great ordinary happenings

(On this last day of the birthday month, may I post this sequel to the first part, a letter to our son – one of our five gifts from the Lord!)

Dearest Ton, I just like to reminisce on one trait that has helped you succeed in your studies – onward – and that is your being able to listen and follow advices given you, your being obedient! It seems such an old-fashioned word that is not anymore given value by many of the youth today. That is why, we are so grateful to God for molding you as such.

It’s noteworthy to mention here stand-out examples. One: When you were in college, you told us of your plan to be a cadet officer. We talked about it, together with the family, and the counsel to you was: consider your course, being engineering, that would entail much time to study, practice solving problems, and other related activities. You were reminded that soldiering was not your major purpose, that you would only be diverted from your real dream. This would also affect your academics, your scholarship, which was much help to the family at that time of financial stress, when four of you were in college! You listened, and you didn’t proceed with such.

Two: One time you came from school – you were in your fourth year college then – and excitedly you blurted to us that your friends prodded you to run as vice president for the Supreme Student Government (you were then the vice president of the 4th year mechanical engineering class). For the same reasons above, the family opinion against it prevailed. Obedient child as you are, you knew then how to handle the second lure to student politics when in your fifth year (you were the president of the graduating class), you were again invited to be a candidate, this time for the Supreme Student Government top post.

Needless to say, you made it as an honor graduate, at the same time Most Outstanding Student! (Mind you, this did not consider only the grades, but also your extra-curricular activities such as being a C-Cimpel* volunteer, a peer facilitator, campus ministry worker/officer, parish volunteer for math tutorials during summer, etc.) And even got fourth place in the ME board exams, at the time when the national percentage passing was only 18%! How proud we were then – and still are – of you!

Of course, now as an independent married professional, you are pretty much on your own in a far-away land, but I’m sure you still do have a listening ear. The advice this time may come more from your beloved Aileen, or from your siblings when you consult them. This trait also makes you a good leader (you were the AIT Catholic Community coordinator last year, presently the Thailand chapter coordinator of our El Shaddai PPFI Catholic charismatic community) as you are then open to others’ points of view and suggestions.

Life is still a long way for you, but keep up the good that is in you, be a blessing more and more to others, as you are now. Again, a blessed happy birthday! With your Dad, I send you our

Love and prayers,
Mom

*Cebu-Citizens’ Involvement and Maturation in People’s Empowerment and Liberation, a parallel to Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV)

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