I was born to a poor family in a barrio in Laguna. But I could not feel we missed anything because we were a happy family. We did not know what it was like to be rich because we did not have television, radio, or newspapers. My father was a driver and my mother was a housewife taking care of six children. We had a simple life, went to public schools in the next town, sometimes walking kilometers to and from the school, through railroad tracks. We had simple meals. Because we could not buy toys, we just made our toys out of old clothes and socks, as balls.
Our parents could not send us through college due to financial constraints. I passed the UPCAT, but still I was not able to study at the University of the Philippines because we did not have money for board and lodging and other school expenses. After high school, even though I had graduated with honors, I stopped schooling for a year and worked as a salesgirl in a small department store. My elder married sister asked me to live with her in Makati, and I took care of her small children. She was very kind to send me to study stenography and typing in a nearby vocational school, for me to gain some skills and get employed.
Fortunately, I was hired as a secretary/receptionist in a small company. I was hired in June, and by November, I started my college studies as a working student in a university in Sta. Cruz, Manila. From my 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. work in Ayala Avenue, Makati, I would ride the Mapalad Bus to go to my school, where night classes started at 6:30 p.m. and ended at 9:30 p.m. I would often ride the “last trip” bus to Washington Street, Makati, reaching home at 10:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. from school.
As a struggling teenager at that time, I was fearful about being on the road at that late hour, in the ’70s. I was a working student all my life. I had to study hard to maintain my scholarship and save on expenses, as my salary was just P4 a day, thus a mere P120 a month. I got married to an officemate and had a baby girl at age 23. When my daughter was one year old, I went back to school to finish my BSBA degree, cum laude. My parents were very proud of me because, despite being married, I was able to finish college. I was able to get employed in a very good multinational company and retired after 21 years. I was once an employee, a student, a wife, and a mother, all at the same time.
My husband and I were so blessed to have visited the Holy Land in Israel in 2000. We were also given the privilege to visit the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, and some other countries in Europe and Asia. This was not at all in my dream because of what I went through financially. But God is so good. Our four children and their families are happily settled in a First World country, while my husband and I are living a simple life. We just turned 70, but are still physically active. After this pandemic, I still want to serve in our parish, in other religious activities, in our homeowners association. I still want to engage in bowling, badminton, ballroom dancing, etc.
Oh, I do not feel I am 70!
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Yolly Salva-Samson, 70, used to work as an accountant. Now a retiree, she is a lector and commentator in her parish and a member of Couples for Christ.