Roles

Saturday, February 11, 2012

FOR those who care, I celebrated my 53th birthday last February 8. I had a quiet birthday as in the case in most of my birthdays. I had lunch with Chona and two of my Titas to a buffet. I asked Raphael if he wanted to join but he said he was busy. I also invited a cousin but she said she had a prior appointment. The lunch was a pleasant one as it is usually with those Titas of mine. There was laughter and bantering amidst good food.

In the evening, Chona and I visited the church. Then it was off to dinner at a Japanese restaurant along Torres. This time Raphael was with us and we had a quiet dinner. There was a surprise for us that evening as Raphael told us that he was elected president of his law organization.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

Starting young I thought, good for him! Gabo also had good news but that will have to wait and Migoy was still his rambling self at Facebook! After dinner, Eps had to go back to class so that left Chona and me. We went to this Japanese store in the vicinity and just looked around.

With nothing else to do, we decided to go home but on the way, my precious wife said that she wanted halo-halo. So off, we went to Damosa where she had her fill of halo-halo. I did not eat; I just went around and looked at DVDs and other things.

When we got home, we decided to watch a movie. We did. After a few minutes, I heard that famous phrase “antok na ako.” So the movie was stopped and it had to wait for the time when my wife is not antok.

I looked at my Facebook account and I was flooded with so many messages and greetings! (I am popular, as you know! Hahaha!) Anyway, I started reading the messages and I was quite struck at the diversity of people who greeted me. We, as persons mean, many things to people and in my case, it was really interesting.

I am a relative. A lot of cousins, nephews and nieces, titas and titos greeted me. They teased and kidded me with the usual age thing.

I am a friend. Or at least I think I am. Friends from all over and who come in different ages and sizes and lengths said happy birthday. Some of them I have not seen or heard from since time began! Ah the joys of social networking!

I am a teacher. Former students wrote on the wall. Students from all over: England, the States, the Middle East, Australia and other places. Students of mine who have been lost in the passage of time suddenly are found in their messages and greetings.

I am a teacher, part two. Colleagues of mine, my partners in teaching also greeted me. Needless to say the messages came from all over. Australia, the States, Bangkal, Manila and Matina! My co-teachers that I remember with fondness and pride.

And, of course, even if there was no need to, greetings from my children. They think I am a cool! I am a husband and a father. But that day would not be what it was without my wife, Chona. I really do not have to say anything more.

Yes, we are many things to many people.

We play our roles that we were meant to do. We are true to the roles of our lives because that is where we find the worth of our lives. That is where we find meaning. And purpose.

I know that the friends that we have are mere reflections of the kind of persons we would like to be. Look at your friends and you see a reflection of yourself. Look at your family and see the reflections.