Bunso’s birthday!

Joshua Rafael Andrei or simply Andrei, my youngest, turned four (4) years old Tuesday, September 2, 2008. We had a simple family celebration last Saturday, August 30 when I came home from a week-long work in the capital. While it was a very modest celebration, I could sense the joy in my son, getting his favorite “ube-flavored” cake and palabok from Red Ribbon, and of course, his dream “dump truck” toy.

Life has been difficult lately, almost since the year started, and having a small celebration is really quite a feat for the kids. Well it pains me a lot that they have to sacrifice so much at such a young age, but the realities of a failing economy is really taking its toll even on supposedly gainfully employed citizens like me.

As a parent, I would like my kids to have some treasured memories of their birthdays that whenever one is approaching, I am almost always apprehensive. I have always prayed to God for provisions, and indeed, He never fails me.

As a “bunso” or youngest child, Andrei is sweet, and I am proud of the fact that he is never a brat. Matter of fact, he is one of a kind, in comparison to other kids of the same age, at least those whom I have observed. While he is “bulol” like his dad when I was the same age, and most of what he says is incomprehensible to me, what I understand is that he talks a lot, understands a lot and is very expressive of what he thinks. This is a very positive sign that he would also grow up just like his siblings, full of ideas, questions and opinions – a sign that he is a bright kid, as would the elders would often say.

Well, all my kids are actually sweet, especially the younger ones. My only surviving girl, Angel shown in photo here with another sweet son, Gabriel is so fond of his “papa” too, and she is a great source of inspiration. Why not, when I have lost her elder sister in 2003 and thought I could never recover? Thank God, that while any child is irreplaceable, I still got another little girl to cheer me up. But it was not a fast or an easy process to go through.


But I have learned that truly one cannot live alone. One has to have some source of strength to draw from – a family. There are no perfect relationships, neither a perfect partner, but there is such a thing called patience, borne out of love.

I am just too glad and apprehensive again, that my only girl is turning seven (7) in October, and I am bound to provide for a good memorable celebration for her reaching a milestone. Right now, everything that’s running in my head is a set of options. Whatever it amounts to, that should be the subject of my next personal blog.