Human behavior suggests that people are “hard-wired" to retaliate when they have been hurt by another person. Our pride or self-esteem is injured. Our expectations or dreams are disappointed. We lose something very valuable to us. We want recompense for the damages.

Dear Ate Zenie,

I am writing about my seaman husband, Ralph. I have no problems with him since he is a responsible husband, faithful and a good provider. My only complaint is that he doesn’t tell me whenever he sends money to his parents.

Dear Ate Zenie,

Just call me Melay and I am 21 years old. Jong has been my neighbor since we were in high school and he started courting me a few weeks ago.

Dear Ate Zenie,

I am a mother to two boys and one girl. My eldest son is 15 and is in junior high school while my younger son is 13. My daughter is 10 years old. I have known all my sons’ friends because we live in one neighborhood. But lately, I notice that my eldest son is going out with new sets of friends.

Dear Ate Zenie,

I am a seaman and this is my first time to be at sea. I will be away for six months before I can go back to the country. And then, I will be away for two years on my next assignment. Aside from my wife, I will be leaving my 4-year-old son and a 15-month-old daughter.

Dear Ate Zenie,
I'm 27 and still single. I have a male friend and we’ve been good friends for almost 6 years now. Two years ago, I worked in Taiwan and we didn’t get in touch. I came back to Manila this year and a common friend gave me his cell phone number.

Dear Ate Zenie,

Hi, my name is Amy and I am 20 years old. My ex-boyfriend broke up with me on February 2001. He said he was in love with another girl.

Dear Ate Zenie,

Randy is a close friend of mine. We were classmates in high school. He became a seafarer first and then later, I joined him and now we are together in one ship. Randy was the one who helped me. We are deployed together and we became close friends.