I belong to a renowned family in the Philippines.
sisters, and I were raised conservatively and well disciplined. In our family, .
our name and reputation are the most important things that our family value .
most. Our parents and grandparents were very strict. They won't let us out in .
the streets after five p.m. if we're not home by that time, there were going to .
punish us for breaking one of the rules. We were not supposed to go out with .
others especially if they do not know the persons we're going with. They .
won't allow us to have a boyfriend or a girlfriend not until we were finish .
our college studies and be successful on our chosen careers. As a Filipino .
tradition, we do what the elders may say. So as a result of their demanding .
obedience, most of my brothers and sisters were making commitments with .
the one they love furtively. They were afraid to let our parents know that .
they're having serious relationships. And so, the secrets continued .
When I was at second year high school, I understood what .
they went through. I felt really bad about it. I tried my best not to break my .
parents' rules. I don't want them to be disappointed with me. I dispatched all .
my suitors but there's three of them keep on bugging me. One of them .
impressed me a lot. Despite of knowing that my parents were very strict, he .
still insisted to go to our house and told my parents that he wanted to try to .
win my favorable attention. Unfortunately, my parents didn't allow him to .
do so because I was still at third year high school. In spite of that, he still .
continued his courtship. Because we're studying in the same private school, .
he kept on bugging me all the time. I told him that I'm still not ready to have .
a serious commitment with him. I told him that friendship is all I can offer .
him. We became best of friends from then on.
.
We reached college and went to the same school again.