My first job was as a marketing assistant at a bank located in Makati. I was staying in Cubao then, renting a room and earning only around Php5000 a month.  It feels great to look back on those days when it is hard to make both ends meet.  It always bring a smile on my face to remember our little adventures during those days.  Well,  one of my favorites is the champorado adventure.  It was February, if I recall it correctly.  I used to be a daily wage earner and February is a month when there is the least number of working days, which also means that I have the least salary.  One more blunder is that my salary is given in check which had to be signed by may superiors.  On that particular payday there are no signatories around.  So, I was not able to get it in cash.  It was a good thing that I still have money for fare but starting that evening, my sister and I ate champorado for dinner and breakfast.  With only 20 pesos left in our pockets, we both cannot afford to go out the next day.  I was not able to report to work, and she was not able to go to school.  So, for that day, we had champorado again.  Then, we texted our mother and asked her to bring money so I can go back to work the next day.

Another incident is when I only had P50 left and there was this guy who had been asking me to go to lunch with him for quite a while.  On that day, I had a nice lunch and my P50 still intact, yet that was the first and last time I went out with that guy.   I feel guilty that I don’t even remember his name now.

Looking back, I seem to realize how far I have gone.  From champorado days to days in the sun.  I have learned a lot of lessons along the way, and I know that I will not be where I am now if not for those champorado days.

Categories : My Journey, Our Story