Finally!

Dear Mama,

    Finally! Ralph received a job offer! After more than a month of sending applications and attending interviews left and right, Ralph finally received a job offer, Mama. It was the one I mentioned in my previous letter. They already got the necessary number of character reference replies, which was the requirement for Ralph's confirmation. He'll be starting on December 2nd, Mama.

    As for me, I won't be getting anything this year. Unfortunately, it's too late for me to look for another job. I don't want to start again. I'll just wait for my retirement.

    Edgar did not go to work today. He was not feeling well. He was tired when he came home last night. He had a slight fever, Mama. He's okay now. He's already preparing our dinner.

    Angel is out now. She went out at around 6:00 p.m. Hopefully she'll be home soon. It's almost dinnertime. 

    That's all the update for now, Mama. Please continue guiding and praying for our children.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                                Daddy

Sunday update

Dear Mama,

    It's Sunday afternoon now. We had our lunch earlier. Of course, it was prepared by Edgar. It was pork and squash stewed in coconut milk, Mama. It was delicious.

    Pampanga is already under storm signal no. 3, Mama. Although there isn't much rain now, but the weather is gloomy. Edgar is preparing to leave. I hope there won't be any strong rains later. Angel is sleeping now, while Ralph is in his room.

    Ralph already received a job offer, Mama. Thank you for praying for him. He's just waiting for one more confirmation, which he hopes to get by this coming week, and he will start on the 2nd of December. The only thing is that it will be onsite, Mama. It's also on graveyard shift, which he is already used to, anyway.

    As for me, nothing's new, Mama. Still in my job, not much happening. I'm just waiting for my retirement age. I don't see any opportunity anytime soon. I've also stopped attending Toastmasters. I can't remember if I've already mentioned that in my previous letters. I guess I'm really getting old, Mama.

    I guess, that will all for now, Mama. I wish you were here. I really miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                            Daddy

Alone on a Saturday

Dear Mama,

    I'm alone at home right now, and it's 10 a.m. Our children just left to attend the baptism of their niece, Mylene's daughter, in Friendship. They'll be back home maybe later this afternoon.

    I planned a lot of things to do for today like cleaning and tidying up the house. But right now, I feel lazy, and I haven't done anything. Yes, Mama. I'm procrastinating again.

    I got a lot of things on my mind right now, Mama. I'm overwhelmed. I don't how we'll be able to recover financially. Ralph is still not hired yet. Also, Angel doesn't have a job yet, and she's not actively looking for any, unfortunately.

    I'm lost, Mama.

    I wish you were here.

                                                                                                        Daddy

Edgar's kitchen adventures

Dear Mama,

    Our son Edgar is really taking up after you in the kitchen. He has really taken over the kitchen from me, Mama. In fact, every time he is not around, I don't even know what to do in the kitchen anymore.

    Today, for our lunch, Edgar cooked sisig. It's his first time to cook sisig, Mama. It wasn't bad, to think he lacked some ingredients, like liver. But it was okay. He prepared sisig because last night I was asking if we can buy any decent sisig here in Marisol. So, he just bought some pork and other ingredients when we went grocery shopping this morning.

    For our dinner, he prepared crispy enoki mushroom, Mama. Aside from the luncheon meat and pipino salad he prepared. He has a lot dishes he can prepare already, Mama. Like kare-kare, lomi, palabok, and more. He is really expanding his kitchen knowledge, Mama.

    He really took after you, Mama.

    Meanwhile, Ralph is still waiting for that job that would finally hire him. He is getting a lot of interviews left and right, but nothing materialized yet. Hopefully, this week something good will happen.

    Angel is still looking for a job, Mama. She hasn't applied to anything yet. Aside from iQor, from where she's waiting for a call, which did come until now. She applied more than 2 weeks ago.

