Buenaflor (Flor) Olaes Sitchon

On the 14th of July, (let's just not worry about the year, okey?) a beautiful, rosy cheeks, jet black haired baby girl saw the blinding light of this universe. She was born at Taft Avenue, Pasay City,Philippines through the assistance of our most famous "hilot" called Ate Abe. Her mom, Belen, only needed one "extra big push" and this tiny tot was out! This little angel was named Buenaflor by her grandfather as her date of birth was that of St Bonaventure. Her name means "good flower" in Spanish and she definitely has lived up to her name all these years. Because her name is too long, she decided to shorten it to Bambie (parang deer ano?), the name she became known for amongst her close friends. However, at home, her mom and her dad, Pedrito, love to call her "Baby" (damulag!). She's only got one sibling, Sonny, who is only 20 months younger than her. At a very young age of 3, Bambie/Baby won the title of Miss Gratitude when she went to a preschool in Pasay City. 

From the time she started Kindergarten at St Marys Academy, she has already excelled academically and musically (meron bang ganoon na term?). She normally leads the singing during the gala masses, dahil wala na lang mapiling iba. During her sixth grade, she was requested to conduct her classmates and sang, with harmony, the song "Ang Bakya Mo Neneng" (You are corny Neneng!). Bambie/Baby, was also very active in the Student Government. She was the News Editor of their Maryan Newsletter (kahit wala namang maibalita).She graduated with dishonor, este with honors pala, in 1967 with all other incurable nuts of St Marys Academy. During her St Marys years, she had three very close friends, namely: Elvira(Elvie) Ballada, Elvira(Elvie) Lu and Maria Elena(Ellen) Martinez. It was rather sad when we parted our ways after high school. However, the wonderful memories of friendship will always live on.... 

In college, our young lady Maryan outgrew her nicknames and preferred being referred to as "Flor"(dalaga na kasi, ano fi?) She went to the University of the East and took up Business Administration, majoring in Accounting (at first), pero pagkatapos ng boring debit and credit for two years, changed her majors to Economics. College life was altogether different. This time, Flor's main barkada and tukayo was also a former Maryan, Elvira, yes, another one, what a curse!), better known as Bing. However, their closeness was short lived kasi umalembong agad ang Bruha (kay Rey Canlas)! Nevertheless, Flor continued to live her college life in full. She joined the Student Government and the Student Council as well. By 1969 she was already a full-pledged sorority sister with Alpha Phi Lambda Sorority whose brother fraternity is the Phi Lambda Pi. Flor also was an active member of the Economics Association where she met five other Economics Major who will turn out to be her closest friends during and after her college years. One of the three guys in the group, Alex Sitchon, would turn out to be THE MAN of her life. Flor was the first and only Miss Sorority Girl of the University of the East which she won, BY ONE POINT (would you believe?) in 1971, prior to her graduation. 

After graduating in 1971, Flor's first job was with Philippine Bank of Commerce, Makati as a secretary to the Assistant Vice President of Branches Department. Without knowing how to type (at least 30 words per minute, may break pa iyon!) and how to take down dictation, she was offered the job. Well, siguro nagandahan at naimpress sa pambobola!! Flor stayed with PBC for four years, getting extensive experiences in the Corporate Planning Office and the Money Market Department as well before being pirated by the Laperal Group of Companies. She was offered the Assistant Manager's job with the Money Market Department of Pacific Shores Capital Development Corporation in 1975. 

One of Flor's major decisions came in March 1976 when she finally said "I don't ..............want to live without you Alex "(corny ano?) and married him at Camp Crame church (kamuntik ng at gun point!). Things seemed to be moving in the right direction for this couple especially when their oldest daughter Maria Benilda was born in January 1977. Alex, at that time, also had a pending application with the Australian Embassy for the position of a Computer Programmer/Analyst. In mid 1977, Flor was promoted to the Manager's position, a dream come true for her. Despite all these good graces coming their way, Alex and Flor felt that they needed a big change in their lives. Their prayers were answered when they received approval for permanent residency to Australia that year. 

