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.