A celebration of family values

I’ve been writing for most of my career life. But since Day One of my job as a proofreader, I thought I had lost my chance to write again since my main task is to proofread–to spot errors in spelling, grammar and style. Good thing there’s My Favorite Movie section that has given me the opportunity to once again practice my real passion.

At first, I was hesitant to write this article despite the repeated encouragement of my friends in my new workplace for I was undecided about which favorite movie to write about.All the many beautiful films I’ve seen have turned out to be a favorite. But Steve Martin’s latest movie, Cheaper by the Dozen topped them all.The movie stars Steve Martin (as Thomas Baker) and Bonnie Hunt (as Thomas’ wife Kate) who fell in love back in their college years, got married and had 12 lovely children. The Bakers used to reside in a small Illinois town where they led a simple and normal life where everybody shares equally especially in the household chores. But like other parents, Thomas and Kate want a better life for their family, so when the former gets a job offer to coach a college football team in Chicago (where he and Kate first met and fell in love), he gratefully accepts. But when the two excitedly announce to the kids the once-in-a-lifetime offer, the latter are not too happy about the news. Despite the new and bigger home, where everyone has his and her own room, and a better life to look forward to, it seems so difficult for the Baker couple to convince the children because they don’t want to leave the hometown they had grown up in. The only promise the children finally approve of is Thomas’ promise of a happier family.

The couple’s good luck doubles when Kate finally finds a publisher for her memoirs. This though, means she has to be away from home on a book tour. She has to leave Thomas alone to take charge of the kids. A major problem occurrs when Thomas can’t balance his work with supervising the children, so the family starts to break down, leaving Thomas and Kate in a position of having to reevaluate their professional choices. In the end, the couple realizes that a promising career, bountiful income and fame don’t just mean a good life for the family, but time, love and attention still count most.Cheaper by the Dozen is almost a hundred percent comedy, but it indeed, brought tears to my eyes, making me relive the days of my Dad. I saw my family very much in the Bakers. I was moved and realized how my parents worked hard to give us a good life. The only difference is that, neither my Dad nor my Mom got an offer as promising as Thomas and Kate’s, but they were able to send us to school up to our last year in college while keeping their humble jobs. Dad was a salesman and later on, a taxi driver before he died; and Mom, a teacher (until now).I feel how the 12 kids in the movie felt when they were told about moving to a new place for I was in the same situation 11 years back, after my dad’s death. It was a 180-degree-turn in my life when Mom decided to take us back to Manila (where she and Dad first met and fell in love). I was the most affected member of the family because I hated leaving our house full of memories. I never wanted to be away from my friends whom I grew up and shared my ups and downs with; and most of all, I was afraid to face my "would-be" schoolmates in big universities in the city.There were luxurious malls, fun bars and lounges and a lavish lifestyle to look forward to here in the city back then.

But nothing else beat my life in the province–especially the "happy" life spent with Dad. Life in Pampanga was simple and normal. We went to school on weekdays, accomplished household chores equally assigned to us three siblings, and attended the Sunday Mass with Mom and Dad. We would go to our grandmother, Apung Iling’s house for get-togethers with our relatives on weekends– the best days of my life! Like in the movie, where the characters were given a new opportunity to live life for the better, my life in my then new world had an advantage, too. Transferring to Manila fulfilled one of my dreams–to become a writer. I wouldn’t have the chance to take up Journalism if we opted to stay in Pampanga, because the course was not offered in any of the universities there. Writing has created a sense of fulfillment in me–especially when I see my byline (or even just a tagline) issue after issue. I’ve been through a lot here in Manila; I’ve met and dealt with so many people from all walks of life. I may have enjoyed and grown proud to see my name in the different publications I’ve contributed to. But like the message Cheaper by the Dozen has instilled in me, money, fame and luxury are not important, but values, happiness and love for loved ones still matter most.