Our children are our most cherished possession. In their early years we must make sure they get a healthy start in life – President Gloria Arroyo, SONA 2009
It is 1984 and the Marcos regime is getting shakier as Anti-Marcos rallies are all over the place. This was my conversation with my then boyfriend (now husband)
Me: Do you plan to marry me? if you have no plans, then I am leaving for the United States to be with my sisters and start a new life there.
The Boyfriend (now husband): Yes, I will marry you next year. (of course he got pressured).
I felt like leaving the country then because the peso-dollar exchange rate dropped drastically. I wanted to be with my sisters.
No, this is not a love story.
See, I got married at the time when the political situation was so unstable. Was there a future for me and my husband? When People Power removed the dictatorship, I was ecstatic. I felt the future seemed promising for my children. My sister sent me immigration papers in 1987 and wanted me to move to the USA with my family. I declined. I wanted my children to stay here and work for the future of their country