*1️⃣ Show us photos of the person you shared the most with this past year, the one who was by your side through thick and thin. Tell us a little about that special person.
My Parents
My parents are my constant. I can’t think of anyone who stayed by my side and never left other than my parents. As an Asian, and although I’m twenty-seven and unmarried, still live under the same roof as them.
We are originally five as a family. I’m the middle child. My sister has moved out since she started creating a family of her own and my brother is in the uni. So, basically I’m the only child. It feels good and lonely at the same time. Good because I get to maximize and enjoy my days with my parents, and I can eat real food while I’m here. It is as if I am the only star of the family. Their attention is on me. However, it still feels lonely to have no sibling ti laugh with.I crave for the good old days when we’re still young and complete. We would take turns on washing the dishes and fight over who would fold the laundry. I can only imagine and reminisce those days because I can’t turn back the hands of time, unfortunately.
I’m a homebody. I enjoy the company of my family since then that is why I don’t have plenty of friends. I prefer spending time with my family - my parents and siblings. It has always been us since then, from the start and until now.
I have proved that my family is my constant last year when our barangay was hit by Typhoon Tino. Our home was heavily flooded, things and furnitures were washed away. The house remained standing and the roof was still intact but the walls were crashed by the water and the things were gone.
For twenty seven years, we stayed in our humble abode. It was not grand but it was something our parents had built. Something we call our own. November 2, 2025 was the day we spent there for the last time. We never thought that would be the last time.
To add insult to the injury, our family wasn’t included in the list of families to be given of financial assistance by the government. As a family, we were frustrated. We were back to zero. We lost our home yet they wouldn’t help us because they think we can bounce back on our own. That is when I realized that we have no one to depend to but ourselves.
My parents and I have accepted that it’s only us. We only have ourselves to count on. We faced such set back in life with courage and hope. Little by little, day by day, God’s grace has helped us bounce back and live our lives the way we used to be.
Almost three months ago, I felt like I was in the rock bottom. I hated that moment but I was certain that it would not last forever. I was certain that better days would come, that days would be better. Situation gets better. All because I have my family with me, my constant through thick and thin. And of course, the Almighty who never left our side through thick and thin that as of today, I am still standing, our family is still intact because of His grace.
All because of Him!
