by Telly Gonzaga-Ocampo
To Share the Dream
In life and in death, there is always the BIR – The Bureau of Internal Revenue. In everything we do in life there it is even the air that we breathe for there is now environmental tax. I’m just fortunate to have been part of The Bohol Tribune family where there is Atty. Greg Austral and my Bff Ardy. Both are there to help me and my children.
The Blue Apartelle
Before the passing away of my husband, Roger, celebrating a grander Christmas 2021 was the only thing that occupied our minds, hoping to compensate for the Christmas in 2020 that we missed. The season of Christmas is the only time of the year when all of us are together including the “mga apo”. And it is for this reason that the Blue Apartelle was conceived. Our “pagatpat” house beside the Karaang Balay ni Tan Akoy, doesn’t serve the purpose anymore of accommodating all of us in the family. It is too small for three growing families. But here at the Blue Apartelle, everyone has his/her own place and space to his/her own – when everybody’s home. There are 4 rooms complete with a sitting room, dining for 6, a bedroom and a restroom with a little kitchen. Although, when they are all here, we eat together at our big dining room at the ground floor. In between Christmas celebrations and the next Christmas, we let out the rooms for homestay to any tourist/visitor interested.
Ardy Ines Araneta Batoy
But covid intervened. So the Blue Apartelle It was unoccupied until the homecoming for my husband’s illness – until his passing.
At 75, I found myself thinking of my own mortality, but with the hope that i could realize the dream Roger and I had (and I still have) for the children. Naningkamot pud baya sila. They are able to prove to themselves that they are capable of raising a family based on their capability and ability to face the responsibilities and the challenges encountered along the way. With Roger gone, we have to share the dream.
Atty. Greg Austral
Hence, today – Sunday, we will all sit together with Atty. Greg Austral and my bff Ardy to integrate my dream and the dream of Roger, with the dreams of my children. For after all who was it who said: our children are not our children. They are the children of the universe.
My grandchildren call themselves “housemates” at the Blue Apartelle. The photo shows some of the “housemates”: Linya, Magenta, and Amber. Elias is the photographer. They are at the beach in Taguihon.