Myla Katzav

I met Haim in 1998 while working at the Marketing Dept of a hotel in Manila.  He was looking for his friend from the Purchasing Dept and ended up in my room.  So I brought him to his friend and it started it all….not romantically though.  Haim was a young good looking rich foreigner who had the world under his feet: beautiful classy women, nice apartments in Makati, a big bike, a high position at work, parties every week and a society that bends to all these.  I was just a few years out of college, I had my own small circle of wonderful and beautiful friends, living in my dad's apartment, driving a car dad gave me, eating out almost every night, a regular position that pays well..regular in a society that sees me as well….regular.

Our worlds do not seem to fit and yet our paths crossed so that we wil be here, right now.  Ours is a different love story and its not for the movies because it cant be told in less than 2 hours. I will not even try to write about it here.

In the midst of a chaotic youth lured by a materialistic and selfish world, Haim and I found each other and grew up together first out of nothing then, gradually and amazingly found ourselves changing for the better and for each other. We experienced a series of downfalls which at times left us flat on the ground. I have to say it but we became better persons because of each other.

I'll tell you what I have become because of him.  First of all, I have come to love God truly and this brings so much peace in my life. I realized that the secret to love is really to give without expecting anything in return and if you do this without any other intention, you come out of it whole.   I have come to love my family more:  He made me see the beauty of spending time with family, talking to my brothers, sharing myself with them.  I have come to terms with my young selfish, insensitive self and hope that in the last few years, I was able to make it up to all my loved ones. I have lost a lot of friends but kept only those who really see me just like Haim sees me. 

I'll tell you what Haim became.  First of all, he found his way back to God.  He became prayerful, forgiving, understanding, patient and loving.  He started helping people in need and feels good about it. He still has his faults but believe me, a lot of it has been worked out well and still  are being worked out.  He loves me everyday.  My state of being happy or sad defines his moments.  He's got fewer friends and kept those only who saw him for him.  He became a better son and brother and I like seeing him this way.

Finally, let me tell you what we have become because of them.  We pray from the heart and most of our prayers don't start with "please" but "thank you". We live a much simpler life that is not anymore defined by expensive material things.  We see money in a different way, not anymore as "The Tool" to define us and be accepted by society but just one factor to go through our days and that of our children's future. We take our jobs seriously.  Our friendship grew hundredfolds that we understand each other even before an idea crops in.  We are more courageous when it comes to facing our problems and instead of turning our backs on it, we face it now.  We are not afraid to be different or to make decisions outside the norm. We have each other and that is what is important.

We have become selfless because we have finally found the meaning of life and these are Rachel and Ben.