In a couple of hours, I will be. In the Philippines, 18 is the official legal age. But then, based on our culture, where parents pamper and hold on to their children as much as they can, in a country where it’s normal for 35 year olds to still live in their parents’ house, I guess 18 isn’t really considered as THE age where everyone acknowledges, or at least get hints, that one has evolved into an adult.


At 18, teens in the States normally move out of their parents homes, go to whichever University they managed to get into and find jobs to pay for their college education and support themselves. Their Filipino counterparts would still be wet behind the ears, most probably a college sophomore spending their parents’ money. As pointed out many times before, one of the contrasting facets of Eastern and Western culture would have to be on independence issues.

While the West promotes individualism, the East is tightly bound to tradition and family, thus binding children to parents, both reluctant to let go, resulting to (over)dependence of the offspring. These all boils down to one BIG word, responsibility. At 18, Filipinos, I think, generally aren’t exposed to as much responsibility or the sense of, since we are confident, or at least, at the back of our minds, we are complacent of our parents’ support to our welfare and survival.

But being 21 is a different matter ENTIRELY. The coddling stops, the subtle allowances in character and misdeeds slowly cease, the considerations and constant hovering peter out slowly, they are no longer as forgiving with slips in responsibilities and obligations. BY 21, one is expected to have gotten a degree, or inches away from one, followed closely by being in the process of landing a job. A modest paying one, at that. And then the REAL life starts.

On one hand, it is good, for they somewhat stop treating you as a dependent child, who needs supervision and constant reminders. They acknowledge that you, have grown, and matured (hopefully). Thus, it is easier to communicate and make yourself heard. But then, once you step out of the college gates, then the allowance stops. One has to find ways to partially support oneself, if only to prove one’s evolution into being an adult.The responsibility loaded on us can now, more than ever, be felt. Well, we can’t be “parasites” forever. After getting pimped up and worked on (whoa), a boat must test the waters and sail.

And then after years of wanting to be taken seriously and be considered an adult, some, upon reaching the threshold, long to step back in time and be 18 again, when life was breezy and fun. When all we had to juggle was academics and the social/love/co-curricular segments of our life.

We must remember, though, that we can never go back. Life isn’t like books we read where we can go back to previous chapters. Life is a book we write, where the contents come from us, written with our own hand. We cannot undo what is written, but we can make sure we learn, make amends or remember to avoid doing such mistakes again.

So this is how it feels like to be 21. Well, almost. Interesting. I sure hope I get the birthday gift I asked for from 2 people who asked me all sorts of questions early this morning. But if they don’t, well I guess there are better things lined up for me, it’s just up to me to find them. Tomorrow will be my first second time to spend the day without my parents. Tomorrow, there will be no planned party or gathering. No money. :D No parents. Independence. So this is what it feels like.



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To the special people I share this day with: Armand, Emman, Redael, :D Happy Birthday!

Damn.I sure missed writing! :D Screw 10,000 hits! :D I'm BACK!