The childhood memories I cherish most are the times I spent with my family. Time flies very fast and the generation changes too quick. I was especially happy with my family in dinnertime. We needed to be home before 6.00pm. After taking our baths, we would proceed to dining area and ate together. We would eat fast with fun because the last to finish would have to wash the dishes. I miss the excitement of waiting for my mother after she went to town and returned with packs of bread she bought. We are six and I, being the youngest, would get two packs.
— Analinda Aquihap
My happiest childhood memories are the years I spent with my parents. I enjoyed eating with them, sleeping together after our night talks and going to church every Sunday. It is hard without my parents even though I am grown-up. I still miss them. I was 12 years old when my father passed away and 18 when my mom died. I still feel the pain especially now that I have my own daughter. She is two now and I just left her to the care of a relative. She was eight months old when I started to apply for a job abroad. Because she was sick and needed medications, I decided to work abroad in order to cope with the expenses. It is hard to accept that in her early childhood I am not with her. I remember my pain of living without support and I hope my daughter will not experience the pain that I had. I miss my parents. I wish they were here to help so that my burden would not be so heavy. But I need to be strong for my daughter and the memories I have with my parents will always be cherished.
— Joyce Badua
The memories I treasure as a child are the times when we pray together as one family at 6.00pm. I would make sure that all of us were at home before dinner at 7.00pm. This is a family tradition I always cherish. My father never allowed us to play cards or say bad or hurting words. He was a strict disciplinarian. We had our own household chores too. I also enjoyed playing in the rice field. Those are the things that children of the present generation no longer do.
— Noriza Gepolan
I would cherish the time and moments with my family. We were together, helping each other through sadness and happiness. We helped each other doing household chores before playing and having fun with our parents. They are the moments that I will keep forever in my heat. We lived as a happy family full of love. I remember when our youngest sister got sick we all worked together for the expenses and medication. We thought we would lose her but she survived as we were fighting together for her.
— Caria Rose Collena
The truth is I don’t have any good childhood memories because at a young age I started to work on my own so that I could go to school. I helped people do household chores so that I could continue schooling. I won’t forget that when I asked help from my relatives just to finish high school, nobody were willing to help me. I approached a close relative but instead of helping me she threw ice water on me in front of many people. I am still praying for a forgiving heart so that I can forget the incident. My family faced many trials when I was in my younger age, which has shaped me into a person with strong determination now.
— Maribel Jugnac
I lived a simple life in my childhood, and that is already a blessing. It is the most cherishable time in my life as I was free from worries and my parents provided for all my needs. As a kid I just eat and sleep with no problem to think or worry about. Our way of life was simple but happy and I was the only girl in the family. I was special and comfortable as my family took good care of me. But I was not spoiled and was quite easy to please. I was happy already after receiving a simple pack of chips. It is good to reminisce the past.
— Sonia Panagsagan
