Saturday, July 29, 2017

A Jar of Cents ...



July 29,2017 ~ Let me start my article today with my childhood memories ... why not . I feel like I am inspired to share with you a story that would be forever cherished and would be handed down to my next generation from now on. 

When I was little, I used to see my parents , especially my father setting aside coins in different jars. In my innocent mind ,  I thought my father is just playing games and entertaining himself. But as years go by and I started to go to school, I started to realize the story of the coins in the jars.



My father told me one day together with my siblings that we all need to learn to get our daily allowance for school in the jars specifically set aside with  our names tagged on each jar  There were 3 jars in total with exactly the same amount of coins in it. He said noone should steal from the other jars and all jars would always have equal amount for fair share. He advised us to budget the coins in our jar equally for the 5 days of school. Up to us to take how much we need to take as long as we are able to spend something for the 5 school days. At that early stage, father had taught us the value of money. He taught us to spend our coins wisely , taught us to be thrifty and be able to decide on how we gonna manage our finances during the week.
I spend most of my coins on buying note pads , mongol pencils, erasers or art materials for school. I love to write and draw in school and even when I was at home when I was young . I had started writing and drawing even before I entered primary school. I used to remember scouting and searching for different neighborhood stores looking for my favourite notepads and pencils when I ran out of it. I would be sad when I couldn't write or draw. I also love to make artworks wben I was schooling. 



My mom would always give me a few extra cents whenever she finds out I ran out of art materials. She knew that once I run out of the house and dissappeared for about an hour, I had been to another street or even further to buy my paper and pencils and I would surely be home with a smile on my face bringing home my purchases.
That's why even to these days I always go buy art stuffs for my self... it was a habit since childhood when I got a few coins in my hand.

I came from a poor family. My father goes to work and try to make  ends meet. He was sometimes gone for a week due to his job. But he made sure our jars are filled up before he leaves and our cupboards are well stocked with food supplies so we won't starve  if ever he happened not to come home on time due to train accidents occuring most of the time in his work trips. He worked as a train conductor or ticketing man in a local train ( Philippine National Railways ) during the 1970's till the 1980's..



In the 1970's, the time I was in my early schooling, my mom would walk me and my siblings to our schools. I would maybe at that time take like 50 cents maximum out of my jar to pay for a drink and a simple snack for my recess break in school. Life is tough when you eat the same and the same stuffs everyday but I cannot complain. I was happy that at least I got something than nothing and starve all day. 
After a few more years, when my battered mom left us to fend for ourselves which is not her fault, I was very very young at that time ...probably about 7-8 yrs old , I would walk a few kilometers to get to school along with other kids from the same school. I would make sure I keep my coins safe and hidden from other prying eyes inorder not to be stolen. Coz once gone, I would starve all day coz school is from 7am till 4pm. Kids would always bully me along the way coz I had no parent along with me but I was hard enough to shove them all off. My father always advice us to defend ourselves and our possesions against bullies. So I always fight on the streets when I was a kid.... even if I was obviously a girl in a school uniform and not a boy. Sometimes my uncles and father would laugh upon knowing I had punched someone in the face for bullying me or either of my siblings... lol. I was a tough kid.... but seems like even up to now. As long as I am on the right side I would fight for my right and defend other people getting bullied. I just can't tolerate injustice happening infront of me.

But anyways, i guess i had told enough of some bits and pieces regarding my childhood life that had evolved from a jar .  A jar of  cents which is now a part of  my life's stories. A story of how I had grown up to be and why I am what I am today. A jar of cents with so much value to keep in my heart as a memory of my beloved father as well. Unfortunately, a great man who had passed this  morning in his sleep. 


To my dear father, I know you had reunited with mom up there in heaven finally. May you both find love , peace and happiness there while me , my brothers and sisters mourn for our loss. 
Indeed I will miss you for the rest of my life ...
Your teachings ...
Your swearings...
And everything about you that made you different from the rest.
I Love You My Beloved Father....
Please Rest In Peace 


 
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