I was born and raised in Baguio City, in a Barangay named Scout Barrio. It was a thriving community and most residents worked at Camp John Hay- a military recreational base.
My grandmother rose thru the ranks from being a lowly clerk to being head of the Telephone Operators servicing not only Camp John Hay but all the other US bases back then. My grandfather worked by himself maintaining and watching guard over a pumping station near where we lived. He would usually walk to work with his trusted police dog named Lady.
They were able to retire and spent their days playing mahjong with close friends and relatives. My mother went to the USA when I was about 4 years old and after a year, my father followed.
Up to this day, my father told us that he still did not know why he decided not to bring us 3 kids with him, this was a decision he would regret for the rest of his life since every Holiday Season, he would witness my mother looking at all our childhood photos, missing us kids and crying.
Thank goodness my parents were surrounded by great friends who encouraged them to start petitioning us since they finally were able to become American Citizens. It took 3 tries only because our grandmother kept the first 2 petitions my parents sent thru the mail.
Finally, a close friend, who had some background in immigration procedures, advised them to send it in my older sister's name. Less than 2 weeks, we were on our way! I was 22 years old then. Little did I know my whole life will drastically change once I set foot on American soil.
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
(A note about the photo cover, this was a huge stuffed animal my husband found on a train car! He's a retired train worker and surprised me with this by knocking on our door and just having this Colorful Dragon greet me. I named him DINO! My husband & I gave this to a close friend just to show we love him while he was suffering from cancer. Sadly he passed away about 3 years ago and we do not know what happened to Dino. Where ever he is I hope DINO is giving someone somewhere much comfort!)
