MY LIFE ON GOOGLE BLOGGER~ANA TELLS HER FATHER ABOUT "US"

I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me...

She showed me her room, isn't it good, Norwegian wood?

She asked me to stay and she told me to sit anywhere,

So I looked around and I noticed there wasn't a chair.

I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine

We talked until two and then she said, "It's time for bed"

She told me she worked in the morning and started to laugh.

I told her I didn't and crawled off to sleep in the bath

And when I awoke, I was alone, this bird had flown
So I lit a fire, isn't it good, Norwegian wood?.

"Norwegian Wood(This Bird Has Flown)" 

(Lennon/McCartney) 

Ana in Bukidnon Province

Just as many Dallas, Houston and San Antonio residents migrated to those cities for jobs, Filipinos do the same.

My fiance' Ana spent several years working in, first Manila, then did a nurse internship in Cagayan de Oro, before getting a small house in the Bugo section of Cagayan de Oro. 

She supports herself now in a variety of ways, including a sari-sari store in front of her house. where she doles out portions of rice from 25/50 KG bags, sells canned meats, washing powder, individual beers, shaving razors, etc.  During certain times of the year, she adds baked goods, ice cream and spring rolls. 

Ana told me two days ago she was headed to Bukidnon Province to tell her father about "us."

"I'm taking a jit," Ana stated.  Jit is short for jitney the colorful minibuses with seating for 20 or more with zero headroom.  The 3 hour round trip to Bukidnon costs 50 pesos, one U.S. dollar.

Ana's Sister, Brother

Ana's brother, who stayed in Ana's house with his girlfriend during my visit with Ana was already there in the province, but had been ordered to say nothing until Ana arrived.

"I'm scared about my father's reaction," Ana told me, "but I'm going to tell him that I'm doing this."

Curiously, Ana brought a tape of the Erasmo Castro podcast to give her dad a glimpse of me.

Ana's dad viewed the tape:  "He seems like a man with intelligence and purpose.  I'm happy if you're happy," he told his daughter.

Ana and her father embraced.  

Later, when Ana, called on Facebook Messenger, all I could hear was laughter, squealing and static until making out the words:  "I'm so happy!"