Dream vs Reality #YungAkalako

Growing up, I would describe our life as ordinary middle-class. We had our own house, and while we weren’t rich, our needs were met. Being the youngest in the family, I never once heard my mother talk about any inheritance. To me, life felt straightforward — we lived simply, and that was enough.

It was only recently, and quite unexpectedly, that I stumbled upon a different story.

One day, when some of my mom’s old tenants came to visit us, they shared stories about lands she had inherited as her share among her siblings. The surprising part? Much of it had supposedly been sold over the years — yet no one in our family ever saw any proof or documents about these transactions.

That visit pushed me to start looking for answers. I began checking records, and to my surprise, I found that part of the land was still registered under my mother’s name. At the same time, I also discovered that some of it had already been transferred to other people — without our family ever knowing when, or how, it happened.

This made me wonder: What if we had known about these properties earlier? What if my parents had managed them properly, or at least kept them within the family’s care? Maybe my financial story today would look very different.

My dream financial status was never about wealth or luxury. I only hoped for stability — to live comfortably, to take care of my health without worry, and to face my later years with a sense of security. I imagined reaching this age with some savings, something set aside for medical needs, and the thought that the future would be a little more certain.

But life took another path. As an OFW, my biggest priority was my children’s education. I gave the best years of my working life to make sure they finished college with degrees, even if it meant retiring without savings of my own. That choice gave them brighter opportunities — and while it left me with little to lean on, it gave me something greater: the gift of seeing my children succeed in their own paths.

Today, the reality is that I live with the support and kindness of my children, who now provide for our needs financially. I am grateful for their care, but of course, it would feel different if I still had something of my own — something that could cover my needs and allow me to keep a little for myself. My quiet wish is to recover whatever remains of my mother’s inheritance — whatever is still rightfully ours.

This whole experience has taught me one thing: no matter how big or small, we must take care of what we have. Managing what is entrusted to us can be just as valuable as the assets themselves. If only I had known sooner, but I also see that life has given me something more meaningful — my children.

Big thanks to you my Hive friends for stopping by and reading my post. Your time and support are always appreciated 😊