Living in the countryside is often synonymous with a slower and easier pace of life, but for one Boholano, being in the province means big, festive gatherings where family bonds over food, exchanges news and enjoys shared experiences online.
For Jessica Narit, a housewife and mother based in San Isidro, Bohol, having guests and family over brings more happiness. “The more, the merrier,” she said.
“Lalo na kapag may okasyon, pumupunta dito mga kapatid ko. Madalas silang pumunta. Malapit lang sila – sa may Dauis at sa Loay. Mahilig ako makipag-chikahan sa mga kapatid ko, at maki-bonding,” she added.
[“Especially when there are occasions, my siblings usually come here. They come here often.
They just live nearby in Dauis and Loay. I like sharing stories and bonding with them.”]
Jessica comes from a family of seven children (most of whom are also in Bohol) who now have children of their own. Adding the relatives of her husband, the gatherings at her home can be pretty big.
Family togetherness is important to Jessica who is used to having her siblings around to talk to, whether in person or online.
“Nung medyo matanda na papa ko dito siya sa akin so yung mga kapatid ko pumupunta dito, pati mga apo niya. Tapos ang ingay-ingay naming magkakapatid. Apat kasi kaming babae kaya ang ingay-ingay namin tapos ýung mga pamangkin namin malalaki na rin. Parang namana sila sa kaingayan namin. Mahilig mag video calls ang mga yun ‘pag andito, ” said Jessica.
[“My father stayed with me when he got older so my siblings would just visit us here, together with his grandkids. Then we would be so loud. The four of us are all women so we are so noisy, even our nephews and nieces who are already of age. It was like they took after our exuberance. They like doing video calls whenever they are here.”]
Making these family bonding moments even better is the Narit family’s internet, which is enough for a crowd of 15 people to surf, stream videos, listen to music and play mobile games, simultaneously.
“Halos 15 katao ang gumagamit ng internet pag nagsama-sama, at okay naman. Gusto ko yung madaming tao sa bahay kasi kapag yung anak ko lang, sobrang tahimik. Kapag maraming tao, masaya din anak ko, hindi siya nabo-bore,” said Jessica, referring to her only child.
[“Almost 15 people are using the internet when we are all here together, and the experience has been okay. I like it whenever there are many people in our house because when it’s just my child here, it’s too quiet. When there are a lot of people around, my child is happy too. He doesn’t get bored.]
Accustomed to big groups, Jessica welcomes a throng of her son’s friends from college as well, who come over their home to use the internet — most of the time to study.
“Sobrang saya kasi yung mga bata, andami-dami. Minsan hindi na pumupunta mga kaklase niya para sa thesis pero para maglaro ng mobile games at manood. Minsan, dito pa matutulog,” Jessica says happily.
[“It’s so fun to have the kids over because there’s a lot of them. Sometimes my son’s classmates would come over not for their thesis but to play mobile games and watch shows. Sometimes, they even sleep here.”]
Hosting these big gatherings is made easier with having fiber-powered internet, said Jessica, who was among the first customers of Converge in Bohol. At the price level of P1,500 and speeds of up to 200 Mbps, the product is a marriage of affordability and quality.
Happily at home in Bohol with her family near her and always ready for a party at her home, Jessica doesn’t imagine living anywhere else.
“Naka-try na ako ng ibang probinsya pero gusto ko pa rin dito kasi yung pamumuhay simple lang. Parang di masyadong hinahabol ang oras. Kabisado mo na mga lugar, at dito talaga mga kapatid ko, family ko,” Jessica said.
[“I tried [living] in other provinces but I still like it here because the manner of living is simple. You don’t feel like you’re always running after time. I’m already familiar with the places here, and my siblings and family have always been here, too.”]
To know more about Converge, visit www.convergeict.com.
