A parent's sacrifice

It is Holy Week, and thousands of Filipinos are already planning where to go and what to do during the upcoming holiday break. While many are planning to go for much needed R&R at sunny beach resorts or cooler summer destinations (Baguio or Tagaytay, anyone?), still many are choosing to take this time to reflect on the real reason behind the holidays, or shall we say, “holy-days.”

Being the parent that I am, I choose to reflect on the sacrifices that we, as parents, and our parents before us, have made – in an attempt to make the difference in the lives of others, specifically the children who have been entrusted to us to love and care for.

Imagine the sacrifice of the father who endures months of loneliness on a ship far away at sea just to earn good money for his family, or maybe just to save up enough money for his little boy’s heart operation.

My cousin Liway’s husband, Nelson, chose to work abroad because their son Lysander of www.welovelysander.blogspot.com needed open heart surgery.

Or the sacrifice of the mother who always says “goodbye” to her children in tears as she goes into the departure area for her flight to another country, where she will, ironically, be taking care of someone else’s children so that her own kids will have a brighter future.

Think of the sacrifice that the parents of those OFW parents have to make as well. In their golden years, they still have to deal with dirty diapers, toddler tantrums and teenage angst, this time around from their grandkids. All because their children seek greener pastures for the betterment of their grandchildren. (Indeed, what in the world would we do without the lolos and lolas and their loving apo-stolate?)

Our kids with their doting, selfless Lolo Mon and Lola Tita. (December 2009)

How about the parents who choose to try their luck in the city, leaving their little ones behind in the care of relatives sa probinsiya? Don’t you think that they also deal with their own little heartbreaks, wondering if their children are being taken care of properly?

Let's not forget the dads and moms who work ungodly hours at call centers, media and entertainment agencies, and the like, depriving themselves of sleep and precious time with their kids, for the sake of giving their kids the basic necessities in life (my Kuya is one of those dads!). Or those who risk life and limb for a living (think: policemen, firemen, soldiers, etc) not just to ensure the safety of their children, but of the entire community. Also, the unsung heroes of their families: the farmers, the fisher folk, the labanderas, the door-to-door salesmen... the list of jobs that parents take on to support their families goes on and on.

He works hard for the money! My brother, one of the most hardworking dads I know. He is an awesome dubber, voice talent, director and scriptwriter too!

I also honor the mothers who have unplanned pregnancies, yet choose to keep and care for their babies. Or, in some cases, choose to give birth to them, then give them to people who want to be parents but cannot be ones biologically.

This beautiful photo of a five-month-old baby in his mother’s womb reminds me about how precious the gift of children is.

This leads me to also reflect on the sacrifices made by adoptive parents, who choose to care for other people’s children as their very own, considering them as their own “flesh and blood” even.

Consider too the sacrifice that our own parents made for us, long before we even had the slightest desire or plans to become parents ourselves. How they worked hard to put us through school, and give us the best life that they could give us.

But most of all, this special blessed week, when we celebrate what is actually the BIGGEST event in the life of the Church (Easter!), let us remember the Father’s great Sacrifice, beautifully portrayed in this symbolic video.

Here’s to a blessed and meaningful Holy Week for us all! And advanced Happy Resurrection/Easter to all Unblogged readers!