. Then they were released.

We thought the trouble was done. Come to find out, there was another group of people, the immigration people. So we had to fall in line again and wait for our turn. Each one was interviewed... forgot what it was all about. But I could see a lot of filipinos right outside the room waiting. And so I observed everything...

I was shocked to know... those filipinos on the other end were up to no good. They scout around for filipinos who looked like they were lost and didn't know what to do. Then they signal or wave to them and talk to them and pretend to help them. They were able to victimized one person. She gave them her money and baggage, since they represented themselves as someone who could help her pass the immigration officer... Then they left her. Poor thing! She was crying, and there was nothing Gina and I could do. It was a mess! I can't understand, why our own countrymen would do that to their own countrymen in a strange land.

Today - September 9, 2005

An insert - I want to greet my friend PEDRO AYENG JR. a happy happy birthday! I know there are still a lot of you I wasn't able to greet in my blog... but this is a new thing that I decided to do... so next birthday of yours... rest assure my other good and great friends... you will be greeted online.

The goal is now a reality.

Gina Daroy and I again met in another place (can't remember where). So I jokingly told her, I thought we were going to Asia? What happened to our plan? She giggled and said, I know. Let's start talking business now! (and so we did).

We asked a lot of our friends about travel to Malaysia, where to go and what to do and how much. Then we set a date to leave. Skip sent me the money to cover our expenses... and off we went.

Today - September 8, 2005

Back to work and back to my blog.

Where was I? (*smile*)

Planning is a totally different story from really achieving or doing it. I was getting apprehensive on how to travel and how much money it would cost us. Then God just place GINA DAROY in my path.

It was just by chance, we saw each other in Iligan City Hall and we both availed the early retirement and was casually talking of wanting to go to America, and wanting to travel in Asia first. We exchanged numbers and promised to call each other when we finally decide to go with our goals.

For me, it was a simple talk. I never dreamed of it becoming a reality.

Today - September 7, 2005

Due to my excitement, I couldn't sleep. I stayed up 'til 4AM just calling friends and repacking again my luggage for the third time... hehehehe...

I had to be on sick leave because I had a bad headache and I felt like I was floating. I couldn't function well.

So much for my story. I have to do it tomorrow. My apologies to everybody.

Today - September 6, 2005

I just need to interrupt my blog of "Coming to America" for a very important event.

Today, I got my passport! I was so excited! I was on cloud nine! Yipeeeeehhh!!!!

Today - September 5, 2005

And so the planning stage begins...

Skip and I talked for many hours a day on planning what to do next, for me and Danaea to come to the US. How much money do we need to process all the papers and what our timetable was.

We agreed that Danaea and I should travel to different parts in Asia as tourist. Once we have marks from different countries in Asia, it would show the US consul that we do travel to other foreign countries.

Today - September 4, 2005

Third Step

May the best man win!

I totally forgot the name of the englishman (giggle). But he was always calling National Steel while I was with the CDM-Maint. Eng'g group. Then National Steel's situation wasn't good anymore. On the other hand, Skip was constantly emailing me. He sent me a picture of himself. He looked very distinguished in a suit. The englishman did send me photos online. Then I had to opt for early retirement.

My friend the late Angelo San Pedro, who was also Danaea's Godfather, kept on calling me and telling me to retire for Danaea's sake. Angelo was the President of the Labor Union in Makati. He cared for me and Danaea, and after three months of bugging me, I finally conceded. I gave the englishman my office email, I gave Skip my personal email. I don't know if the englishman emailed me again or called. I never gave him my home phone. I guess, he was really not for me.

Skip then sent me financial help, since I no longer was working with National Steel. He sent me goods. But what was funny was, shen Skip and I first corresponded, we started to argue and irritate each other. We were more like crossing swords with words. Then, it was just like magic. We hit it in the end!

