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It’s common knowledge
among our family friends that we don’t own our own house. We’re not ashamed of
that fact… if anything, we’re proud of it. We’re proud to say that all our
lives, we’ve lived in a rented house, one where my Mom lived whilst she was
still single, so you can imagine how old the house is.
It’s so old that parts
of the ceiling are leaky, and when it rains, I have three mini waterfalls
inside my room. I wouldn’t mind so much were it not for the fact that I have to
move my book shelves away from the walls to protect my treasured tomes from
getting wet.
Going back to not owning
our house… it came as a bit of shock to me when, as an adult, I realized how
sentimental and nigh-near obsessive the typical Filipino is when it comes to
owning one’s own home. I can understand why. It symbolizes stability and
financial freedom. However, I’ve observed that the quest to owning a home can
put one in greater financial straits when it is something one cannot truly
afford yet. One applies for loans one cannot hope to pay off soon, and so
instead of stability, one incurs huge debt.
“You’re not rich unless
you have your own house.” That’s what most Filipinos believe. It’s a sign of
our times… “You are what you own/wear/possess.” And in today’s modern age of
the triumph of capitalism, where consumerism is the new religion, it devastates
me to see how conscious my high school students are about the clothes they
wear, the gadgets they own. When basketball players focus more on what “elite socks”
or shoes to wear to a basketball competition instead of thinking about ways to
train more so they can be more competitive, when female athletes spend more time
thinking about ways to hike up their volleyball shorts, exposing a scandalous
amount of skin, rather than how to improve their game … well, I think there’s
something wrong there somewhere. When we focus more on appearances rather than
substance, then we become shallow and petty. And we lose sight of what’s
important in life. When we allow our possessions to define who we are, then we
lose our sense of self-respect. We become unthinking products of a
materialistic society, part of a teeming crowd of humanity, losing our
individuality.
Why am I proud to say
that we don’t own our house? Well, for starters, it represents proof of our
commitment to our simple but meaningful way of life: a family of teachers, all
of us chose this path, knowing we’ll never be as financially well-off had we
gone into the corporate world. My parents giving up their more lucrative jobs
in order to be hands-on parents and educators.
As I type this, it
started raining again. Pretty soon I’ll have to adjust the bookshelves once
more. But it’s hard to feel sorry for myself, living in this “leaky old house,”
when I consider myself so rich in the things that matter.
I am rich and blessed to
belong to the most loving family ever. How many families can say that they eat
all three daily meals together, 24/ 7?
I am rich in psychic
income, as all teachers are. I think this is the only job where one leaps out
of bed each day, excited to see the faces of one’s pupils, eager to spend time
with innocent and adorable cuties! An exhausting one, to be sure, but one where
I get to make a difference… every single day.
I am rich in health. A
teacher’s life style is, by necessity, a very clean one. Early to bed and early
to rise. No wild nights spent carousing about the town, painting Makati red. No
gambling, drinking, smoking. A “wild” night out for me would probably be one
where I stay up late to watch a concert or a play, and an exciting weekend
consists of spending time with my book club friends. Yes, I’m a veritable Mata
Hari! J
And I have no cause to
complain when I have never gone hungry in my life, when there is more than
enough food to eat every day (in fact my problem is: how do I STOP eating??!!).
I have never known want, and I have my parents to thank for that.
And now… to move the
bookshelves away from the wall. (Yet another important thing I’m rich in…
Books!!!)
You know what, I have a cousin who's into investments, and he said that a house is not really an investment since it devaluates over time. (But it's not the case for land though.)
ReplyDeleteStill, I would have to agree with you—I have no qualms with renting, especially since it unburdens you with a lot of financial obligations such as taxes, repairs, and renovation.
Thanks for dropping by, Peter! It would be NICE to have one's own house...like it would be nice to own one's own book store! Haha! :) But between the house and the book store cum cafe, I'd prioritize the book store. :D and yeah, nothing wrong with renting!
ReplyDeleteI like how you look at it, Gabi. I could completely relate. Been working for a decade and I have not a penny set aside for a house for my Mom and I. Iniisip ko na lang, maybe I'm meant to move out of the country anyway, hehe. It's always best to have a home than a house; from the looks of it, you have a loving home with your family and most especially your books!
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