I am working remotely for a company based outside the country and my cousin is working remotely for a company based in Metro Manila (he was working at their office until the pandemic happened).

I support Leni and he supports BBM with a passion. Actually almost all of my relatives support Marcos with a passion, I guess let’s say around 85%. Obviously I’m from the so-called “Solid North” provinces.

Today he approached me and asked, “Kuya tuloy pa ba ang plano mong magtayo ng negosyo dito sa bayan natin?”

It was always my dream to have a business in our hometown. And my goal is to help employ some of our relatives who are jobless.

I asked him, “Bakit mo natanong bigla?”

He proceeded to tell me that their office is planning to transition back to on-site work again. He said he does not want to go back there anymore. Citing the bad condition of traffic, the hassle of looking for a cheap accommodation again, the high price of commodities, etc. Instead he wants to invest with my planned business and will leave his job. He also said that our other relatives are looking forward to this business I’m planning.

I told him, “Hindi na tuloy, itatabi ko ang pera ko at balak kong magsimula ng buhay sa ibang bansa. Lalo na ngayon mataas ang presyo ng bilihin. Kaya mas hihigpitan ko pa budget ko.”

He replied, “Eh kuya paano kami? Paano yung mga ibang kamag-anak natin na umaasa sa plano mo?”

I replied, “Sa tingin ko naman makakahanap sila ng mga raket diyan. Di naman na bago sa ating pilipino ang maging resilient pagdating sa mga problema sa buhay.”

He replied, “Kuya hindi lang resiliency ang kailangan nila ngayon, kundi tulong din mula sa ibang nakakaangat.”

I replied, “At tulong mula sa gobyerno.”

He did not reply afterwards.

Update:

He called me and said he slept since he works at night. That’s true. He also said that maybe I should think more about my decision since we’re all family and we should help each other out.

I told him my decision is final and that they should trust the next government, I’m sure they have job programs for the common folks.

He said, “Sana kuya, God bless sa ating lahat.”

I really don’t have an answer for that because I’m about to laugh, told him I’m gonna drop the call to take a dump. 💩

Also for those saying this ain’t true, we are talking using our native language ilocano. I had to translate it to tagalog so everyone can understand it, because even Bongbong Marcos can’t understand ilocano. Ilokano ak ngem haan ko inbotos ni Marcos!