The 4th Decade (1999 - 2008) by Elaine Ruth Flordelis Ramiro Aliga
From Left to Right (Megan and her tummy), Dad, Kei, Mom, Jojo, RG, Angelica, Janelle. All the grandkids together!
This past decade of Mom's and Dad's 40 years together was marked by the growth of each one of us kids. This was our time of moving on.
By the start of this decade, we all had our high school diplomas. Beside our sisters, Vernon and I didn't
look like "buntuts" anymore. Little by little, people were moving out of 9 Ma. Eva and settling down far
away. In 2002, Alma and Peter found their home in Walnut Creek, California, with Kei, Janelle and Megan.
In 2003, Jane and Caps moved permanently to Sayreville, New Jersey, adding Tango the 2-foot Cat to their little
family. And since we started working in Makati in 2004, Vernon and I occasionally would just opt to stay at
the condo in Greenhills, just to lessen the hassle of commuting to work.
With more space in the house, we sure made the most out of it - more space for storage and mess, extra rooms to house guests in, a computer room all its own, less people to fight over the landline with (though that should be attributed to the boom of the cellphone industry), less people hoarding the now-defunct "tartar", Dad letting us go on our fieldtrips… We were suddenly spoiled.
At the same time though, the house became a little lonelier. There was just too much space. Mom and Dad missed having little ones around the house. But you see, they didn't work all these years just to end up moping alone. Their life together was just about to have a new beginning.
England, Oct. 2007. Kei, Janelle, and Megan.
Since all of us were adults by now, this was the perfect time for them to be young again. While entrusting the house to me and Vernon, they began their travels far and wide - hopping state to state to see all the relatives in the US, visiting the queen in Europe, and having more time to vacation in Vintar and Bacarra. They started their "APOstolic" tradition of visiting Alma's and Jane's families in their respective parts of the world (now that Alma and Peter are temporarily stationed in London), having a blast taking care of their kids and grandkids, human and feline. And even here, they set up a playground in our backyard just for Angie, Jojo and RG (but which is now open to all the Maria Eva toddlers).
Dad began his retirement from SGV, and became his own boss. He goes to Makati every other day, but never skips having a go at the UP tennis court. Mom has stayed active with all her circles of friends, and began perfecting the art of making ensaymadas and profiteroles. And to overcome her lung problems, she's begun attending aerobics classes diligently.
Mom and Dad now "date" almost every week, taking advantage of the free movies for senior citizens, and discovering new places to dine, making new friends all over the place. Their youth is back, and they're having the time of their lives.
Mom once told me, "If I had to be a poor woman, I wouldn't care, as long as I'm with your dad." Watching them do what they do now, I have no doubt at all that these two kids - who promised to
be there for each other for better or for worse, for richer or poorer,
in sickness and in health - are as in love as they were 40 years ago. Maybe even more.
Christmas 2007. Jojo, Angelica and RG.
Though some of us kids have moved out, or will eventually move out, I think we share the same dream - to build the kind
of homes Mom and Dad have built, to live the kind of lives they've been living, and to find the kind of love and happiness they've found in each other and shared with us. We may have different addresses, but home will always be where Mom and Dad are.
…These two kids - who promised to be there for each other for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health - are as in love as they were 40 years ago. Maybe even more.
