I have seen yesterday, reading the newspaper(yes, I do!)- an editorial feature, entitled "Balikbayans". I can't believe at how true her article was. I was putting my shoes on hers and thinking about my relatives who had paid us for a visit.

My cousins, Jana and Drina, are two of my closest cousins. Since we practically grew up together, played imaginary houses, pigged out and goofed around when we were still little. They had moved to Australia since Tito Bobby, their father, decided to move.

When they laid their first step in the house, I was wondering who those Aussie girls were. It took me a minute to realize that these grown ladies, I was facing with- were my cousins whom I spent my childhood years with. They had been transformed to your typical-american/australian teenagers. They can hardly understand tagalog and they can't speak the language.

We were not as open as before, since it was awkward for me to speak. The reason why I couldn't be as carefree as I am to them before was that they had an accent that I couldn't imagine they will develop. They aren't the same 'kulit' girls that I had played houses and dolls with.

When they were here, they realized how hot it was. I know, I share the same complaint too. But unlike them, I am used to it. It has always been hot in Davao. They asked me how many seasons we have, and I answered, "Two. Tag-init at tag-ulan." I smiled thinking that, it's the truth. If they have four, I proudly say that I have two. I was amazed when they told me about their own culture, the snow, the school, the environment. Am I so ignorant that one of my greatest wants was to touch snow when they probably step on it in their winter season?

Sigh. Life's never fair. But as I come to conclusions, I am still lucky that I didn't grow up like them. No matter how beautiful their life can be in Australia, I will pass the chance to live there and struggle my life in this conservative province. I know they want to live in here too. My cousins love Jollibee and would trade Chicken Joy for any Australian Lamb they have.

I found this on Jana's multiply...

See? I also congratulate her because she's the batch Valedictorian in their school at Australia. A good example at how "Filopinos" (as she prefer to call it) stand out in every country they are. Ang Pilipino malalayo sa Pilipinas, pero ang Pilipinas, di malalayo sa mga Pilipino.