Today was one of those days that makes all the hard work worth it. I woke up at 6:30 AM, enjoying my coffee and some country music (don't judge, I'm an old man at heart!), with a very special mission in mind. Jessa and I decided it was time to do something big for her family back in the mountains of Ginatilan.
The weather was a bit of a concern because there was a typhoon passing nearby, which usually means wind and heavy rain. But we decided to take the risk. We headed out around 9:30 AM to the dealership to pick out a brand-new bike.
Living in the mountains requires a specific kind of machine. Those small scooters are fine if you’re just two people with a bag of groceries, but for mountain life, you need power and durability. We chose a Rusi Macho TC 175cc. These bikes are legendary in the Philippines for being workhorses—they can handle steep hills, carry multiple people, and haul heavy loads of vegetables without breaking a sweat.
One thing Jessa and I have always agreed on is how we support our families. Whether it’s buying a computer for my mom back in Norway or a bike for her parents here, we always split the cost 50/50. It’s the fairest way to do it since we both have considerable income. We paid for the bike in full with cash. In the Philippines, if you make monthly payments, you end up paying almost double the actual price of the bike by the time you're finished. I’m not a fan of throwing money away like that, so cash was the only way to go.
The most exciting part was the surprise. Jessa’s parents had absolutely no idea we were coming, let alone that we were bringing a new vehicle. We filled it up with fuel, grabbed some bread and fish for the family (because you can't show up empty-handed), and made the trek up the mountain.
The surprise didn't go exactly as planned—Jessa was supposed to lure them out, but they actually spotted me with the bike before she could even get in the house! Despite the "failed" stealth mission, the reaction was priceless. Her father was clearly shocked. When I told him it was his and that it was fully paid for, he couldn't stop thanking us.
While we were there, I got a look at the "house updates." They’ve been painting and putting in new windows, so the place is slowly getting better. We also checked out their old blue bike, which was in "horrible" shape. The threads were destroyed, and it was barely running. It confirmed that our timing was perfect.
I gave Jessa’s dad a few tips on the new bike—reminding him to "break it in" gently and not push the engine too hard for the first few weeks. I also told them that Jessa and I will handle the costs for oil changes and filters to make sure it stays in top condition for years to come. Registration takes a long time here—I’ve had my bike for four years and still don't have the official plate—so we made sure they had the proper temporary papers to keep them legal on the road.
We ended the day heading back home, feeling good about being able to help out.
