The Life of The Poor

The Life of The Poor by @Anta

I am a little kid from Ifugao province in Philippines, when I was young we experienced the hardships of life especially my family. I grew up with the good upbringing of my parents even though we did not have money, our family is happy even though we only eaten twice a day. We often cook fried egg suit with dried fish and noodles. We try lard and soy sauce also add coffee to the rice. Our only communication was only radio and an old television. Life was really hard then.

When I was in elementary we just walk to school, we go down the mountain to study, we were still barefoot, we were really trying to get in at the right time. The bag we use is plastic I only have a small and worn pencil to write I can say that life was really different then.

When I arrived in high school we walked farther to get to school our lunch was just enough food a day. We walked for more than an hour to get home. I was seventeen years old when I finished high school. My parents supported my siblings. My mother is a laundress and my father is a farmer. I really admire their effort.When I finished high school I temporarily stopped studying to help my parents. I left and go to Manila, Philippines to find my luck working to help my other siblings study and lift my family out of poverty.

I worked as a maid. It was very hard to be away from family but all my hard work is dedicated to them and I can handle it until I was able to save a lot of money.I finished my siblings study I did not regret sacrificing my own studies I am happy that even my siblings just get done. I continue to send money to them until now for my parents, now we have a good television, we also have shoes on our feet and we can eat delicious food thank God.

Year 2018 I thought about doing business I know Ukay Ukay term for preloved clothes or used clothes, I take the risk of doing Ukay Ukay business I have suppliers who take the clothes abroad. I thought of this business because I read on social media and I know it can be sold because it is essential needs of people, at first I was selling it in retail it was also very difficult because you will meet up I experienced the heat and rain to sell and it all just to earn money and now it's all worked out I am also a supplier of preloved clothes and my income now is quite high thanks to the lord for the blessings he gave.

Last year I also bought a small house for my family. This year when there is no Covid-19 I will bring my family here to Manila and live here. Today I can say that I am successful in life from hardship, work hard, dream and believe in God that I can handle all the hardships of life. As long as you believe in yourself that you can and work together you will succeed in life it is not a requirement to have a diploma to rise in life and be successful.

I am grateful to my parents that they shaped me in the hardships of life and fought the test. Even if life is difficult, everyone can do it as long as the family is there. Thank you we continue to dream for the future. This is my story a child who grew up in poverty, took risks in life and became successful.

@Anta