Lent

Today is Holy Monday... the start of one of the most holy activities of the Christian world - the Lent. Actually, the Lenten season started way back several weeks ago when Ash Wednesday was celebrated. It was supposed to be the starting point when Christians examine themselves once again, going back to their faith, and understanding that they should be cleansed and be renewed... "for thou art dust, and unto dust thou shall come back..."

In this region, the celebration of this season is very much different from the way it is celebrated back home. Being predominantly Muslim, the place has different activities and different priorities... at least, it is good to see that the minority Christian population still finds time celebrating Lent in the Gulf. Two weeks ago, I received a phone call from a friend who is active in church services. She told me if I can participate in the celebration of Lent by reading some passages from the Seven Last Words in their church. I said yes. It is an opportunity to do some indulgences for the Lord. I know that eventually, what will count is everyone's personal relationship with his creator, no matter what his faith is, or his religion may be. However, taking an active part in the church when you are a Roman Catholic will not do any harm... it will actually do more good for one's relationship with his God...

So, this coming Good Friday, Alice and I, and probably some of our closest friends, will celebrate some important moments in the Church... we don't know if we could come back for the most important celebration of the Easter Sunday, the day being a regular working day in this area, and the church being almost 200km away... nevertheless, we know that by being there on Good Friday, our Lord knows that we are not forgetting him... and I know that he knows we are one of his children too...

River

It's River's birthday today. He's 10 years old this year. As they say, time really flies so fast... I can still remember when River is still a baby and our sole child... Alice and I usually bring him to various activities in the University and our colleagues are just too happy to see him and play with him... Now, River is already in Casa Level 4. He is currently the silver medalist (second honours) in his batch and is slowly getting the momentum to be active in many extra curricular activities. Just several weeks ago, he participated as a member of the school team in the division math quiz... prior to that, he participated in the district spelling and another competition I cannot recall right now...

I would say that River had grown up to be a disciplined child. He may not have the sense of responsibility right now, as any child would in his age, but he has the sense to follow what he's told to do and at least help in some simple household chores from time to time... he makes it a point to do his homeworks by himself (although he usually asks for the help of his mom for some more 'difficult' activities like doing projects and the like). Just like any other child, River is very fond of his yaya, whom he always asks for all the things a normal child would...

Of all the traits of River, the one thing we like most is his habit of reading... he spends most of his time reading - books and magazines, and whatever he likes... He even has a habit of reading some passages from his favorite books before going to sleep. He really likes reading a lot, that when asked what gift he should get - during Christmas or birthdays - he most often than not asks for books. When I go to a bookstore and he's with me, he would always ask me to buy him either a magazine or a book...

River is also, at a young age, a techie... he started using the computer at age 3... learned how to operate it by himself at age 4... and right now, ordinarily use the computer - the Web and the Internet included - in his homeworks, reasearch, and even for emailing and chatting... he doesn't like the mobile phone very much, my daughter Rain being more fond of that gadget than him, but he likes to play all sorts of electronic games there is, from PC games to XBox to gameboy games... he likes everything - from popular arcade games such as text twist to counter strike to world of warcraft, he likes them... most of all, he likes XBox's Halo...

River, just like my two other kids, is a gift for me and Alice... he is a source of our joy and one of our reasons for living (the other two being our two other kids Rain and Ash). He may have some of the mood swings of a typical child, but most of the time he's a kid trying to impress his parents and trying that his parents will be proud of him... we are proud of him... he has done many things to impress us... above all else, whatever he may do, we love him... he is one of our heroes...

Happy Birthday!

Kids, Part 2

My daughter, the second of three siblings who is six years old, will graduate in Kinder 2 next week. She sent me a text message yesterday telling me and her mom that she is the third in the honours list. Of course we were elated. We already know that she will be in the honours list, but getting the message personally from her is another thing. Coupled this with the other fact that her elder brother - our eldest - is currently also the third in his batch's honours list (in Casa Level 4) and the news becomes even much sweeter.

But that is not the whole point of this story. What really knocked us down is my daughter's second text message: she and her 'kuya' wants to have a swimming party. Well, what can we say... the least we can do is grant their request. At least, it will be three celebrations in one party: the graduation, my eldest son's birthday on April 1, and all of them being in the honours list... I was not able to tell, by the way, that my youngest son is also in the top ten in his class.

