My tatay (maternal grandfather) left his Northern Cebu hometown at the age of 12 in search of a better life. With barely anything, he hitched a ride to Cebu City and thereafter became a mechanic. My lolo (paternal grandfather) was the son of a potter who raised him all by herself. When my lolo decided to take courses in education at a local Protestant university, his mother had to go without communion as punishment. My two grandfathers were so alike and so similar in more ways than one. They were both hardworking and industrious. They valued their families over anything, raising their children and seeing them all through college. However, my tatay taught me to be curious of the world that exists outside of my doorstep, to be curious all of the time, and to never be afraid to express an opinion. His trademark Cebuano outspokenness landed him in so many adventures (and even misadventures) but it also earned him respect because even when expressing a contrary view, he always showed respect. On the other hand, my lolo taught me to love books and to never be hasty -- to always think things through. He taught me the value of constant, perfect practice. But at the same time, he also reminded me to take things easy. He loved Frank Sinatra and whenever I play Moon River on the piano, I often close my eyes and imagine him sitting close to me. These two men are my heroes. Whenever I think I cannot read another page or feel too scared of the looming recitations, I think of them and how they should have been the ones in my place if the fates had been kinder to them as they are to me.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 16:38:43 +0000
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