A love story that transcends distance and time (3)

A tribute to my first love, Capt. Tiu -- Choco Pie: Went back to work for a month but have to go on bed rest for 3 months due to threatened abortion. While I was at the Pasig plant experienced contraction pains on the 8th month of my pregnancy. All by myself, at the old Medical City hospital, I delivered our son prematurely at 35 weeks via cesarean operation, when he was still underway home in August 8,1990. During his vacation, we built our first house and while the construction was in progress the news of his promotion to Master came in September of 1990. Have to assume the supervision of the construction concurrent to all my existing load at work and at home. In October 1990, he took command of the same vessel he served as Chief Officer. While in his first command the vessel was frequently calling South Amerícan ports, (Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador) places known to be a seafarers paradise, because of the gorgeous women in port. Resigned from my job in April of 1991 to sail with him. Our son was only 10 months old, when left under the care of my parents. While on board with him, the vessel was trading Europe and South America. In Brazil, reality unfolds before my eyes and it does bites. The Christ statue and the sugar loaf mountain in Rio de Janeiro are fascinating but the beach in Copacabana filled with oozing women in their skimpy suits is a much beautiful sight for the seafarers.

These young ladies ages 16 to 20 are heaven sent to add color to their lonely and boring life at sea. For the next 3 years, I learned the Portuguese language, how to dance the Lambada and the Samba, enjoyed the Churascaria (grilled meats) and the taste of Caipirinha (a local drink). The situation is an eye opener to me, and I understood why most of the seafarers go crazy over these Brazilian women. Life goes on in this manner, and got the chance to travel and see the world free as a privilege of his job as a ship captain. I continued my on and off travels with him until 1997 when Earl has to come back to Manila to attend grade school. He opted to be a relieving Master in order to visit us every 3 months before he will go on another vessel assignment, but this time he is still on contractual status and he requested for a vessel assignment with an Australia-Japan trade. He got the chance to command a ship calling Manila that anchored at the Manila bay for almost five (5) months. Our son enjoyed spending the week ends on board his ship and painting the deck, but got terrified of the experience when crossing the Manila bay from the service boat terminal to the anchorage under strong waves. It's been 21 years since the time we exchange I do's and so far life has been good for us, our love blossomed so well and we proved them all wrong. In June of 2008, he tried to venture working with a fleet that provides regular working status to seafarers. He was accepted, and is now one of the Filipino Captains in command of one the foreign vessels. Ours is a story of loving and accepting someone with all his/her flaws. In this life, we come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly. A living proof that a long distance relationship can succeed through hard work, perseverance, commitment and open communication. Through the years, he is a loving husband, a good provider, the best father to our only child, a caring lover and my best friend. Our love, respect, faith and trust in the Almighty served as our guiding light in our day to day adventure. Indeed, a successful marriage requires falling in love many times always with the same person. By this story, I want to say "Thank you" to my husband for giving me your name, for making me a complete woman and for your love that made my life's journey worthwhile. I'm sharing our beautiful love story to all the OFW, (shore or sea based), for you to remember that if a relationship is truly meant for you, your love will find a way to make it happen and God will be there to make sure it will stay. - GMANews.TV God Bless Everyone, Choco Pie A love story that transcends distance and time (1) A love story that transcends distance and time (2) Mga Kapusong Pinoy! Maraming salamat sa patuloy ninyong pagtitiwala at binuksan ang inyong buhay sa Kwentong Kapuso upang maibahagi sa iba. Ang inyong mga karanasan, saloobin, payo, at kung ano-ano pa na ibinahagi nyo sa amin ay nagbibigay ng lakas ng loob, dagdag na kaalaman at pumapawi sa kalungkutan na nararamdaman ng marami nating kababayan na malayo sa kanilang mahal sa buhay na naiwan sa Pilipinas. Sana'y hindi kayo magsawa sa pagbisita sa ating website na GMANews.TV at silipin ang iba't-ibang bahagi nito lalo na ang Pinoy Abroad na sadyang nilikha para sa inyo. Muli, ang papuri at pasasalamat ay ibinabalik namin sa inyo mga kababayan naming nagtitiis sa ibang bansa upang mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay. Patuloy kaming hindi magsasawa na basahin ang inyong kwento - maigsi man o milya-milya ang haba. Kahit ang laman nito ay naglalabas ng sama ng loob, nagbibigay ng inspirasyon, gustong magpayo, nagsusumbong, nais lang magpatawa o kahit wala lang at nagpapalipas lang ng oras. Inaanyayahan din naman ang mga kabiyak, anak, ina, ama o sinuman na may bahagi sa buhay ng isang OFW na nais magpaabot ng kanilang saloobin sa kanilang minamahal na nakikipagsapalaran sa ibayong-dagat. Hihintayin pa rin namin ang inyong mga email na maaari ninyong ipadala sa Pinoyabroad@gmanews.tv Sa aming mga kababayan saan mang bahagi ng mundo, saludo kami sa inyo mga Pinoy sa abroad! Mabuhay kayo mga Kapuso!