CRUEL FATE
Mood:  down
Sometimes fate can play cruel tricks. I often look back at how things could have turned out differently for me and my family if only I had decided differently.

ABOUT ME AND MY FAMILY

Picture above: Our family during happier times.

I graduated with an Engineering degree in 1990 but was unable to take the board and practice when my father died just 2 months after. It was during this time that we learned of the debts that my father incurred in setting up our small family business which was at the time of its infancy. Even our house was mortgaged. To make things short, I ended up in the family business to do my share in helping settle the problems. However, at the back of my mind I hoped that one day I would be able to practice my degree when things get better. However, that was not the case.

Mismanagement by my eldest brother and a business venture to earn extra income that ultimately failed threatened to bankrupt us completely. It was during this time that I took the helm. We managed to secure a loan that was to be paid out in 7 years. It was short of what we needed but somehow we had to make do.

In the process of rebuilding our business I forgot to take care of myself and the stress took its toll on my body. I became diabetic and my health went downhill from there. I took pride in finally redeeming the deed to our house. Now very sick, I was forced to turn over the reigns of the business back to my eldest brother. Although the business still had a few problems, with the right moves it was on its way back to recovery.

This was a fatal mistake. Greed reared its ugly head and my eldest brother started to enrich himself. He demanded a salary for himself and even employed his wife as accountant in the business.

At the same time my body started to experience excruciating pain. I felt stiffness and loss of joint articulation all over my body. I was physically unable to get up let alone find work. Although I consulted numerous doctors and was under medication, it did very little to ease the pain and improve my condition. Sadly, my vision started to blur and soon I can only vaguely make out faces. Having no money, I stayed in this state for almost 2 years and went into depression.

A FLICKER OF HOPE

Picture above: The 4 of us get along fine, but somehow we were always at odds with our eldest brother.

With the help and encouragement of my sisters together with a compassionate former schoolmate, now an eye surgeon, vision on one eye was restored. Although I had to wear reading glasses this tremendously helped in lifting up my spirits. Improvements in my diet and exercise brought slight relief in the pain and I was able to move (with a limp) about the house.

By chance, a writer for an e-learning company took notice and referred me to her boss. Their company was really looking for a writer, but she gambled on me even though she learned that I was sick and can only work at home. She took me under her wing and I started to write and illustrate storyboards. Soon I started to do simple flash illustrations and animations. After a few months, the company decided to employ me full-time. I was ecstatic and very thankful. I started earning some decent money and gained back my dignity. I decided to forget all the bad things that had happened and start my life from this point onwards.

ANOTHER TRAGEDY

Picture above: Now we may lose the home we grew up in.

I remember a phrase from Al Pacino in Godfather 3 which goes something like, "Just as I was about to get out, they pull me back right in.” My eldest brother died last April 16,2007. It was after his death that we learned of what he and his wife did to the business.

The company is $100,000 in debt! He and his wife used the company checks to secure unauthorized loans from different people. They even managed to mortgage our house without any of us knowing. People I did not know from Adam, started calling and coming to our house to demand payment. Nine days after his death, his wife took their kids and everything they own and left their rented apartment without informing us. She turned off her cellphone and left no forwarding address. Using what little records was left behind; I took it upon myself to find out what had happened.

The night before his death, he was still frantically calling and going to different people to secure loans. I guess the shame of being found out was too much and he suffered a heart attack.

Although we had our differences I deeply mourn my brother's death and wish things could've turned out differently. And yet we are left with the overwhelming fact that he mismanaged the business and are now faced with a tragic predicament.

My brother used company checks signed by my mother. He even tricked her to hand over the title of the house which he used to secure a loan. Ultimately, she is the one liable for all the bad checks my brother and his wife issued since they were all company checks. With nothing to mortgage, we can not secure a loan. All we have is our business and our commitment to help my mother. She is deeply religious and spends her time doing charity work for the church. She is already 66 years old and does not deserve to suffer. A life on the run or facing court is not the way she is supposed to spend her twilight years. Already, creditors have initiated steps to sue our company and our mother to recover their money.

WE NEED YOUR HELP - PLEASE

We need to secure a loan of $ 100,000 to pay off creditors. We are not seeking a hand-out. We can pay you back but it might take awhile. We still have the company and existing clients to generate income and pay back the loan. We have all agreed to help out our mother and exercise prudence in operating the company. I was the one in charge of the company when I was still paying off the initial mortgage of the house. If I can do it then, then I can do it now.

PLEASE to anyone willing to help, this is one family’s desperate plea for assistance. We promise we can pay off the loan and we are willing to send you details/information about the company and how we plan to pay the loan. God Bless You!


You can contact me for further details at amateur_artist07@yahoo.com

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