Ion Mae Villar
ONE doesn’t need to have incredible super powers to be called a hero, he doesn’t need to stop a moving vehicle to save an old lady crossing the street, nor does he need to rescue thousands of people in a bank robbery. And ultimately, one doesn’t need to sign up to Justice League to be a hero. Heroes exist in real life, although just not like the ones we watch in a sci-fi movie.
Superman’s Christopher Reeve once said that “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”; Amen to that. In my sweet seventeen years in this complex world, I am lucky to have met people, ordinary people who have made the best of what they have and in eventually achieved things far greater than the tangible ones.
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They are six siblings in the family, quite large considering the financial conditions the Filipino family has to face now. But in their time, having a large family, as they say was “uso”. They weren’t born with a silver spoon in their mouths; the things that they wanted, they have to work hard for as their parents couldn’t quite afford things apart from their basic needs. Life was hard then, but they lived it well and made lemonade out of the lemons that life gave them.
Among the six, my papa is the eldest and according to my mom, was a fan of girls during his youth. Then followed Auntie Inday, a second mom to us all cousins. She is the unica hija and well, has yet to meet her destiny. Uncle Andoy is the third and the uncle close to a pastor. He never runs off inspiring words and manages to feed us with spirituality. Next is Uncle Nelson, the General Manager. Despite the success he has reached, he has still managed to remain humble and has kept his feet on the ground.
Uncle Neboy is the greatest prankster and joker among the brood, his laughter is contagious and I seem to have inherited his passion for teasing kids. And the youngest is Uncle Alan, the Judge. He looks like the serious type but could actually crack some jokes.
I never get tired of listening to their stories of pleasant memories in their good old days which are full of wit and mischief. I could barely imagine how they grew mature and responsible through the years but I guess when age catches up with you, you’re left with no choice but act out the lessons you’ve picked up along the way.
They lacked a lot of material things when they were younger, but they were full of life lessons and got an outpouring of love from their parents. They worked hard and well to be where they are now and they deserve no less than great appreciation and salute from their children and our succeeding generation.Their experiences inspire me to do my best and strive harder and although they may usually repeat the same cliches like “Sa amo panahon, wa pa na ...blah blah blah”, I know that I ought to be grateful and appreciative of all their efforts. We are more than lucky now to have been provided a life way better than theirs before, and for that I have truly met my heroes.
My Dad, Four Uncles, and An Aunt --- they are my Justice League.
