Maxyne, My Granddaughter

CEBU, Philippines - When my wife and I first saw the tiny baby, she got peeved when I told her, "Our granddaughter is more beautiful than you are." She quickly retorted, "If her grandma were not beautiful, you would not have been able to see your beautiful granddaughter."

Little Maxyne's first query came when she entered our bedroom for the first time: "Why are there so many pictures of saints in your room, Lolo?" My simple reply was: "Ayawat na lang nga mag-santos sab ko, Max." (I'm hoping that someday I too will become a saint.)

She is now in Grade Two at Ocaña Learning Center, Inc. (OLCI). She has memorized the answer to the question why we have a school. It's a rhyme in Visayan: "Kun si Lolo di pa daginutan, Wala unta kami eskuylahan." (If grandpa did not practice economy, there would not have been any OLCI.)

Whenever a family member fails to say, "Thank You" or to respond, "You are welcome," Maxyne would remind that person to be grateful for the favor/gift or to acknowledge the gratitude expressed, as the case may be.

As the family is about to partake of a meal, I would make a request to her containing five words starting with letter "P": “Please lead the Prayers, Precious, Pretty, Princess Maxyne.”

Her name is derived from the Latin "maximus, maxima, maximum" meaning "greatest." She is our first grandchild, but her dad gave her that name in preference to "primus, prima, primum" which is Latin for "first." Her father knows some Latin because it is one of the subjects offered at Don Bosco Missionary Seminary, Lawaan, Talisay City where he graduated from high school, "Best in Conduct."

What I wrote in my book "I Laugh Only" (p. 25, first par., second sentence) about our three children Gusen, Dolly, Liebe can be said about our first grandchild: "With Maxyne around, there never is a dull moment at home."

She turns seven on Sunday, July 13. The whole family wishes her a very "Happy Birthday!" This girl makes our every day is a happy celebration.