I was born on March 1961, from a poor family, I got 9 siblings (3 past away when they are only babies, 2 boys and a girl) Another three boys past away at age of 35 years. Now still got 3 brothers living in our home. I started my primary, high school, College in Northern Phillipines. Just when I was started my grade VI, my oldest brother started to abuse me, perviting, touching, but I tried my best to fight on him.I have vivid memories, when I was only 10 years old, my father wake me up, as he was come home from the sea, he was fisherman, asked me to do a favor for him, gather all the live, fresh prawn that he catched( spread on the top of the dining table) so I followed what my father asked, went down (we had 2 storey house built with my father too) straight to the dining area, on that time we never had electricity, just used lamp, I was standing beside the table gathering all the prawns, when suddenly someone touched me under , I was screaming, crying so louder, my father and my mother quickly get down, found my oldest brother under the table, he told my father that he was dreaming, but my father doesn’t believe of what he said. He puched him and telling him to leave the house. He left and leave with my Uncle for few months, but come back again on Christmas day and was forgiven by my parents. My life was back in hell again, my mother advised to me is wear pants always! I finished my secretarial course then got a job as clerical in government, while I am working, I decided to continue my studying, which is not easy. Leave at work then travel for 30 minutes. If we have examination, I was just sitting at back of the bus reading my subject, sometimes I was late on the test, but I have very understanding proffesors, who gave me a chance to do the test in the corner. But I am proud myself that still I could get the score on second highest. Travelling to the jeepney at night is fun as we have lots on the jeepney service. But saddest part is, when I come home sometimes, I was hungry but no food on the table, so I just sleep-in. We are not like this before, but when my father got stroke, we struggle, my mother tried to work 12 hours a day, come home so tired, fell sleep on the chair. I hardly seen my mother home , I need to go to her work (weekend) to see her or relieve her on her job, I sent her home so that she could rest and have time with my father siblings sometimes. I mostly do the household chores on my days off, mostly 5 o’clock in the morning I should be awake. I remembered I was so tired so I sleep-in until 7 am, but my mother who never work that day, kick me telling me to wake up, as we are not rich. Lots of sacrifice, (etc, can’t pay my tuition on time, beg my Principal to take the exam), on my BSE graduation, come home, all are in bed, no food to eat) Just finished my Bachelor of Science in Education(1986),when they changed the government into Cory A, new government. I lost my job, all Marcos government was been kick out that time. I had an Uncle who was powerful in Politics then.. who could help me to get the job in teaching, but refused to help me, as revenged, coz I voted Cory A.. I end up creating my small business, buy/sell, got the job in Warehouse in a short term, the owner kick me out too, when she learned I passed on board exam for teaching, or sometimes help my mother to get some money. Then one day my friend talked to me about her Auntie in Australia, trying to match her with aussie, but she had a boyfriend that she love’s, she ask me or gave me this paper/form to fill-up/sign. I refused before hand,but I end up mailing it to the company. I was suprised when the company gave me lots of updated copies to give away. So I send one to Australia, the company matched me with lots of aussie men, but choose one, who work in Royal Australian Airforce (single man, never marry yet) then we started to write a letter in 1988, then he decided to come to Phil in Jan 1989. First time he saw me in the Airport, he quickly proposed, then repeated infront of brothers and father. He gets in trouble when called my father in his name, thought he is rude.. but he explained that’s the way they called the orderly people in his country. I asked him to call father instead my father’s name and he did. Then we set the wedding, but my Uncles/aunties wanted to know first if he is really single, so we are all went to telephone centre, called his sister in Australia, asked her to sent evidence or else no wedding will happen. I rembered he kissed me on the telephone both as he is follow-up calling his sitter. My first kiss, I actually hate men, coz of what my oldest brother did to me. But when I taste his kiss, funny I asked him again to kiss me. We got married on Feb 1989 Phil together with my family/relatives , went to Australia on June 1989, and married again second time, with my hubby’s family/relatives. Life in other country is not easy..completely different, climate, foods, custom, way of life, very quiet no people on the road, on my first year, I was struggling to cope (to many words to describes, my life here in Australia) married for 30 years with a wonderful, kind loving man, considered myself as very lucky woman. I have 2 boys now aged 24 and 27, then adopted my oldest brother’s only child/ daughter as she lost her Mum of cancer of the breast, year 2000. My sister in-law asked me on the phone while she was dying to look after her. . We quickly processed her papers…coz of what might happen to her? Without her Mother in sight. She was now here, having her family got a stable job. I studied here too, to get the jobs. I worked in the shire for nine years, and now currently 10 years working in age care. Now is your turn to tell me your life. If you have some question, I am happy to answer them.

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Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton