TODAY, August 8 (8.8) is my special day. This will mark my natal day. This started my journey without a name... coming out almost as an eight-pound baby boy. “Baby Boy Gacad” was indicated in my Certificate of Live Birth.
Fifty-three (53) is now my number. It indicates the number of years of my existence (both significant and insignificant). Five decades and three in. I have no idea how many more years I'll go.
With my hair loss, my heart ailment and an angiogram (I'm glad I didn't go through an angioplasty or a heart bypass even if the doctors recommended it), countless trips to the hospital, several eye injections to treat my partial left eye blindness due to Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO), a bulging belly, a near-miss bout with acute hepatitis B, two surgeries and metal implants for a fracture each on the left arm and right leg, two trips to the intensive care unit (ICU) with blood transfusion, being overweight and seemingly losing the battle to lose weight, a PWG (Person-with-Gout) and a lot, lot more, I am very thankful that I can still write this missive and tell you a very short story about some of the most important people and events in my life.
Thirty-one (31) years in government service, particularly with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Cordillera Administrative Region. I was a fresh graduate of Mining Engineering from Saint Louis University in 1987.
Since it was the Bureau of Mines that sent me to university, I was required to serve government for the same number of years that I enjoyed my scholarship. I have no regrets whatsoever. My public service career has provided for me and my family and I consider myself extremely blessed.
Thirty-one (31) years together last January 19 with my one and only, Dr. Emily Joy Acosta Gacad of Solano, Nueva Vizcaya. We got married when we were both 20, still in university, and both so much in love. I can only look back with awe and thanksgiving at how we managed to “survive.” God is so good. He is faithful to His promises.
Three (3) beautiful children that I am so proud of: Brianne Paolo, Aadra Camille and Earl Jasper. Brianne is now based in Melbourne, Australia while Ate Aa and Jap are with me and Emily here in the Philippines.
Blessings come in many guises that God alone in love devises (Helen Steiner Rice). Our 3 children are our biggest blessings!
Two (2) grandchildren: Caleb Avery Marquis and Sophia Jade. Caleb, 6, is in San Fernando, La Union with his Mommy Aadra while Sophia, 4, is with her Daddy Brianne and Mommy Camille in Melbourne. Now I understand why people say that Lolo and Lola are “closer” to the apos. Caleb calls me Daddy Boboy while Sophia calls me Daddy Brianne's Daddy. They give so much joy to the family and I'm looking forward to more apos.
One (1) life. That's all I have. That is all we have! Let's not focus on what we don't have. Let's be happy with and make the most of what is and what we have.
Thank you for being a part of me and my journey.
“Make your lives a masterpiece, you only get one canvas.” ~ E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly
"There are two great days in a person's life - the day we are born and the day we discover why." ~ William Barclay
"Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen... yourself, right now, right down here on Earth." ~ Bradley Whitford