Modern Day Heroes

"We don't have school on Monday," Gabi reminded me while we were driving to Subic yesterday morning.

"And why is that?" I wanted to know if the teachers in school explained what National Heroes' Day was all about.

"Because it's Heroes' Day. It's the day for heroes like Cory." Gabi proudly replied.

Wow, I thought. Bringing Gabi to watch President Cory's funeral march earlier this month was well worth it after all.

"And who else are heroes?" I asked.

"Ordinary people," he said. "Like policemen and firemen. And like those who bake, those who cook. Like Mommy!"

I was impressed. I liked what Gabi was getting from school. The noble idea of turning ordinary work into something heroic was something worth learning.

"And so who is your favorite hero?" I wanted to be impressed some more.

"Mmmm," he paused in deep thought. "My favorite is Spiderman!"

Exchange Deal

"Your son has good bargaining powers," Gabi's teacher told Patty after class today.

Teacher then went on to narrate a scene she witnessed earlier that morning involving Gabi and a classmate whom we shall call Ely.

Turns out Ely brought a new toy airplane to school today. He showed it to his classmates before the start of class and promised to let them play with it during recess.

As they began filing in to their classroom, Gabi quietly pulled Ely aside and whispered: "Ely, you want to be my best friend, right?"

"Yes, Gabi. I like" was Ely's answer.

"Well, if you want me to be your best friend then you will share your toy with me. Okay?"

Needless to say, Gabi got to play with Ely's plane during recess and Ely now has a new best friend.

This Week in School ...

This week's discussion theme was the family.

It's nice to hear that Gabi thinks of us, his family, as friends. And that we are nice.

And we pray too that God gives you another sibling, be it a brother or another sister. That would certainly be nice.

Kuya Perils

One disadvantage of having your younger college-aged sibling and her friends line up and reserve a seat for you for the big game is that 1) you have no choice but to sit with them and endure all the screaming and endless chattering of youth; 2) you are constantly reminded of your age because everyone is calling you kuya or worse, tito and 3) you have to pretend you understand what they're talking about although you're practically clueless most of the time.

Well, at least we won the game.

Kuya Perks

One advantage of having a younger sibling still in college is that you can have her and her friends 1) buy tickets for the game; 2) line up early to get in first and 3) reserve seats for you in the proletarian free seating section of the coloseum, while you sit pretty in a coffee shop nearby blogging about it.

I love you, Sam.

Happy Birthday, Bela!

Happy first birthday, our dear Bela!

We love you very much!

Papa, Mommy and Kuya Gabi