From bottom left running clockwise: Auntie Fely, Myself, Auntie Naty, Nanang & Lola Cilay.
A foreign sounding surname is trouble.
My last name can be deceiving. Mind you, even BIR folks in the mid-90s tested the waters if I was paying my taxes. I once received a demand letter asking for a copy of my ITR (of 2 years back!) to prove if I filed one. Good thing I religiously kept records ever since I started working. (I can show you my 1990 ITR :-), if you want to see them.) From thereon, they stayed off me.
I come from a needy financial background. My Ilocana mother (she passed away in ‘96) and grandmother (she is now 96) combined efforts to put me and my 2 siblings through College. Where we are now are fruits of the love, strength, hard work and courage of these 2 women.
At an early age, I saw how Mom and Nanang labored day in and day out to ensure that all of us finish College. For Ilocanos, they would sell everything they own just to make sure that the children get their College Diplomas. You can ASK ANYONE who hails from the north how true this is.
These 2 women were and are my inspiration to strive hard. I truly owe them so much. I make sure that my kids know of the epic efforts they did, and how much they (the kids) need to thank their Lolas for the lifestyle they enjoy now.
They spurred me to map out my future when I was just a high school sophomore. I made a mental note of where I wanted to be at 21,25,30 and 33 years old. Not to brag but I have achieved all, except one, of the goals I wanted to achieve on those age milestones. I need not mention what I “failed” to achieve but it is morbid and my family would sure like me to fail in that regard :D
I am now 43 and fell in love with running. But for me to sustain this love, I needed a different set of inspiration.
And lo, a woman “stepped” forward and became my inspiration.
She does not know me. But I know a bit of her. I have come across her in the world wide web. Indeed, the Net has created so many possibilities to motivate people of all kind, of differing or common interests.
We both love running and she is successful at it. She has a flair for words. Not the highfalutin kind, but her rather relax, fun-filled, conversational and, sometimes, self-deprecating language engages you to “listen”.
I’ve “kept” tab of her running life – oopss, not the stalking type, of course – and have been challenged of what she has achieved.
She has run all distances leading to the marathon. Her records are pretty impressive. When I started out, I said, “Boy! I’d never be as good as her!” All the same, at the back of my mind, I made a sorry excuse, “She is younger, you idiot!” But the hidden chauvinist that I am (my apologies here, feminists), I countered myself, “She is a woman, for crying out loud!”
And thus begun my running “affair” with her.
I set out to be better. I trained hard, kept logs of my training and progress. I became more patient, more attentive to details and listening to the “experts”.
Soon enough, I began beating her records. To date, only 2 more needs besting and it may be awhile before I complete my conquest of her…………records :D But I need to get crackin’ because age is a-creepin’ :-)
And so, my quest continues.
But there is a question that begs to be answered very soon after I crack the last record. Will she continue to be my inspiration, or will I have to find another one?
My last name can be deceiving. Mind you, even BIR folks in the mid-90s tested the waters if I was paying my taxes. I once received a demand letter asking for a copy of my ITR (of 2 years back!) to prove if I filed one. Good thing I religiously kept records ever since I started working. (I can show you my 1990 ITR :-), if you want to see them.) From thereon, they stayed off me.
I come from a needy financial background. My Ilocana mother (she passed away in ‘96) and grandmother (she is now 96) combined efforts to put me and my 2 siblings through College. Where we are now are fruits of the love, strength, hard work and courage of these 2 women.
At an early age, I saw how Mom and Nanang labored day in and day out to ensure that all of us finish College. For Ilocanos, they would sell everything they own just to make sure that the children get their College Diplomas. You can ASK ANYONE who hails from the north how true this is.
These 2 women were and are my inspiration to strive hard. I truly owe them so much. I make sure that my kids know of the epic efforts they did, and how much they (the kids) need to thank their Lolas for the lifestyle they enjoy now.
They spurred me to map out my future when I was just a high school sophomore. I made a mental note of where I wanted to be at 21,25,30 and 33 years old. Not to brag but I have achieved all, except one, of the goals I wanted to achieve on those age milestones. I need not mention what I “failed” to achieve but it is morbid and my family would sure like me to fail in that regard :D
I am now 43 and fell in love with running. But for me to sustain this love, I needed a different set of inspiration.
And lo, a woman “stepped” forward and became my inspiration.
She does not know me. But I know a bit of her. I have come across her in the world wide web. Indeed, the Net has created so many possibilities to motivate people of all kind, of differing or common interests.
We both love running and she is successful at it. She has a flair for words. Not the highfalutin kind, but her rather relax, fun-filled, conversational and, sometimes, self-deprecating language engages you to “listen”.
I’ve “kept” tab of her running life – oopss, not the stalking type, of course – and have been challenged of what she has achieved.
She has run all distances leading to the marathon. Her records are pretty impressive. When I started out, I said, “Boy! I’d never be as good as her!” All the same, at the back of my mind, I made a sorry excuse, “She is younger, you idiot!” But the hidden chauvinist that I am (my apologies here, feminists), I countered myself, “She is a woman, for crying out loud!”
And thus begun my running “affair” with her.
I set out to be better. I trained hard, kept logs of my training and progress. I became more patient, more attentive to details and listening to the “experts”.
Soon enough, I began beating her records. To date, only 2 more needs besting and it may be awhile before I complete my conquest of her…………records :D But I need to get crackin’ because age is a-creepin’ :-)
And so, my quest continues.
But there is a question that begs to be answered very soon after I crack the last record. Will she continue to be my inspiration, or will I have to find another one?