It has been five years and five months since I left my home. September 7, 2002 to be exact. I left without knowing what was in store for me. All I known then was that it was time to spread my wings and go to the U.S., the land of opportunities. My priority was to support my family by my earnings and the same time I wanted to see and experience the other side of the world.
The past five years has been filled with opportunities indeed! I was able to work 4 different kinds of jobs in 2 states, lived in 12 different homes, visited or set foot, at least in 12 different states, met all kinds of people of different races and of course met and married my DAN!
The five years was never easy, too. It was filled with uncertainties, insecurities, worries, loneliness and longings to be with my family.
But what kept me going was the fact that one day, I will see them again...Originally planned for September 26, 2007, I have to postpone it because I started a new job at Kohls - Moreno Valley. But come finally on February 20, 2008, Dan and I boarded the Philippine Airlines Flight PR103 to Manila. It was a 16-hour flight with an hour stop-over at Guam. At the LAX terminal, I still can't believe that I will be seeing my family in a few hours. (Attachment Feb20-08flight.html)
I thought that Dan would be really uncomfortable with the 16-hour flight but surprisingly, he was a trooper. He found it funny when our choice for breakfast was either chicken adobo or fried bangus. That's when I know that I am almost home.
When the plane landed, and when I stepped into the NAIA terminal, I felt a sense of tension because I don't have any cash on hand to pay the terminal fee (stupid! stupid! stupid)...You see when we left Riverside and I asked Dan if we need to go to the ATM machine to get some cash he said that we can get it at airport. I was confident that we would be able to do so because the last week we went to Viriginia, there were several Bank of America ATM's at the terminal. Well stupid me, I didn't realize that we were on a different part of LAX and there was no ATM machine. So leaving the U.S., I have $10 in my wallet and Dan has $1. It was so embarrassing to go to the exchange counter at the NAIA airport where the person in front of me, had $1000 to exchange and I only have $11. Hey, with the $11, we were able to pay the terminal fee of P400 and had about P35 left, not enough though to buy a coke at the domestic terminal.
On the last leg of the flight to Silay, aboard PAL Flight PR133, I was feeling so anxious, like my legs couldn't stop moving. I am almost in Silay. I can't stop grinning but at the same time, I can't help my tears. I would finally be able to see my Mom and Dad. My two sisters didn't know I was coming because we told them that we were coming on the 24th so this will be a good surprise for them, we hoped!
When we finally landed and stepped out of the new airport, there was a slight drizzle but nothing can stop me now. I started scanning faces outside as we wait for our baggage. Where are they? And then I saw my Dad's face and then my Mom's and then I broke down.
Dan hugged me because he know how emotional I will be and asked me if I wanted to go out but I refused because I know that I don't want to leave him by himself. We were a team, one unit and we do things together.Hugging Mom was what I really imagined and more! Suddenly all the longings and uncertainties were all gone. I got to see her again. The same as with my Dad. And when I introduced Dan and when they welcomed him, I knew that at that moment, I was the happiest person in the world.
On the way to our house at Sitio Barra, everything seem to be the same, yet it seems like the roads are narrower, there's a lot more people, and I felt like it was busier than ever. I mean, Silay was never that busy before but I guess because of the new airport, there's more new establishments, old ones were gone (I missed Jogie's) but I knew that I was home especially when I entered our house at Sitio Barra! We were greeted by this:
Isn't that sweet? And oh, there are banderita's (small banners) hanging in the ceiling of our garage! After a couple of hour's rest, we were eager to surprise Tweet and Kirsy. So off we went to Bacolod...but first, I have to take a picture of Dan at our tree house. I wanted to tell his folks that I only let him stay on the tree house the whole time 
I don't think they would believe it, but he does fit in the tree house, at least at the entrance. So off we went to Bacolod to surprise my sisters. First stop was at BPI where Tweet is working. We got lucky because when we entered, she was not facing the front door as bank tellers normally do. Dan went to the counter, and has to call her name thrice before she turned.
It was precious seeing her surprised look when she saw Dan. It was even more funny when she literally stomped towards Dan, slapped his shoulders, before hugging him and told him, "I hate you". Then she went towards me, hugged me. With tears in my eyes, I knew we got her good but also I knew that I have my sister again in my arms and it felt good! 
Next stop, was SM Mall where Kirsy works. We were not able to see her face when she saw Dan because we were only allowed a certain area in her office. All I saw was her stunned look when she saw all of us and her hesitation at first to hug Dan.
And then she asked Tweet, if she was the only one who got punk-ed, but when we told her that it was her and Tweet, I think she felt relieved. We all went home talking together at the same time, Tweet and Kirsy trying to make sense of the the fact that we were already in Silay
, Dan trying to make sense of what everyone was saying, Dad just so happy that he got everybody good with the surprise , Mom, I think just happy to have us , and Me ..trying to savor every moment and tucking it all in my memory. The next two weeks will all be filled with memories, I am absolutely sure!
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