Shamed for being ‘grown-ass man traveling with mom’, a Pinoy traveler shares inspiring ‘Travels with Nanay’ on his Facebook page, ‘The Poor Traveler’.
In Filipino culture, children enjoy a close bond with their parents – and this bond lasts even to adulthood. Filipinos don’t leave home by the time they turn 18 years old; in fact, many still live with their parents even if they already have families of their own!
Photo credit: The Poor Traveler
Other cultures might frown upon this as total ‘dependence’ on parents, but many believe this is just a way Filipinos show love to their parents. Most parents even prefer to have all their children and their families live in the family home, too.
Photo credit: The Poor Traveler
A Pinoy guy who blogs as ‘The Poor Traveler’ recently shared photos of his travels with his mother. He shared that they had just arrived from Australia. Wow.
Some years ago, when he posted photos of his trip with his mother, another traveler shamed him for being a ‘grown-ass man traveling with his mom’. While the insult hurt, he knew that he was doing nothing wrong – and was actually doing something that every kid should do for his/her mom after becoming successful in the future.
Photo credit: The Poor Traveler
“I remember our first trip together. In the middle of our cable car ride in Hong Kong, my mom shed tears. When asked, she said she just never expected she would be able to travel overseas. You see, my mom grew up in a dirt poor family,” explained ‘The Poor Traveler’.
“She only finished GRADE 6 because there were 7 children in the family and my grandparents couldn’t afford to send all of them to high school. Someone needed to stay at home and help them work. Unfortunately for my mom, it was her. She’s always valued education, but there was nothing she could do.”
Photo credit: The Poor Traveler
‘The Poor Traveler’ went on to explain that because of the hardships his mother endured, she promised to make sure all her children will get a college degree. As the breadwinner, she worked hard to send her kids to school.
Photo credit: The Poor Traveler
“As a kid, I grew up in a financially troubled family but my mom still tried to make it comfortable for us. I am the youngest. Me getting a college degree isn’t just about me but my mom finally fulfilling a promise she made to herself a long time ago. She had never traveled very far, so I promised myself that when I started earning well, I would travel with her EVERY YEAR,” he added.
Photo credit: The Poor Traveler
Since he got a job, the two had traveled to many places together. They started with that trip to Hong Kong he mentioned earlier. Then, they went to Japan, Singapore, and even went back to Hong Kong. They have also been to Macau, Boracay, and most recently to Australia.
Photo credit: The Poor Traveler
“Our lives have become much comfortable now than when I was a kid. My siblings and I, we’re doing great because my mom made sure that we finish school, something she’d always wanted for herself but never had. I am proud that I am going places with my mom,” he shared.
Photo credit: The Poor Traveler
The post has gone viral, with other netizens also sharing their stories of vacations with their parents – and they would soon joke about starting a ‘club of grown-ass kids traveling with parents’. LOL.
Photo credit: The Poor Traveler