A Lunch for Tita Cora

Its a small get together, sort of a High School reunion of Cabuyao Institute class of 1958. Tita Cora is in town from Canada, where she had migrated since 1974! Two of her siblings are sick and thus took a flight home, and before she could go back to Winnipeg, or what she jokingly refer as winterpeg - they decided to have a lunch, their treat to Tita Cora. Seniors they are - it was initially set at Isdaan Floating Restaurant at Calauan, Laguna. Then, they said Sta Rosa would be nearer and changed it back to Isdaan being more scenic!

I am 47 years old, a father or even a grandpa to some but with these seniors around I feel like an 8 year old child again. My role was basically to be my Mom's escort and the unofficial photographer / scrapbooker! I grow up being told not to but in at the conversation of elders or seniors - It came in handy! They talk, I eat, or I shoot photos!

As these seniors chatter, I recall my last free meal. That was last month when Janette Toral invited me for the third season launch of Ka-Ching! Ka-Ching! Then, I was the old person as I was with elementary kids, now I am the young person with senior citizens. It reminds me of the open forum wherein the organizers were asked if the financial education program can be extended to adults, HO-HUM! DUHHH! These seniors born in the early 40s - they know the value of money. I listen to them and earning and saving had been a part of their life. Spending is a luxury and a way of life for my mom.

I had grown up working with my mother when she does her purchases for our Sari - sari store and learned counting coins and bills, giving change to store customers. I learned practical mathematics early and that goes with these seniors. Tito Berting now recalls that he was not able to go to college but proud that he was able to sent all of his 4 children.

They do sure like to meet and talk but at times, its the same old stories. I sort of already memorized them. My attention had wandered to the setting of the floating restaurant - bamboo! I started saving on bamboo coin banks. It was my mother who cracked open my bamboo coin banks, I was proud and happy when I would be able to save from my daily school allowances - and the One Peso my Lola Osay always give when she visits.

Kids nowadays have a different view, well, depending still on their social class. The poor kids are ahead in the reality of earning, making, and spending money. Richer kids appear spoiled just simply asking their parents for money for what they like or need - like my nephews! One can read a case study on kids : http://www.cartoonnetworkasia.com/cha-ching/case_study/

I noticed that parenting nowadays seems to be providing a tablet for children to play. For my nephews its a tablet and internet connection to view You Tube videos and amuse theirselves. Well, I have a tablet and simply viewed this video while taking my lunch - and letting these seniors have their own incessant chat.

Finally, lunch is over and its now payment time. Well, I need not dole out - its my Mom's responsibility and the other classmates. My role got extended being a human calculator. Tita Lumen asked me how much the change since they had to share the lunch costs! I could not help but think of Prudential since i had started expanding my financial knowledge http://www.prulifeuk.com.ph/corp/prudential_en_ph/ soon, it would be my time to share blessings.