Dear Nanay,
I read your reply to D and D last week and want to tell them that they are not alone in their problem as many of us encounter something similar to what they are experiencing.
As Nanay points out, the best solution is just honesty. We have a friend in our barkada who is exactly in the same position and sometimes she cannot come along because she is trying to save money. You know what, nobody takes it against her. We the barkada normally try to keep her budget in mind when we choose places. Or sometimes we just meet up for coffee or drinks, which are cheaper than dinner. Or we can also just do breakfast or lunch. If she can’t come, everyone understands and nobody takes it against her. Sometimes one of our more well-to-do friends just treats her and it is really no big deal because we really are close friends.
So just be honest and just be yourself. Don’t forget that these are your friends who you are supposed to be able to run to in your times of need so they are not going to care about little things. Nanay is right. Just get over the initial anxiety and it will be smooth sailing from there. — Mavic
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Dear Nanay,
I read your past column regarding older people trying to find jobs. Having spent 20 years in America before coming back home here to Manila as a balikbayan, I have witnessed many from the older generation who get jobs in America as waiters/waitresses, in fast-food restaurants or other service industry. I am not sure what the terms of their employment are but I suspect they are working as part-time employees. Working part-time is probably also better for the older folks as they may not have as much energy so can work for as long as they like only and then take the rest of the day off.
Of course, granted I am not sure what the rules here are on part-time work because I know that is something far more common in America than here. But perhaps this can be a good solution for us here in the Philippines to give our older population jobs and make them productive: to follow the model they use in America. Maybe this can be something our potential employers, especially in the food service industry, can look at. — Balikbayan
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