Today - September 3, 2005

Second Step

From the tons of replies, I had to pick a few of them and answered it. There were those that immediately called me at home. There was even one Englishman who worked with Ericsson company. He wouldn't email me much, but he would call me everyday. I thought he was going to be the guy for me. There were even filipinos too. I was now getting confused on who the best person would be. I prayed to God for guidance. I then gave each man a test. I told each guy, that I had three children (1 daughter and 2 nieces) and I had lots of problems. If they could help me shoulder all my problems. I saw one by one, they backed out. They were not ready for a big responsibility. They said if it was only me and my daughter Danaea, it would ge ok. But with my nieces in the picture they all got scared, except for the englishman and my hubby Skip.

Today - Sept. 2, 2005

First Step

I then realized that I need to start working on how to get to the US. I have heard of this foreign penpals who comes to the Philippines and get to know the filipinas and when they come to like each other, they get married. Well, it was 1999, computers were here and gone were the snail mails (not totally, there are still some left).

I surf online about these websites and read and used a couple of them. I placed an ad about myself, a pretty "catchy ad" as my hubby says. Then I got tons and tons of emails from interested partners.

Today - September 1, 2005

Finally September is here! I have been waiting and waiting, so eager to visit the Philippines. It has been years, then months, now it's just weeks away!

I just can't help get so excited! After five long fruitful years in the US, I could now visit the Philippines as an American Citizen. It is a great feeling!

My daughter Danaea and I came here in the US, not really knowing for sure what our future would hold. But with God's tremendous blessing and guidance, we made it through! PRAISE THE LORD!!!

I would like to dedicate my September blog to the memories of how we got to the US.

First, I would like to give a few background information on why and how I met my husband Skip.

I was married in the Philippines for 11 years to a man whom we shall call R. R and I had a beautiful daughter named Danaea. She came to our life when I was 30 years old. My marriage with R was on the rocks, and the thought the coming of the baby would fix it. For a year, it seem like it did. But after that, it was the old days again. I will not mention or discuss the details of how bad it went. Maybe in the future I might reconsider to write about it.

Well anyways, February 1996 (Danaea was only 5 yrs old), when we finally signed an agreement to separate. I know the marriage had no future.

I filed an annulment. It was twice denied. My first attorney, let's call him A. A had a sudden change of heart. For no apparent reason, he just told the judge in one of our hearings that he thinks I wasn't interested in pursuing the annulment since it looks like R and I are getting back. I was shocked and furious. I had to stand up and ask to speak in front of the judge and tell him that I would like to fire my attorney for he is not doing his job.

I then looked for another attorney. And to my luck, no one qualified wanted to handle my case, they said they know R and me, and they don't want to meddle in our affairs. They don't want R to get mad at them. Fancy that!

When I found one that was willing to take up my case, it still got denied. I didn't even get to attend the court hearing or anything. I was just told it was denied. Imagine that!

I then decided to take up law. I was able to passed the exam and enrolled the first semester. My schedule was miserable. I had three kids to take care by now. My brother and his wife separated and I had to take care of his two little girls, just a year younger from each other and Danaea. So I had Danaea a 6 years old, a 5 year old Alliana Katrina and a 4 year old Almira Kassandra. I named both girls.

Everything wasn't turning up well. I then lost a househelp. I just can't do single parenthood with three kids and study law. Just ain't happening. I care too much for the kids to left them alone. I didn't even get to finish my one semester. I can't show up for school ready. And if you are not ready, you better not show up, because you will just be embarrassed by the lawyer instructors.

I still learned something valuable from this law schooling experience. I got to met more lawyers. I got a great advised for my present situation. I was told to go abroad. They said I would be better off if I go to the US and have a new life there. In America, people would treat me better, they would accept a separated woman. During those times in the little city I came from, you were not look upon well if you were separated from your husband. Some people looked down on you, and they consider you a failure. And if I do find me a man or a father for my kids, I would still be the other woman since we can't get married for I will always be married in status. There was no good future for me.

The going to America plan was born! (til next blog)