What is your message for the graduates this year?
Mary Jane: [Mag]tiyaga [sila]. Kailangan maging matiyaga kasi hindi madali ang buhay.
What is your advice to your daughter since she is about to face a new chapter of her adulthood?
Mary Jane: Be steady and just pray.
Eraño: Oo, be steadfast kasi, especially sa mga young graduates ngayon, ‘yung perseverance — lalo ‘yung paghahanap ng panibagong career. Gaya ng sa daughter namin, nag-iisip na siya kung magta-trabaho siya samin or magta-trabaho siya sa labas (kasi meron kaming family business). Kaso nagde-demand siya agad ng malaking salary kaya sabi ko sa kanya hindi pwedeng ganon. ‘You must try,’ sabi namin sa kanya, try to look for a better job na nandito sa Manila. Advice namin eh — hindi naman lahat ng bagay nakukuha nang madali.
What is the most gratifying part as a parent now that you’re about to see your daughter on stage?
Mary Jane: Ay, tapos na ang gastusan.
Eraño: [We are] very proud. We look forward to her better future. […] Actually, hindi namin hinahanap ‘yung maging Magna Cum Laude siya. Sabi namin sa kanya, hindi naman mahalaga yon basta makatapos siya. Pero okay naman dahil maganda naman naging outcome, nag-excel siya.
What do you wish for your daughter as they now face the world outside UST?
Eraño: We wish her good luck sa future. Wala namang parents na nagwi-wish ng worse para sa anak nila, for the better talaga. Okay na kami basta mapaganda niya buhay niya.
Mary Jane: Maging masaya lang [siya] sa tatahakin niyang buhay.
– Mary Jane Perone & Eraño Perone, parents of creative writing graduate Ellah Perone
Interview by KIMBERLY ANNE OJEDA
