Every 18th of the Month

Today is the 18th of April and like any other 18th, this month is a special one as it commemmorates Me and Jerwin's 12 years of being together. Though our relationship has been up and down for the past 12 years, we still make it to a point that we greet each other happy  monthsary on 18th of every month.

But my kids were still wondrin' how our love story started so I told them this story..

One day, on my college senior years, something negative came up on my social work fieldwork in Baguio City. 4 mos before graduation, I need to transfer to another placement so as to complete my course requirements. The place Tanglaw Pag-asa Village, Tumana, Sta.Maria came into picture and a week later, I was starting my fieldwork there meeting up parents and organizing them as a community. The place is just an hour away from home but I need to stay in the community for deeper integration with the people.

And so I met Jerwin....

He was the second eldest son of Maya, one of the parent I'm working with. As I personally know Maya's background and her life story as well, her son Jerwin didnt catch much of my attention. I havent seen him as well with the few times that I visited Maya's house. I was told that he's always with his friends drinking, smoking and luring all the girls in town and would either befriend with boys younger than him or males extremely double his age.

And so I saw him one day....

As I do my normal rounds in the community with Maya's oldest sister, Rhoda, she called for Jerwin in one of the groups of boys around midday. There was a casual introduction of hi and hello and followed by Rhoda telling him that its too early to get drunk and be wasted. Hmm...first impression was he's cute with his long hair, fair complexion and chinita eyes...but too much drinking. a big NO! However, that introduction were followed by simple conversations and meetings in Maya's house. He appeared to me as an interesting out-of-school youth with a lot of experiences and would definitely produce a fascinating social case study report after applying my casework skills.

The way he gave me a pink rose...

One day, while walking in the community, a child gave me a piece of pink rose. It looks like it was freshly picked from somewhere's garden. As I as asked the boy whose that from, he looked at a direction and saw Jerwin standing near a bunch of wasted boys, smiling and waving his hand. I didnt take that one seriously but it made me feel something. He then approached me and asked me if he can drop me off to my house the following weekend. I said no but he kept asking the same question. Then, I said yes, hoping that he wont remember anything thats been said and done once he's sober.

And I was wrong...

The next Saturday as I am walking towards the tricycle terminal with a big bag, someone grabbed my stuff and walked with me. There's Jerwin, smiling, normal clothes, sober. I tried to use all the tactics and reasoning for him not to go wth me, but he's persistent. And so I said yes again. On our way home, we talked about a lot of things. He asked me if I can show him Barasoian Church as he has never been there before and only seen it at 10 peso bill (hmm. trying to be religious). Anyway and so we prayed at Barasoian Church and as he finished his prayers, he grabbed my hand and told me that he loved me with God as a witness. As he has his own way of persisting with things, I'm like enchanted agreeing to be his girlfriend at that moment. All the logic and rational reasoning suddenly disaappeared and there I am, inside the church, with only some "kilig" feelings with this guy, suddenly said yes to be his girlfriend. That was April 18, 1999.

I wanted to take it back...

So he was so excited with the yes and I was so confused with it. I don't know what's on my mind at that moment and I tried many times to take it back. Though he was making all promises, Im not sure if its worth giving a try. But as I saw his perseverance not to drink anymore, his effort in finding a job to support himself and me in the future, his sweetness in giving me more pink roses, his truthfullness in telling me everything about himself, his courage to face my family with no job and qualifications at hand and his undying love and care for me, I started to be excited and saw the future for us... I started to miss him so much the moment we said goodbye. I started to feel empty with bunch of friends laughing, wishing he's always by myside. I started to be contented staring at him without any words. And I started to live my life for him. And so the rest is history.

And so here we are, living our life with two sons and one on the way... Still arguing and still devating about certain things. But one thing is for sure, we would always remember 18th of the every month and still greet each other with a smile. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY PANGGA!!!