Josh

 "Pindot, pindot!"

It's one of the first words my son would utter in the morning with a barney disc in his hand. Most of the time we can't help but submit to his beggings no matter how a good a tv show or a movie we are watching… unless we want to see him like a mad man the whole hour. But what else can we do??? Oh kids…

About a month ago, we notice him running around, uttering some words (sounds like singing actually), and his one hand on top of the other. "Fly, fly, fly…" he says and he would just jump around and running like a drunk. My wife told me that its a butterfly song he saw from barney. The following week, we heard him singing another barney song with his hands up in the air… We realize then how much he likes music. Then he would kiss us after the act, like some actors giving some gratitudes to the audience. Funny…

It amazes me everytime Josh does new things. We first notice his fondness to music when he was just about 6-7 months old. My wife and I would hum the lullaby song together for him to get to sleep… but he would just cry after we stop humming. The following days, we would hear him cooing with us as we humm.

I remember during a jumbo pack tv commercial when he would make his body freeze and his head banging. He really made us laugh that night and the following day, my wife bought some novelty song cds so that he could watch it over and over again. Then we were a fan of Lito Camo.

Just as he hearned to stand, he would dance like my drunk father with only his knees do the bends. That's the only dance step he knew until now, actually. Just bending his knees up and down, his hands clasped or raised, and his feet glued to the floor. "Parang unano..", my wife would comment…

Today is his 21st month and he's learning a lot! At his age, he can do the sign of the cross complete with the uttering of the Holy Trinity and he's so composed inside the church. Says goodnight to his Mcdonalds' toys before he sleeps. He can follow few songs… he would just hum and utter the last word of each line. He shouts "kakyaw!" when he sees manny on tv. He would hide to his mom when he sees cherry gil on the maldita billboard and would say "menang, menang, tatot…" When my wife (or his lolas) scolds him, he would kiss and hug them like bluffing and would say "lab yu" or "sorry"… He would kiss Lela everytime we come home from work… but dislikes Lela sometimes when we are not around… and he now have 10 bags full of tricks!

Just as we thought we see him learn new things each day, we didn't realize how much he has taught us to be the parents that we are today. He just made us so proud of him that we plan more for the future of our kids… and we can't wait for what else he can learn and do tomorrow… and we just can't wait for Lela's turn…

And for another bundle of joy? hmmm…. maybe… who knows?

Simple pleasures

  It's 3 in the morning when I heard Lela cried. It's the usual time for me or my wife to feed her. Since I am quite in control of my time at working hours, it's my task to feed her at dawn. Ella has to take a good rest after a long day at work and long commute. Though sometimes I complain to take a break… Ella will just tell me that she's been taking care of Lela since conception and it's about time for me to take care of her until her 9th month… How smart (hahaha!). I know it's a joke! What else can I do???

Like most dads, I am always amazed about taking care of my daughter. I just thought that she's an angel. It's not that I am being unfair to my first born (Josh). Of course, I love him so much. But the thought of seeing her growing and learning new tricks makes me think that I am cool.

I remember going on her second month that she can't sleep that I had to cuddle her all night. The following night, I had to lie in bed with her in my arms. She slept. Then I realized later on that she just like to sleep that way. That was her first trick and she's still doing it sometimes.

Now, Lela learns to smile and a new trick brewing. Makes me wonder sometimes that she may have known we need her smiles after a long hard day specially with Ella. Adding up the joy that Josh is giving us despite his being terrible most of the time. Wow, it's heaven on earth, I tought. We can just stare at her smiling and all the troubles the day has brought seem to vanish…

I was awaken by her cries 3 o'clock this morning. At first I was pretending I didn't heard a thing and hoping that Ella will take her turns… But the usual happens. I took off and prepared her milk… Lela didn't want a feed. She just smiled like she's pretending that she didnt wake me up.

It was a trick of course… but these simple pleasures give us assurance that no matter how hard life is, everything will go out fine.

Thanks, Lela…

Zagu

Nagtext sa kin si tukog nung isang linggo… "bro dadating si LJ sa sabado…"

Ah si LJ…

Si Lovejoy, kapatid ni tukog. Di ko maalala kung ano tawag namin sa kanya. Isa din sya sa pasimuno ng munting prat namin noon. Naalala ko, sya pala yung nagsketch ng coat of arms ng prat. Medjo magaling din kasi gumuhit si LJ.

Rakista. Naalala ko paborito nyang kanta ang sweet child of mine ng guns and roses. Isa din sya sa nagturo sa amin ng iba't ibang kamunduhan at kalokohan. Magrolyo ng RP, mag hithit ng RP, mamboso, at magkunwari.

Naalala ko, minsan lasing na lasing yung bagong dating na sis namin galing marawi. Lahat kami nasa hostel ni tukog. Syempre, kapatiran. Pinunasan at binihisan namin si sis. Sabi nya, "Bro, asikasuhin at alagaan natin sya para wala silang masabi sa tin…" Sinabi nya yun ng walang dudang kaplastikan… sinagot ko din sya nang walang dudang kaplastikan… Kinabukasan, di nya napigilang sabihin sa kin ang kamunduhang nasa isip nya. Buti na lang daw andun ako… yun din naisip ko… buti na lang andun sya…

Nagkitakita kami ni tukog at LJ kahapon. Inaasikaso kasi ni LJ ang papeles nya pa saudi. Drayber ng bus sa kompanyang pinapasukan ni Camel. Ayun, kwentuhan. Pilit na binalikbalikan ang kahapon. Kantyawan. Tawanan. Nakwento nya ang hirap sa mindanao at ang hirap ng isang ama na mawalay sa anak, at ang pagiging asawa na mawalay sa asawa…

Gaya ng dati, namasyal kami na walang ekstrang pera. Walang pakialam basta magkakasama lang kaming tatlo. E ano bang magagawa namin e gusto ni tukog maglakad.

Dapat daw magpaunlak ako at sa tagal na namin na hindi nagkita. Nadale ako. Isang daan lang ekstra ko pero hayaan na. Bumili na lang ako ng Zagu para sa aming tatlo. Regular lang, walang halong sago. Nabunot ko pa ang dalawang pisong natitirang coins ko. Nasa isip ko, wantutrihin ko na lang yung jip na sasakyan ko papuntang Buendia.

Pero ang mga zagung yun ang nagpahaba lalo ng kwentuhan. Nagpapaikot sa amin sa loob ng mall na di halatang walang pera. Nagpaboko kay tukog sa kanyang corruption sexperience… at sa mga kwento ng samahan na di ko nasaksihan…

Masaya kahit papano. Masaya kahit walang pera. Masaya kahit Zagu lang…