Humble beginnings

Like most successful people in the world today, I also came from humble beginnings.

I wasn't born with a silver spoon. I grew up in a simple, traditional Filipino family setting. I am the eldest of three siblings and my parents were not rich. We lived in a small but neat and tidy house in a remote barangay in San Miguel, Bulacan.

My dad worked as an employee for more than 20 years on a farm of a well-known manufacturing company, while my mom was a pure housewife. We don't have much money at that time but my parents were so passionate about giving us a great life that we were able to survive, at least having to eat three meals a day. I admired my parents for working very hard over those years. They did a fantastic job in raising us, making us finish our education and giving us a bright future.

At a very young age, I already saw, felt and learned how tough life is; that in order to survive, one must really exert a lot of effort and hard work. At a very young age, my parents taught me the values of hard work, responsibility, and discipline.

Being the eldest child, I became my mom's assistant in doing household chores while my dad's at work. She taught me everything I needed to know - from cooking, washing the dishes, cleaning the house, doing the laundry - name it! I would often hear my mom angrily yelling out my whole first name when I'm too lazy to do household chores or if I didn't do those things well (just like a typical Filipino mom). Her attention to detail and quality of work were admirable, the same traits I got from her. My dad, on the other hand, was a hard worker. He goes to work every day, always on time. He would still go to work even if he's sick or not feeling well, and even braving the typhoon days just to earn a living for his family. I truly admired his sense of responsibility, his passion and commitment to his work, and his sense of punctuality. These are the traits I've learned and acquired from him in my younger years.

Yes, I would admit that my childhood was not as fun as what other kids probably had as I didn't have that luxury of time to play outside our house and mingle with other kids, but I don't regret any of that.

As I became mature, I realized that these values that my parents taught me during my childhood years were far more important and valuable than playing children's games. These values became my foundation as a growing individual and became my most precious keys to success.

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How about you? What was your childhood like? What are the values you've learned from your parents that you're grateful for? Just take a minute to pause and reminisce your childhood days. Share your experience. Comment your answers below. I would love to know you a little further. :)

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