The greatest wish I had in my life was to live independently - far away from home, from my parents -to live alone and not dependent on maids for household chores, in other words – just a simple living on my own!
When my bestfriend invited me to have a short vacation trip in Singapore on November 2006 I had no second thought and without much ado we took our flight to Singapore.. When I was there, I immediately felt and claimed that this is the place for me to live on my own.. as compared to my USA trip a year before that, wherein I could not move around without a driver.. In Singapore, it’s different as if everything is within my reach and feel so secured.. so when I came back home I immediately decided that I will go back to that country the following year and wished to pursue a better career life in Singapore.. I tendered my resignation then in my Company and scheduled my trip without knowing that the day of my flight was the celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year.. This decision was a “shocking news” to my family as everybody worried about how I could cope up with the day-to-day activities on my own without any assistants or helper to do it for me.. but I assured them that I can and everything will be fine.
When I reached Singapore, many unexpected things happened and most of the time, part of my daily routines was to send out resumes for job applications but only few favorably responded. And so to make my stay worthwhile I searched via internet for an organization to join as volunteer. Fortunately, a very friendly coordinator named Veronica of the Eurasian Foundation immediately responded to my application..
I enjoyed my daily routines living on my own without minding so well that two months already had passed yet still jobless.. I was spending a lot for my daily needs especially for my shelter as I was renting a place then until I met someone named “Ate Emma” who suggested a good idea wherein I could pay less for my shelter.. I concurred to her suggestion with her condition that I will pretend as her cousin – I never mentioned to my family about it – all the while they thought that I was still renting a place..
I moved in to a place wherein there’s no formal introduction as to whom the place is – the only contact I had was Ate Emma and tendered to me a note with two calling cards from the Man who I thought would be my landlord. Few days after I moved in the place, the Man arrived and since it’s our first meeting we introduced to each other about who we are. Many topics were discussed – some nice and some not desirable.. As I observed that he was so drunk, I tried to compose myself not to show that I had fear knowing that we are alone in the place and he is a total stranger before my eyes.. Honestly, it was my first time to meet a man like him – a very mysterious man! When he was discussing about his self, my mind was wondering and trying to figure out what kind of man he really is – And as I was analyzing every word he was saying, I felt becoming apathetic and consciously in my mind words whispering – “I hate you. You are a very vicious man!” That night of almost two-hour “getting to know each other” meeting turned differently when he showed me a local newspaper of their country and told me to read an article in three minutes, I was shocked to see the statement that the publication of his book had coincided with the hospitalization of his 3-year old son with blood cancer…after reading that – as if my world rotated 360 degrees and felt as if I was touched by an Angel..
