Shared Victory

  
I’d almost forgot that today, my brother is going to take his oath. He was so excited to hand in to me the souvenir program given at last night’s thanksgiving dinner at their school.  When we were still kids, and one of us has something to be boastful of, like we won in something, we were awarded with something, we were recognized for something, he brought home a trophy or a medal while I brought home a prized money for something, the achievement of one is oftenly regarded as the pride of the other.  In short, it has always been a shared victory. We never had the same achievements because we excel in an entirely different fields.  If any of us was on-stage, the other would always be proud, always exclaiming… “Kapatid ko yan, huh?! Oo kapatid ako nyan.”  With regards to achievements, there was never any instance that any of us become jealous or insecure of the other.  It has never been part of our lives. We were never taught by our grandparents to be insecured of anyone hehehe.  My Lolo tells us, “Wag ninyong itataas sa ulo ninyo ang medalya, tropeo at palakpak, mas pag-ingatan ninyo ang relasyon bilang magkapatid.”  It has always been the same, when someone shares his or her achievement with the other, it’s like telling, “there’s something added in our list”.  When I saw the Batch 2007 Bedan Examinees and at the center was 2007 List of Bedan Lawyers.  *Naks!*  Now that we’re grown-ups, the manner in which the “giggle and excitement” are shown, are the same as “the giggle and excitement” we had when we’re young.  The only difference is N-o-t-h-i-n-g! 
It’s as if we won a plastic pitcher or a set of plates, glasses and tupperwares in Roleta or 6 bottles of Coke or several packs of Peewee from the “Hagis-Bentsingko sa Square Board” in Perya.  If there’s something I admire about my parents and my grandparents, it’s how they keep us responsible at keeping being siblings our way of saying thank you to them, and one of our means to “pay it forward”.
Oh, before I end this blog, my first time to call my brother at his office.  
S: Kindly tell him, it’s his sister. 
The receptionist felt relieved, I guess.  When I was already talking to my bro.. 
S: Parang hesitant ung receptionist na ipakausap ako sayo.
R: Bakit?  Ano ba sabi mo?
S: Sabi ko pakausap sayo.  Complete name.  Bakit kailangan pa ba may Atty.? 
R: Tange, Oo, Ate.  Igalang galang mo naman ako kahit konti.  It’s just the A-T-T-Y.  Pag wala sa office, ayun pede mo na akong tawaging Obel hahaha.  Di pa nga din nagsisink-in hehehe.
S: Ah Kaya pala nailang ung receptionist sa akin.  Sana’y sasabihin kong Totoy Obel hahahaha.
R: Sige, gawin mo.  Pag ako tumawag jan, sasabihin kong.. pede po kay Ate Obong? Hahaha.
We were just laughing… Para lang kaming sina Obel at Obong noong mga bata pa kami na ang favorite hang-out ay ang masikip na likod ng center sofa… hagikhikan… at pag hinanap kami ni Ina para paluin, uupo lang kami para magtago… hagikhikan pa rin… *hihihihihi*

Congrats, Rovs!