Manong Berting, Our Big Brother

Let me tell you why our Manong Berting was our Big Brother.

Even at a young age, he knew his role as a substitute for our Tatay when Tatay was absent. He helped us with our school problems, helping us with our assignments. He kept us safe from unruly playmates, keeping us company when at work and at play.

Manong was friendly. His group of friends were children of parents of different nationality and state of life. There were children of Spanish descent, the sone of the Chinese owner of the store at our street corner, children of prominent families in the neighborhood.

Love Among Siblings, Peers

With his playmates and friends, he showed his creativity in creating things for their leisure. They had tops, yoyo and kites to play with. They knew how to make use of the things in the environment for their games. Shells, beautiful pebbles, wooden playthings were their playthings. With his group, he was already signs of leadership and what a true friend is. Even after the group reached maturity, they still maintained the bonding they had.

Manong had a charisma with our elders. The elderlies in the family always had a special comment for him. When we grew up, during visits to homes of our relatives, they are always eager to hear him talk on things of concern, current events, family problems & blessings.

Being Big With Love

His being the eldest was no reason for him to have the best. He was thoughtful of everyone especially the elders. He knew what things to avoid so as not to make our Father angry.

He was loving especially to our Lola Tina. When our Lola Tina comments on his behavior, he lifts our Lola TIna and sways her around. He is the one who helps our grandma caring for the pig, Lola Tina fattens up for special occasions. He goes to the neighbors for leftover food for the pig's feed.

Our Manong learned to play the harmonica. He had a sweet-singing voice.

Ours were days when family values were stressed. There were no rambols [street fights] in the neighborhood. Children were at home at Angelus time. Parents were aware of their roles in the home.

Joyful Days

"Simbang gabi" was a happy time for Manong and his friends. They tied strings around their wrists which they dropped below to pull to wake up one another. Attendance at church services was a joyous activity for the group, at fiesta time they participated in contests and joined the procession in honor of the patron saint, Lady of Loreto.

Values We Lived By

Our Manong Berting was a caring and thoughtful brother, loving, gentle and respectful to his elders, and a faithful and dependable friend to his peers. Just like our Father, he had a big heart, a storage of God's love and goodness for us and for others as well. This, he had up to the time when he had a family of his own.

He was one person with a big heart, our Big Brother, Our Maong Berting.

Life With Father

Life with our Father gave us valuable virtues we have carried throughout life. He showed us Christian values through examples in words, and actions.

He was properly groomed most especially at mealtime, very different from what some family members show these days, especially the male, half naked and lousy table manners. A hat was a part of his clothing needs, and a coat (overcoat) when needed.

He was careful with the words he said when reprimanding us, a proper disciplinarian - as to the ways he used to punish us. We only had to look at his eyes and see how he moved his head to know what he wanted us to do.

Remembering Loved Ones

We always looked forward to moments of joy on paydays when he takes us out for lunch for the different recipes from what our Inang Tina prepares, Chinese cuisine at Ongpin, T. Pinpin and other China town eateries, Ambos Mundos & Antigua.

After a long vacation for two months, he makes sure that we will have the needed clothes for our school days. He takes us to Gandara for new pairs of footwear. Saturdays were days of making sure we were tidied up. He gives us hair cuts and nail-trimming.

Tatay taught at San Nicolas Elem. School at night. Before he leaves, he takes dinner with us. But we know that we will always have something to eat when he comes home after 9:00 p.m. San Nicolas Elem. School is located in Binondo, China town.

We enjoy walking to school with our Tatay ahead taking small steps on the way to keep us on time and stopping at street corners when traffic is carried out.

With our Lola Tina, he sends us to venerate the Virgin of Peace and Good Voyage at Antipolo for a nine day pilgrimage. He takes us along to his roots to know our kins at where he grew up at San Miguel, Bulacan and to venerate the patron saint, St. Michael the Archangel, whose feast day is May 8.

Death Ends Life, Relationships of Love Live On

Christmas day was a day for the family to have a reunion with relatives and friends.

He made sure to take us to relatives to greet and pay respect. How happy we were to receive the twenty centavo coins we received from our elders and the pan de sal with a slice of Chinese ham and cups of steaming hot chocolate.

He was with us at study time. We had a family doctor to attend to us when we were sick. He stayed with us to see to our needs.

Tatay knew the importance of education for life. We had good reading materials, dailies to know current events, and books on history, and prayer books for knowing about God.

Values We Live By

When we came home from school, he looked into our bags. We were taught to avoid taking things not ours. Anything not ours has to be returned to the owner.

Ours was a time when children had to listen, we were trained to know, give meaning and understand what our parents wanted us to do to become good, obedient and loving children. We grew up knowing about the value of the family, the need for respect and love for others and above all the love and fear of God.

We praise the good Lord for giving us our Parents and Elders, examples of God's instruments of love.

Bless our Parents & Elders, Lord.

12.1.2006 Looking Toward The Future With Hope Peace and Love

Precious Old Age
Experiences to strengthen one's faith
Happy memories of the innocence of youth
Sweet discipline of caring elders
Sweet secrets of adventurous souls
Opportunities for knowing about life
Moments of grace realized
Few true friends
Strong family ties
Nothing wanting as we face the future with God
God alone suffices.
Do not fear. Mama Mary is near.

Journal II: My Second Journal 2006-2007

Cover Passage:


Memories of good relationships never die if one has shown love with those touched and cherished when together. Develop good relationships with God's creation.

---
Manang at 88, I at 86 - Old in years but young at heart.


Life is Relationships, Death ends life. Relationship lives forever.

01.15.2006 Ang ngayon ay bukas ng nagdaang kahapon

(Apologies for the blurred pictures, just took this via my camera phone..will upload better ones soon)



Where and what am I now?

(the card says: To Ma'am Cruz, Merry Christmas & a Very Happy New Year
From: the LEGARDANS Nena J. Acop, Arlet, Mary Adore Caeg)

In the care of loved ones, relatives and friends, a grateful child of God.

(Nena Acop & Arleta (+) )

Lord - My hands are folded...in supplication. I need your help. I need to relax. I need light, peace. I need calm, courage, and forgiveness.

From you, Lord, I can expect these things. You said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you." You are my Savior, my only hope, my haven of peace. Amen.