The following year, in March 1978, they left the Philippines to explore greener pastures and more opportunities for advancement. Goodbye Philippines, Hello Australia!!! God was so good to their family. Australia was a beautiful, clean and very multicultural country to live in. People are so nice and the beaches are the best!! Alex luckily landed a job with Qantas Airlines and the family, for four years, took advantage of their very, every cheap or no cost airfare benefits (wala nga lang savings dahil pulos travel ang inatupag ng pamilyang ito!). 1982 saw the Sitchon family purchasing their first modest home, in an excellent and peaceful neighbourhood at St Clair. In August 1985, Patricia Louise was born, after 8 1/2 years of full control, control, and more control. However, to make up for lost time, in January 1987, Charlene Mae was born (sabi kasi mag-wi-widraw, iyon pala mag-de-deposit!!). Okey, pagkatapos nitong pangatlo, hands-up na si Flor. That's it! Of course, this is only Flor's opinion! 

The Sitchon family became very much involved with community based projects and activities. Alex and Flor started the chore group which was responsible for the birth of Samahang Kawayan, Inc. in the city of St Clair, which had 350 family members during Alex' term as President for 3 years. Both were members of the Himig Kawayan Choral Group. Flor also became the President of the Lioness Club of Colyton St Clair for 3 1/2 years. The whole time they were in Australia they were able to sponsor both their parents, Flor's only sibling Sonny and his family, and Alex' 2 sisters and one brother and their families, as well. When they all arrived in Australia, Alex and Flor decided to leave.....................due to an job offer that Alex can't refuse! 

Good-bye Australia, Hello USA!! Wow, malapit ng matapos! As I was saying, Alex was offered a job by an outsourcing company in Michigan, then called Complete Business Solutions Inc. This time, it was doubly difficult to decide whether this offer should be accepted or not. Pero since nandito na kami, obvious na siguro ang naging decision namin, ano? Alex left first in October 1994. The rest of the gang followed in January 1995, celebrating our first New Year's Eve na nakasalampak sa sahig sa Detroit Metro Airport. Ang lungkot-lungkot naming lahat. However, Alex made sure that our first day in Michigan is going to be fun. So, nagshopping kami sa Meijer Store na open ng 24 hours. The bad thing about it is during the day, the whole family is sleeping, except for Alex who is at work, and during the night, everyone is wide awake, except for Alex who is sleeping. It took us more than a month to adjust to the new time table. 

A year after the family's arrival in Michigan, they were back to what they loved doing. Giving their time and service (and some money, pera, datong) to the community. Both are active in several Filipino-American organizations, well at least 3 out of 55 in Michigan!!!! Alex was the President in 1998-1999 of the Kiwanis Club of Metro North Troy, a consistent (mukhang lifetime na ata,eh) Board Member of Michigan Circulo Pampangueno and the Recording Secretary for the past 2 years of the Philippine American Community Center of Michigan(PACCM). Flor, on the other hand, has been the Co-Director and Music Teacher of Paaralang Pilipino, an educational project of PACCM, for the past five years. 

Three years ago, the family purchased their first home in Michigan (through proceeds from the sale of their property in Australia) and everyone is happy! They even adopted a wonderful, (very hyperactive too!) black, Labrador mix (of course it's a dog) who is just turning 3 in June of 2001. His name is Jackson (not one of the Jackson 5 though!). So far, he has managed to chew around 6 pairs of shoes, unlimited number of socks, and rather than us walking him, he walks us! Isn't great!!! Well, six years later, the year is 2001, the Sitchon family is happy and contented with their hectic and active lives. Maria just finished her Management Information Systems course from Oakland University and is now outsourced by the Bartech Group to Ford. She is an expert in website development. Patricia is going to be in Grade 11 in September while Charlene will be in Grade 10. Both girls are active and excellent cheerleaders and band members, playing clarinets, at the Mott High School, Warren. Both girls also received the Presidential Academic awards when they finished their middle school at Fuhrmann. Alex is still with CBSI as a Director (parang pelikula), now called Covansys after the merge with various companies in the US. And what about Flor? From hibernating for four years, she has explored the world of mortgage financing for the past two years....... and is loving it!! Alex, Flor, Maria, Patricia and Charlene have been blessed with a lot of things in life. They have wonderful & loving families , understanding relatives, and supportive friends in the Philippines, Australia, and the US. There's always warm (well, microwaved) food on the table, good clothes to wear (nike, etc.etc), and a (leaking?) roof on their heads (kulang na lang ang walls). For all of these, they have the Almighty Lord to thank for. 

The Sitchons, taken last Christmas -  2002    

 One of Flor's major decisions came in March 1976 when she finally said "I don't ...want to live without you Alex. "