By Telly G. Ocampo
No matter where we roam, we always think of HOME
For me there is no such thing as retirement. Retirement is just a phase in our life’s journey.
It’s an alloted time for an unfinished job – the one we left behind when we reached 60 or 65. Retirement age in both the government or private sector is the time left for us to do things we liked to do but could not do when we were younger because we were pressed by work especially the taking care of our our growing children and our task of earning for a living.
At past 65 years old, we have that time, to do what we want. Now at age 75, I am partly disabled but I haven’t ceased to dream and continue doing what I have not done. Friends from the other side of the world who are retired are back home to visit the land of their birth. They call this moment as their retirement time. They are home to help in the repair of their homes after Odette. Florida and Texas are homes to Lydia Ramo Caballo and Nenen Uy Auza. Nenen’s sister, Babie, is in Texas with her husband. Nenen and Babie are from Inabanga while Lydia is from Baclayon and a very close relative of mine in our hearts.
Upon arriving here, they went around seeing friends and familiar landscapes of their youth but these structures are almost gone except the churches. These balikbayan are active in the respective parishes in the land that they have embraced. There is the Kaliwat Bol-anon in Florida organized by Nenen’s husband, Roxty Auza and Boni Gatal from Baclayon. The two of them have already passed on but the organization they built has become stronger than ever – thru the years. They have their fiesta celebrations and Misa de Gallo on Christmas time. What we do here, they also do in America, a place they now call home.
elected Sanggunian Bayan member in Baclayon. The two lovely girls at the front table are the author’s grandchildren: Amber and Magenta.
They really don’t forget their original home. They are sending relief goods to areas devastated by calamities. They help in the pabahay program of the diocese, including scholarship programs. But you will never hear them blow their own whistle to signal to people that they are helping our brother Boholanos. They work in silence with their feet on the ground and their hearts directed towards our people.
We express our joy and gratitude as they are here to visit their ancestral homes and to help rebuild the destruction brought by Odette.
Indeed, no matter where you roam, your mind will always take you home – the home of treasured memories of your youth – of our youth.
