When my friend who was a permanent resident in Singapore invited me to work there I was torn between leaving and staying. I like to leave Philippines at that time and find a job in Singapore since he offered to shoulder my board and lodging. He said my income there would be so much higher compared with my income here in the Philippines. His offer was hard for me to resist if only I’m still single and unattached. But I’m already married and have two kids. One was four years old at that time and the other was eight months old.
I opted to stay. Yes, I may have a bigger income there but in doing so I would be loosing the growing time of my children where my presence was so needed. If I opted to leave I would lose the moments when my firstborn portrays Joseph in their Christmas play, and my baby took his first step. Those would be the moments I cannot grab back. But I witnessed all those and my sons were proud for my being there.
Today, my firstborn would always tagged along wherever I go and my baby who is one and nine months old would always attach himself to me like a leech whenever I’m around. Being a father is a hard job but I would never exchange it for anything else. Not even a high paying job away from my children. Perhaps I would do so when they are old enough and are able to process my absence and separation.
No regrets.
