This couple from Tacloban took a trip down memory lane after they managed to send all 10 of their kids to college.
Fe Anelia “Annie” Sia and Leodegario “Boy” Sia said that their teamwork made it possible despite the hardships they experienced in life.
Mommy Annie worked as a nurse at a public hospital while Daddy Boy was a private employee which helped them sustain the needs of all their 10 children.
“Lahat naman po sila ay nag-aral sa private school, ‘yung 10. Sa awa ng Diyos, dahil sa mga loans, loan dito, loan doon, promissory note dito, promissory doon, hindi lang namin namalayan na isa-isa na pala silang naggraduate. Wala po kaming luxury. Ang luxury lang namin, hindi kami nagpapabaya sa pagkain,” Mommy Annie said in an exclusive interview with The Philippine STAR.
“Sabi namin, kailangan ‘to makapagtapos lahat kasi ‘yun lang ang pamana namin sa kanila,” Daddy Boy added.
The two said that they had several shared sacrifices just to make sure that their kids could finish school.
Although Mommy Annie had a busy schedule at the hospital, she still managed to accompany and take care of her children on a daily basis.
“Nurse po ako sa Eastern Visayas Medical Center. Sa NICU po ako naka-assign. Thirty-three years in service po ako doon. Ang ginagawa ko po, panay ang night shift ko para sa umaga, nandun ako. At least the following day, ready na ‘yung kanilang kakainin. ‘Yung eldest ko na lang ang nagluluto ng kanilang makakain at babaunin sa school. Ganoon na po ang set up namin. Mahirap kung morning shift ako. Hindi ko sila maalagaan,” Mommy Annie shared.
At an early age, the couple also explained their financial situation to their children. They were also lucky that they became scholars at their respective schools.
“Kasi ‘yung binabayaran namin po, miscellaneous na lang. Biro mo naman ‘yung 10 diyan sabay-sabay sila halos eh. Kaya medyo mahirap. Pero wala naman akong pagsisisi na marami akong anak. Kasi po ma’am, wala akong kapatid. I want to experience how it is to have many siblings.Sa damit naman po, ‘yung mga uniforms po nila, ‘yung eldest po, hand-me-down ‘yung sa mga nakababatang kapatid. Ang priority namin ay pagkain at tsaka ‘yung tuition fee nila,” their mother noted.
Since then, Mommy Annie and Daddy Boy explained the importance of education to their children, and they had only one wish for their children: to finish school.
“Once na mag-start ka ng isang course, walang shift. Kahit mababa ang grades o mag-fail ka, babalikan mo ‘yun na course mo,” the two stressed.
Their youngest daughter, Francine, is a living testimony to her parents’ hardwork just to provide a comfortable life for them.
“Hindi ako na-deprive of my parents showing up. Every time na may event, he [papa] makes sure that he’s there. Si mama, kahit duty siya, example, may problem sa school, she shows up,” she said.
Adding, “Kahit sa college, kahit mahirap siya, talagang ‘yung parents ko, papa ko, hatid, sundo, mama ko. Even if nakikita kong nahirapan sila. Mahirap pero kakayanin kasi sama-sama tayo. Kami ‘yung sampu.”
Now that all of their children have diplomas and respective jobs, Mommy Annie and Daddy Boy felt fulfilled and are now enjoying their retirement.
“Everybody is giving para sa family. Nagaambag-ambag sila. Unti-unting nababayaran na po ‘yung mga loan hanggang sa nag-retire ako. Unti-unti na po. Wala kaming maiiwan na kayamanan. ‘Yun lang. Para hindi naman maging kawawa ‘pag wala na kami. Kailangan maging ano sila, self-supporting,” Mommy Annie said.
Francine is currently an IT auditor while her other siblings work in different industries such as nursing, accountant, medtech, pharmacist, banker and engineering field.
“’Yung dalawa ko po, ‘yung nurse po at tsaka ‘yung medtech ko, nandun ngayon sa US. Sa awa ng Diyos, maganda naman ‘yung kanilang kalagayan doon. Ayoko sanang mag-abroad sila. Pero wala akong magagawa. They have also their dreams,” Mommy Annie proudly shared.
Francine left a heartwarming message for her parents as they continued to express gratitude.
“We’re thankful for everything. For all your sacrifices.Kahit nahihirapan kayo, ‘di niyo pinakita sa amin.Thank you for the gift of education. Hindi man tayo mayaman, we’re thankful kasi we have our diplomas and that’s the biggest gift na nabigay niyo sa’min. And love namin kayo no matter what,” she emotionally said.
