 |
| Excuse my self-centered mug |
It wasn't something I considered a big move. In fact, I still lived in the same compound but would be transferring to a different unit.
However, it was a major move! Why? Mainly because I had lived in the same unit for eight years. That was a long time! The memories I created there somehow shaped me for the better. Those were crucial events that molded the person I am today and the path I want to take in the future.
It was where the ultimate dreams happened. I didn’t just wake up one day and decide that I wanted to be a writer. The first characters I created and the plot of my first book materialized one lazy Sunday afternoon while I was in bed procrastinating, as though I had all the time in the world. I am an independent person, and I’ve always been that way, as long as I can remember. I lived alone in my uncle’s house during my senior year of high school, which was scary when you really think about it, mainly because I was just a kid.
But in terms of living alone, it was one of the most liberating experiences I’ve had, and I wouldn’t change it for anything. I learned so much about myself by living alone. It was scary, yet it was cool because I got to play "adult" before I truly became one. The perks of being young included being fearless of most things. I was never scared of being by myself, even when I was sick with a fever. I took myself to the doctor, got my prescriptions, bought my medicine, and went home. Even when I was 16, I was very responsible for myself. I had the realization that my mom lived on a plane ride away, and so did my relatives. I was the only one here, and I had nothing but myself to rely on.
The drive to be independent is embedded in my bones. I loved the freedom of buying what I needed to sustain myself, deciding the color of paint for my walls, grocery shopping, and learning about the health benefits of different foods. I loved choosing the paintings I wanted to hang, paying the bills, and budgeting. These are things you just have to expect. Sometimes, the type of person you invite to your place becomes exciting. Though I’m not really this person—I didn’t invite guests over and didn’t feel obligated to do so either. I felt like my place was sacred, and the only people I allowed there were immediate family members and my partner.
I know living alone can be scary for some. Heck, it isn’t for everyone, and that’s a well-known fact. There are people, especially here in my country, who are content to live with family members. In the Philippines, you’re not obliged to move out of your parents’ house once you hit adulthood. There’s no "30-something living in their parents’ basement" story here, because 1) most Filipino houses don’t have basements, and 2) family bonds are so strong that parents don’t kick their kids out. If you want to live with your parents your whole life, that’s fine because it’s acceptable here, and no one will judge you. 3) Filipino parents love having their children around.
But then, there are people like me who are itching to live alone. Aside from being an introvert, I also thought that living alone was one of the most exciting parts of adulthood. You don’t have to have a family to live alone—you just have to make that decision for yourself. I did!
Here in the Philippines, rent can range from as low as 4,000 pesos to 20,000 pesos, depending on your lifestyle. If you have the money, you can afford to buy a condo unit in places like BGC or Makati. But if you’re a regular employee, you can rent a bachelor’s pad closer to your workplace. You just have to be creative and find a more affordable place if you’re on a tight budget, like I was.
I’ve been in the same compound for 11 years. I lived in a high-end village, but the landlady who owned the compound charged 4,000 to 6,000 pesos per room. The rooms were old and outdated, but if you wanted to renovate, that was on you—not her job. That was actually her rule: the tenant has to cover all renovation costs. My old room was big, but it was definitely in need of repairs. So, I decided it was time to move out and transfer to a new one. I had the new room restored a bit and bought an air conditioner that I found on sale at SM and had it installed. Since I have a graveyard shift at work, it's important for me to get at least 8 hours of sleep, and now I can do that, even in the hot tropical summer we're experiencing right now.
I have to say, getting an AC is no longer a luxury—it's a means to survive the summer heat and get through it alive. LOL.
Xoxo