    Anyway, that will be all for now, Mama. Please continue guiding us.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                    Daddy

Back to the gutter

Dear Mama,

    It's Sunday, October 27, and still 3 days before payday. I am down to my last P100 in my wallet, Mama which I will use later to buy cat food. Good thing I just walk to and from work, Mama. Hopefully it won't rain tomorrow, although there's another typhoon coming in today, if it hasn't entered the PAR yet.

    Angel is on her way to the vet, she was asking for money to pay for the Grab. Unfortunately, as I've said I'm down to my last 100 which is already reserved for the cat. Ralph will again pay for the consultation to the vet, which he will pay later via GCash.

    It's Ate Tey's birthday today, and there'll be dinner  later at Sta. Teresita. We'll go there, although I won't have anything to give to Ate Tey. I'll just say I'll give it to her on payday. I am not sure though if Angel will be coming with us later, Mama. You know how she always avoids coming with us on occasions like this. It doesn't matter which family side it is.

    I don't know how I will be able to recover financially, Mama. It's like I'm back in the gutter. I don't want to burden Ralph, especially now that he is in-between jobs. I hope things will be better for us soon.

    Anyway, that will be all for now, Mama.

    I miss you.

    I love you, Mama

                                                                                                Daddy

Rainy days

Dear Mama,

    It's raining right now, there's a typhoon and they named it Kristine. I think we are under Signal no. 2 right now, Mama. It's Thursday, and tomorrow, Friday is Fiestang Apu and also the Tigtikan Terakan King Dalan (TTKD). But it's raining and it might probably rain until tomorrow, or Saturday. There's a possibility the TTKD will be rained on.

    Angel is out right now, Mama. She went with her cousins from your side of the family. It's her first time to be with them alone. I'm glad they invited her, because Angel needs to go out. She only goes out when we go out, Mama. She still hasn't found a job yet, although she's actively applying.

    Ralph still hasn't been hired yet. He's been going through a lot interviews but nothing has materialized from those interviews yet. I really hope he gets hired soon. I know that feeling of being jobless. Good thing he is more psychologically and mentally healthier than me, Mama. But I do pray he gets a job soon.

    Edgar seems to be doing fine in his present job right now, or he's just making good use of his time there. If he might be looking for other opportunity, he's not actively pursuing it right now. Sometimes he says he wants to grow with the company, Mama.

    Me? Still in limbo. Trying my best to make both ends meet, and my debts are piling up again, Mama. And yes, still getting those anxiety attacks from everything I hear in my environment.

    Anyway, that will be all for now, Mama. I hope I can hug you right now. I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                        Daddy

Losing sight, figuratively speaking

Dear Mama,

    I'm almost losing sight of everything, figuratively speaking. Although my eyesight isn't really that good either.

    I don't know what's happening, Mama. It seems like I'm losing hope of everything and I'm just dragging myself day in and day out. There is nothing good happening to us lately, Mama.

    Financially, I am depleted. I am not even living paycheck to paycheck, Mama because I am always having a deficit. And every period is bigger that the last one, thus  I feel my financial woes accumulating.

    Physically, I don't know. I get tired easily. I get irritated easily. I don't know, Mama. It's like I'm getting back to my old self, or perhaps even worse.

    I have also disconnected from almost everything - Toastmasters, batchmates, friends, companions. I no longer want to be associated with anything.

    I don't know, Mama. I've lost zest. I've lost my drive. And it's the longest I've felt like this. I don't know if I can still recover.

    I'm sorry, Mama. I wish you were here.

                                                                                                        Daddy

Home alone

Dear Mama,

    I am home alone right now. The kids went to attend the baptismal of their niece. It will be in Manila and they will  be there overnight. They'll be back home tomorrow, afternoon or early evening most probably, Mama.

    I will just be cleaning up the laundry basket until tomorrow, Mama. Hopefully, that is.

    Nothing much to say. I don't have any plans, I might go out for coffee, or I might just sleep in early, Mama.

    That will be all for now, Mama. 

    I miss you. I love you, Mama.

        

                                                                                                    Daddy