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Since I was 14 years old, I've been working jobs related to Engineering and Architecture. My
dad was a Professional Electrical Engineer with registration # 34. He was a board member of
the Imus Electric Company as well as the Sorsogon Electric Company. I was graduating from
High School then, and he asked me if I would like to earn some money. In spite of the fact
that my dad gave me big allowance, I found working for him intriguing and new. He got me a
huge tracing paper. Then, he got a map of Sorsogon. I laid out the map with my dad's help.
I showed the vicinities. Then, he would set where the light posts were and where the guy
wiresshould be. It took me 2 days. To this date, what I did will need at least 2 weeks to put in
Autocad. The timeline was about right. After all, I did just a schematic scheme. What was
important was the laying out of the electrical posts and wires in whole Sorsogon. My dad
gave me $50.00. That was my first work.

When I graduated from High School. I was 15 years old and my niece, Elisa was 13 years
old. My dad said that I was'nt a girl if I cannot sew. So he enrolled me in Slims with my niece
Elisa. Our classmates were all twice our age or more and they all owned dress shops or
some are couturiers. We had to buy many equipments: curved ruler, square ruler, etc. and
some of the rulers were almost as high as us. We have huge drafting tables and we would
create patterns. We would draw from A to B and C to D based upon the person's
measurement and create a pattern for a particular dress designs. There were hundreds of
patterns in their file.

These should have overwhelmed my niece, Elisa but she topped the class. The old ladies
would come to her and ask her how to do the patterns. I was catching up with Elisa and I
graduated from the course ready to tackle the seamstress world.

One problem was that I and Elisa had a misunderstanding. We lost each other in Quiapo to
change bus to go to Slims which was across the Philippine General Hospital. Elisa thought
that I lost her on purpose. We didn't talk for a long time till Carmen, her mom made
reconcile.

Elisa lost her dad, Alfonso when she was 12 or younger. After we graduated from Slims, she
sewed all her siblings' dresses. I took turns with her using the electric sewing machine to
sew because the Singer sewing machine Belle had was by pedal and it took so long to finish
sewing. There were times when I would pay seamstresses to sew my dress and everyone
was mortified.

I never thought that in later years, my knowledge of sewing would help me have a business
of my own. I thought I should be well-informed in Engineering and Architecture. Get paid
well from my expertise and join the corporate world of Engineering and Architecture.
Through the years, I tackled Plumbing, Electrical, Architectural and Civil Engineering drafting
but in the US, I didn't go further than designing. I miss my Autocad knowledge up to release
14. I wish I found another job like the one I had at Chicago Guarantee Survey Company.
Mr. Canmann was very good to me. I felt my whole world fell in front of me when he laid me
off.

I associated my whole existence being employed and being able to provide for my family. My
unemployment status stripped me of my self esteem and created a big void in my life. I sent
hundreds of resumes and had been rejected it seemed like a million times. I took odd jobs
just to make ends meet. I even sold real estate which was a big disaster. I spent more than I
earned.

Once in a while, I would find good jobs like painting signs on the walls of Rush Presbyterian
Hospital with Thomas. I sewed costumes for a dance group. I tried selling night lights at the
pow wows. Then, I would make Navajo skirts, shirts, etc. I was so thrilled when they were
sold. I never emagine that what I made I sold and sold fast. I didn't even have a chance to
advertise them.

Now, my whole mindset changed. I'm no longer dependent on employers because I employ
myself. I won't endure verbal abuses from my immediate supervisors anymore like what
happened in Sekerez, Assoc, Mctigue & Spiewak and United Engineers.
I'M FREE!!!

When I own my own business and make some of my merchandise, it is time consuming but
very rewarding.
Hundreds of ideas pop in my mind that I never thought before. It was a thrill when ideas
click. When I'm home, I
work from 6AM to 1 AM. I know I shouldn't be taking too much time at the computer but I felt
like I'll be behind if I
don't establish web sites. I'm free and I want to connect to the world.