#panganay

Growing up, madalas kong marinig sa nanay ko na ako ang mag-aahon sa kanila sa hirap o tutulong sa kanila pagtanda nila. Before, I just took it lightly, pero as I grew older, I realized that it's not as easy as I thought it would be.

They never pressured me in my studies. They never asked me to be on top. They just wanted me to take my studies seriously and get good grades. Surprisingly, even without any pressure from my parents, I was always part of the top students from grade school to high school.

And then college happened. It sucked. I was never happy during my college years. I don't know what happened, but the eagerness and motivation in me to study were gone. My mental health suffered. I cried myself to sleep, wanting to give up and end everything.

And so, I stopped. I was already in my last year, but I gave up. I couldn't imagine the disappointment of my parents at that time. I promised them that I could still be successful and would help them. And I did!

When I met my husband, I made it clear from the start that I had extra baggage with me and that it would always be with me. It was one of my non-negotiables when we started dating.

My husband knows the love I have for my parents. He never stopped me from being a breadwinner despite us having our own family already. He always makes sure that my family is included in our plans. I love that his family (my in-laws) also accepted and extended their love toward my family. As much as possible, they always invite my parents and include them in every event and outing.

I was blessed enough to have found a partner and in-laws who understood me. They never questioned why I still had to provide for my parents nor stopped my husband from helping me do so. I couldn't have it any other way. Nakakapagod, but seeing my parents happy from the smallest of things makes my heart feel fulfilled already.

Hi , I'm Metchie and I am the Panganay or the eldest child of our family , as a " Panganay" we carries with it a unique set of responsibilities, challenges, and rewards. It’s a role that shapes who we are, influences how we approach life, and often, molds us into leaders, caregivers, and role models within our families.

Being a Panganay is not easy, why? Because We always have the biggest and heaviest role in the family. We are expected to be the "breadwinner". We should be the "perfect" example to our younger siblings. We need to be "cautious" of our words and actions. We should be "polite" all the time. As if it's a sin for us to be seen as a weak person. We should never let our emotions out. We should not disappoint anyone.

However, the journey of being the" panganay" has taught me invaluable life lessons. It’s a journey that continues and never truly ends. The responsibilities may evolve, the challenges may change, but the love and bond that come with this role remain constant. I’ve learned so much from being the panganay not just about responsibility, but also about resilience, patience, and the strength of family.