It reminded me also of another thing... that it is already summer. In the Philippines, it is again the time when everybody goes to the beach and spend some funny and memorable moments there... in the Gulf, well, it's summer most of time... I remember our usual activities during summer: spending a day or two in Puerto Galera, frolicking on the beach and just having some quality time with the kids... it will be a different summer this year with both of us far away from them... but then, if you will think of it, there are still other family members that can celebrate with them... I guess the swimming party that my daughter wants will also be some sort of a reunion - bonding time - for both my family and the family of my wife, since they are the ones to accompany our children to that party...

For both of us, well, I guess we'll just wait for their pictures in email...

Driving Lessons

I passed my first two tests towards getting a GCC driving license three days ago. The tests were about backing up the car - using reverse, that is - and trying to maneuver it on several drums. I also did the slope test - one in which you first will be kept hanging on a slope and check whether you will not back an inch when you start climbing the slope again. It was fun, and even though sad to say, a very different way to get a license from what I experienced in the Philippines. Before the tests, I was doing some practice lessons for the past 1 and 1/2 weeks. I had been driving for the last 16 or 17 years or so already, but my friends here told me that it will be better for me to have some refreshers before going to the actual tests. My trainor, a local man named Khalifa, is a very good tutor and a funny man as well. I had spent some quality hours with him familiarising road and traffic rules as well as the important drum and slope techniques. Well, what can I say? The man really helped and it showed by my passing the first two tests...

Right now, I am still doing some practice lessons with Khalifa. We are now roaming around three times a week for one hour each, Khalifa teaching me all the right parking spaces, one way streets, entrance and exit roads... it will be necessary for the last and the most important test - the road test. Hopefully in the next two weeks I could take that test and pass it as well... and then finally get my GCC driving license.

Alice

Alice is a better half... we began our journey together some fourteen years ago, and throughout that journey, Alice had been a guiding light and a source of strength, especially during trying times... husbands and wives normally experience bumps in their relationships, and with Alice, these bumps haven't been difficult to overcome... I would say that our relationship is excellent, not perfect because there is no such thing as a perfect relationship, but one that you can be proud of... I am proud that all throughout the journey, Alice had been there... I am equally thankful that I have chosen her to be my partner throughout these years...

Alice is a proud mother... and a very good one, too... through the years, we had produced three bright and vibrant kids - all are currently in the honours list. I have seen how Alice nurtured and protected them... and developed them to be very good children and students... I remember the days when I wake up at night and she's still up doing reviewers in school for the kids... I also remember her enthusiasm and commitment to bring the kids outside: walking and playing in the malls, eating in restaurants, visiting parks, during weekends and whenever we have some free time from work... she loves our children very much, but she also makes it sure that they will grow up respectful and disciplined... I don't think there could ever be a better "Mommy" than her.

Alice is the perfect working Mom... notwithstanding her job as a wife and mother, Alice had been a dedicated teacher and an IT professional all these years... she is also a continuous learner, taking masters degrees in IT and e-Learning and is planning to pursue a doctorate degree... Alice is so committed with her craft that sometimes, she stays up very late just to make sure everything will be perfect - her lessons, her course materials, everything. And I admire her for that... there are only a handful of people that can combine perfectly being a mother and being a working woman and Alice is one of them... I have seen her do it when we are still in the Philippines caring for our kids (the situation now is different)... and I am sure she can easily do it when that time comes again...

Alice is a friend... I always think of the reason why our relationship and our family had been this great through these years... and I found out it is because of her - she had been our mediator, our guide, our tutor... she had been the one that bridges the gap when our kids have their differences and also when I quarrel with them (sometimes) ... she had been the 'glue' that is making our family stick throughout this journey... and she is doing it by being a friend to all of us, by always communicating with us and making sure the family members understand each other... Alice is our best friend...

I would say that my (and my kids') journey with this great, beautiful person had just started... and we're very thankful that she's with us in a greater journey called life... there will be more interesting scenarios that will come ahead of us... there might probably be one or two hitches and bumps along the road... but for sure, my kids and I are assured of memorable experiences and the best days of our family life with her...

Happy Birthday!