Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Reliving the spirit of Ohana.
If there's one thing I've been missing out on since college life started, it's being with family. Sure, Papa Boy and the Asidos are just about a hundred and seventy steps away. But no hugs could be tighter and warmer than those your mom, dad, and siblings give.
For me, sembreak wasn't just about going out or lazing around or spending the whole day online. Sembreak meant going home to Dagupan City and enjoying the company of my family. (Meeting up with old buddies is still second best.) Nevermind if Girlie talks too much. Nevermind if my parents would only allow me to go on Alvin-free gimmicks. Nevermind if Gabo's the newest alaskador in the family. (I can't believe that kid just dethroned me.) Nevermind if Aldrich tends to nag too much but doesn't take criticism lightly. Nevermind if we're all just too different. When we have fun, we own fun.
I'm glad we were finally complete this Undas, which I call Halloweek. I so looked forward to spending time with each member of the family. Believe it or not, I missed arguing with my parents even over petty things, nagging my siblings, helping clean up their vomit, splitting a chocolate bar (which I got used to having to myself for quite a while, hehe) into four (or worse, six)... in short, I missed looking out for these five other people who make up my ohana.
Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.
I'm lucky to say every member of my family has lived up to the very idea of this Lilo and Stitch quote since Day One. Every kid always gets a bag of candy--Chesca still included, of course. When my parents shop, every kid gets something. On family trips, nobody gets left behind. And I mean always.
My siblings and I, despite our five-to-four-year age gaps, remain close. (Well, we've gone through drastic measures to control our tempers, you know.) It's funny how my eight-year-old brother and my seven-year-old sister could laugh with Ald and I about the dramatic fights we've had before. Recently, we looked back on a certain scenario two years ago that starred Gabo. I was on the other line and called our PLDT number. Then answered Ald, who was briefed to ride along with whatever I would say to make Gabo cry.
*phone rings*
Me: Hello, ito ba yung bahay ni Dr. Sumilang?
Ald: Ha? Ay, opo. Bakit po?
Me: Ahh, ito si Mrs. Reyes, ang tunay na ina ni Gabo. Pwede ko na ba siyang kunin?
Ald: (makes voice louder for Gabo to hear clearly) O, MRS. REYES! KUMUSTA NA? KAYO YUNG TUNAY NA INA NI GABO DIBA? GUSTO NIYO NA SIYANG KUNIN? SUUURE, NO PROBLEM!
Gabo starts crying and shouting, HINDI AKO AMPON! SI MAMA AT PAPA ANG TUNAY NA MAGULANG KO!
Also recently, we decided to make fun of that Reyes incident. We made up some last names of our tunay na magulang. So now we're Chesca Cruz, Aldrich Lopez, Gabo Reyes, and Girlie Santos. (How extraordinary last names, don't you think? LOL.) Here's another drama from one of Gabo's and my fight:
TO;CHEZ
FROM: GABO
SIGURADO AKO NEVER MO NA AKO MAGIGING LOVE YOU HATE ME PATAYIN MO NA AKO BUKAS O KAYA PAKUHA MO NA AKO KAY REYES
A DRAMA BY: GABO REYES
And as for my parents, though it's another story (Read my other entries for hints. LOL.), they're pretty much amazed on how creatively the four of us bond from making up last names of our true parents to playing silly games on roadtrips to getting carried away and singing the same song together with feelings. They must feel lucky to have weird kids too.
Everybody loves seeing a happy family. And I love being in one.
