DID I TELL YOU ABOUT THAT ONE TIME, I SLEPT ON THE FLOOR.
INNOCENT. Fresh out of medical school and ready to see the world as a new doctor. Thrilled to have my first paycheck amounting to 25,000 pesos per month or 70pesos/hour. I was too happy to be earning, learning and training to be a specialist. It did not matter that I took on long haul duties of 36hour-12hour-36hour-12hour duties on a repeated cycle. On a golden Sunday (occurring once a month), I take a day off! On these lucky Sundays, I rest up because tomorrow the cycle will start again. There were days when we had to be there earlier 5:30am- 6am, or go home later. The worse I had was going home from a long day shift 4:30am and needing to go back at 6:30am the same day. I would not see the sun for weeks. I was too tired for anything else. I wore the same set of scrub suits everyday, and I had a single Crocs to work. I did not eat in restaurants nor did I go to the mall. I would choose sleep over any other activity. In short, I was only spending on rent, laundry and canteen food.
INVESTMENT. On that same year, I decided to make an investment, and made my first purchase with DMCI. A one-bedroom unit for turnover on the year of my graduation from specialty training. I was thinking that could sell this and start my practice as a specialist after I graduate.
BETTER DAYS. Through the years, with perseverance and patience, work hours got better, and pay got better. On my third year, I was now grossing around 150-180 pesos/hour. I was thrilled. More importantly, the habit of tucking away DMCI money as a priority has now been an engrained habit. But as everyone else, better work hours and better pay meant more time to buy things you never really needed, so I though real hard if this was the path I wanted to take.
LEAP OF FAITH. On that same year of splurging, my broker informed me of a new DMCI project in a very prime location. It will be somewhat better than the rest as it was only one building with 2 and 3 bedroom units. I thought to myself. If I am able to teach myself to prioritize DMCI first without fail, maybe I can do that again this time. Instead of not being aware where the rest of the money went because I have ‘finished putting away my DMCI responsibility’ and now time for a treat. I decided to take a leap of faith. Initially after purchasing one for investment, now I am thinking of creating my own space, maybe a residential space for myself? A bigger space, a two-bedroom unit, interior designed, one I could go home to after a long day. Now, that sounded like a plan.
THE LOTTERY. I remember that faithful day. I was in the operating room. I have already paid my reservation fee for unit and parking, studied the plan, knew what cut and floor I wanted. Because of the number of people interested in the sale, there will be a lottery. I had to send my broker a list of top 10 units I wanted to purchase. From there, they drew the order of which you can ‘MINE SIS’ your unit and parking if you wanted. I had approximately 20-30mins. I was in the operating room. Thank GOD I was not the surgeon for the case. I was assisting my senior in a case when my broker called – I excused myself hastily. She said, ‘Doc, it is our turn. Your first few units listed is already taken but we were able to take this unit’ I jumped with glee with joy. The staff was looking at me like I won something. And to myself, I think I did. The chance to be a better person. The unit that was luckily available, and this was the same number as when I started Vascular Surgery training. It felt so much like it was meant for me, like all the hardships will be rewarded with a home. Soon.
GRADUATION. It was near my graduation and I knew that I will not be able to pay for both condos once I graduate because I will lose a steady stream of income. Yes, It is like that for doctors. Graduating from training means you are unemployed and should have saved enough for your rainy days. Until you get a new employment (which is not very common) or get some patients (which is very very slow at first). So I needed to smart about what debts to keep, which to let go and how to move the money around. And so, I went on to list my 1 bedroom unit for sale. In a year’s time, I was able to sell it off. I was so happy. I divided the sale to 1) specialist practice starter pack 2) emergency fund for 1 year 3) food and rent for 6 months 4) Travel a bit – I love travelling but I forgot because I was married to my job for a very long while 5) Put the rest on the 2 bedroom condo fund so that I don’t have to think about the monthly dues while I struggle with practice. At last, I thought to myself, I was set to sail in the real world!!
COVID. As a new graduate specialist, at this time of the pandemic, opportunities were scarce. I was unemployed for the most part of 2020. My papers from graduation have not arrived. This means that I have not taken any exams just yet. Basically I was nobody after graduation, apart from helping out in outreach programs. There was no job for me, so I used up my emergency fund, and my specialist starter pack just to keep myself afloat. As I look back, It was such a blessing to be able to sell that first one-bedroom unit, and now use the fruits of the 38-hour duty labor to feed me and maintain the roof over my head during this challenging time. It really felt overwhelming and I felt alone. Nobody would believe I had money trouble because I was a ‘doctor’ during a pandemic. But I tried my best to become better and stronger. Every time it was so difficult, I would think of selling this two-bedroom unit but then, a light would shine. My diploma arrived, which means I can find work. The board exams for my specialty figured out a way to make it online, which means I can really find work. After I passed my board exams, opportunities came pouring in. I accepted all job offers wherever these may be. I was doctoring from Luzon to Mindanao. I was almost always waking up in a new city or province every other day. I did not mind any late night drives or early morning calls. I guess my training was helpful for the most part. I did not feel tired. I just was motivated because debts and bills were piling quick. First, I paid off my debts, then rebuilt my emergency fund, then put another year in the two-bedroom fund just in case something bad happens again, and then started saving up for bigger dreams.
IN BETWEEN. During the interim, so many things still happened. Some were good, some were bad. Some made me feel like selling the 2 bedroom, some made me feel emotional whenever someone would inquire. Everything that’s down, will eventually crawl back up. But everything flying so high, will also eventually fall down. I have been both. I have tried to stay grounded, however high or low. As I know this is never permanent. And the feelings now, I am able to regulate them better. Maybe comes with time. I have learned to ride the wave. Little by little my patients increased. Looking back, it may have been from my compassion, stemmed from hardwork and experiences of being so low which stemmed from the purchase of this first one bedroom that was a very huge responsibility when I first dipped my foot in that water of purchasing something major.
ESSAY. I am working abroad now. And when I saw the email about essay writing your DMCI experience. It opened up so much memories, I just started typing away. Feeling nostalgic of how far I have come since that first purchase. Recently, my unit was turned over. I went home for the first time to the Philippines to accept the unit. I had a few days. I was so tired. I reminisced on everything I went through. Thinking of all the times I would post it on various platforms for sale, half hoping nobody would inquire. But somebody always would. Then I’d have cold feet and regret posting it for sale. Who would have thought that this unit will really be something I could keep for long term.
MY OWN. I opened the door to my unit. It had nothing but cabinets. But I was giddy. I was thrilled. It felt like home. It felt like something I would miss in a few days when I go back to work. I bought a bathroom rug. The very soft one that was memory-foam like. I bought a bidet and installed it myself. I bought a mop and cleaned the floor off shoe prints. I bought Jollibee. I had no aircon, no electric fan. I went to the pool and watched the kids swim. I went to the roof deck and watched the sunset. I went back to my unit. Locked the door. I sat on the rug. I ate my Jollibee and took care of the trash. I was too tired. I slept on the bathroom rug. On my floor.
I slept on the floor and I didn’t mind. Because for the first time, I am sleeping in a unit I call MY OWN.
Photo by Zue Resurreccion
About the author
The author is an OFW. She is fond of experiences that enrich the soul. The good thing about life is, its soul is based on perspective. Any experience can be a beautiful one, I think. But tonight, I am homesick.