Siblings

A long drive to our hometown, Amadeo, Cavite is one of my favorite trips in life.  Because my brother and I could talk about anything.  And most of the serious conversations in life happened in the four-wheeled old car.

The last time we went home… my brother shared to me…

“Ate, on weekdays, I’ll try to work hard and earn more so that when weekend comes, I’ll get to gather my children and my wife in a lunch out or dinner.  I’ll make sure that Sundays will be a Family Day, from the time they are young until they get old so they will learn to value it and do the same thing when they, too, get a family of their own.”

“How about you, Ate?”

“Mine is simple.  I just want to have a house of my own… that if ever I grow old alone, I have something I can call my own.  A house that I could freely decorate and have the interiors at my own concept.  I’m also dreaming to get a family before… but… right now… it’s no longer my priority at all… not on my list actually.  My days and desire to put up a family is over and gone.”

“When I get rich… you’ll be rich, too.  We’re only two.  I won’t keep the riches to myself alone.  I’ll share it to you.”

I smiled secretly.

“Just be a good husband and a good father.  Manage to be a good lawyer somehow.” 

The best gift that we could ever give to our parents and to our grandparents is to be responsible parents to our future family.  Their long struggle to give us the things we need in life for us to make whole and better persons is one good reason to repay and give value to the good intentions that they had.

My brother is 25 and I am turning 28… I thank my parents and grandparents for leading us the way.  We may not be the perfect children but we struggle not to be bad at all.  We managed to be of greater use by the society.

And I thank them, first and foremost, for inculcating in us, the fear and respect… that in our attempt to do bad… we think of them… I always see the mad face of my Lola shouting at me…

;-)