Blessings

The master of ceremonies called his name: Nikkolo Reginald Matira Tenorio. He went up the stage, took a bow and shook hands with the school officials who handed him his college diploma. He walked down the stage as he trained his sights to where his family members were seated in the gallery of the PICC. From his vantage point, they appeared small to him for they were seated very far from the stage. But in Nikko’s heart, he knew they were the biggest reason why that moment he shone.

When Nikko, my eldest nephew, finished a degree in Hospitality Management recently at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Intramuros, Manila, he knew by heart that he was a product of his family’s kindness. He put meaning to his diploma by making a mental note that it was a meaningful symbol of and an enduring testament to loving kindness of his family.

Nikko is the eldest son of my elder brother Gadie and my sister-in-law Alma. When he was about to enter college four years ago, his parents knew that even with their combined earnings (Ate Alma is a public school teacher and Kuya Gadie is a factory worker) they would not be able to afford their eldest son a good education. I lovingly volunteered to shoulder Nikko’s tuition while his parents took care of his daily allowance and transportation fare from Cabuyao to Intramuros. If I had more, I would surely have made Nikko’s college life more comfortable.

Helping Nikko be able to help himself surely does not earn me bragging rights. Don’t get me wrong. But like Nikko, I was also a product of loving kindness of family members.

My opportunity now could have not been mine if it were not for my eldest brother Ronnie. After Kuya Ronnie finished high school, he was offered by our aunt to go to college and pursue his dreams. Our parents were farmers and though they had the means to put food on our table, they did not have the extra income to put their five children to college. Kuya was tempted to take the offer but he decided to forego of the beautiful future that awaited him and instead worked as a factory worker in a brewery company in Cabuyao. He wanted to work so he could contribute in the family’s kitty. He wanted to work at an early age of 17 because he wanted to make sure that his four younger brothers would be able to at least finish high school. To this day, he never regretted having to pass up an opportunity that was solely his.

My Kuya Gadie, who was good in Math, also decided to work at the same brewery after high school. He, too, got an offer to go to college or a vocational school but he opted to help the family by becoming a factory worker.

My two elder brothers thought that with their combined earnings, they would be able to provide for my allowance in college. I passed the UPCAT, was given a full scholarship, and dreamed a dream.

My younger brother Odick joined in this caravan of courage of making sure I would be able to accomplish my own dreams that he unselfishly passed up his own chance and, like our two Kuyas, became a factory worker, too. It is because of them that I have high respect for factory workers. I have always been proud of my brothers. In my books, they have already earned their PhD degrees in generosity and love for family. (Later on, we all had the happy opportunity of sending our youngest brother Rod to college. He is now a public high school teacher.)

With the generosity of the state that paid for my tuition and the kindness of my brothers who made sure I would have money to pay for my dorm or buy a pair of Tretorn or Dragonfly shoes, I was able to finish college.

When I went up the stage during my graduation in UP Los Baños, I told myself that I would make it better in life because I would continue the cycle of kindness in my family. If I would not be able to convince my brothers to go back to school, I should be able to convince myself that I would be able to send all their children to good schools. God has been good all these years that I have never broken my promise to myself and to my six nieces and nephews.

Just recently, we had three graduates in the family — Nikko from Letran Manila (who is also the SK chairman in our barangay); Paula from Canossa High School (youngest daughter of Kuya Ronnie and Ate Josie); and Gabby, the school valedictorian at Gulod Elementary School (eldest daughter of Odick and Arlene). Sending them all to school poses challenging moments sometimes but the Guy Up There always remains faithful to me, to us. I will never get tired of helping them help themselves carve their future. My nieces and nephews are proof to me that my life matters in this world. They are the reasons why I start the day early. I always wake up with a thankful heart because I want to be happy when I begin the day as a blessing hunter. I hunt for my family — it’s a badge of honor that I will always happily carry with me. 

Family is everything to me. When people do not understand why I need to send my nieces and nephews to school, I look at them straight in the eye and say: “Why not?” They don’t know the extent of sacrifice my brothers went through for me to realize my own dreams. Sending my brothers’ children to school is the least I can do to pay them back for making me a scholar, a recipient of their unselfish love.

During Nikko’s graduation at the PICC, Kuya Gadie gave me a big hug. No words were said. His eyes glistened in joy. He was happy. He was very happy. The dream he did not pursue was the reality that was happening in front of him as he watched the proceedings of his son’s graduation. When Nikko took a bow on stage, I thought I saw my brother take a bow too, in salutation, in gratitude. He was happy. He was very happy.

After the commencement rites, Nikko went up to me, kissed my hand and gave me a tight embrace. “I will never be able to repay you, Papa Büm,” Nikko whispered to me. “But I promise to do good in life because I also want to help the family and I want to take care of you when you’re old and gray.”

My brothers and I are each other’s blessings. I consider their children as the extension of heaven on earth. We all dream together. Our hearts find peace and contentment knowing that we have each other’s back in challenging times. The more we count our blessings, the more meaningful our lives become.

(For your new beginnings, e-mail me at bumbaki@yahoo.com.

I’m on Twitter @bum_tenorio. Have a blessed Sunday!)