There are several reasons why family reunions are such a big deal in my case. While most of us revel in quiet solitude, I yearn for the wonders of babbling sounds, toddlers tugging at their mom’s dress, and funny antics ready to be showcased any time a little coaxing is done. Reunions are a time to connect with one another and a chance to meet those who will continue the family’s blood line.
The latter, which I would love to talk about, is central to the family’s youngest members. To date, I already have four nephews and nieces. Including Elmo and Faith, my parents have six grandchildren in all. Actually, I’ve been planning to craft a blog entry about each one of them. I find it a uplifting each time I get to hear stories about these little ones, how similar and yet diverse each of them can be.
Something quite funny about the cousins is the fact that they all inherited our infamous troll-like hair. Yung tipong nakatayo talaga at kala mo mga karayom na tutusok nang matindi. All of us have thick manes of hair. Not one of us was born ‘kalbo’. As early as one month, my pamangkins whether male or female can sport ponytails!
Cedric Von aka Bonito is 8 years old. He was second eldest (Elmo being the oldest of them) among the cousins. What I cannot forget about him is his uncanny adherence to new technologies. At his age, he owns several gadgets we mostly find with adults: PSP, cellular phone, PC. The list is growing longer, thanks to his ninong who showers him with gifts. Techie kids have upsides and downsides though. With Bon, I’m afraid he’s becoming somewhat robotic that I can not talk to him straight because he is ultra-busy. On the good side, he does well in his class. Mom Grace and Dad Joey are proud parents to him, year after year, as he reaps honors and medals consistently.
Pamangkin 2 is Ananda Venice aka Anands Kulit. She’s the younger sister of techie Bonito. What her kuya lacked in playfulness & creativity, Ananda compensated well. On the days I’d drop by their house in Sampaloc, she’ll scour my bag for lipstick or make-up kit. She knows how to work flattery to her advantage. A conversation between us would likely ensue this way:
Ananda: Tita Bebet, ang ganda ganda mo. (replete with twinkling pa-kyut eyes). Oo nga, ang ganda mo (this time, eyebrows are moving up and down).
Me: Ows, talaga?
Ananda: May make-up ka? Akin na lang, kasi ayaw ako bigyan ni Mommy!
See. Thats how clever she is. And she’s only 4. Hehehe. Ananda sings and dances like a pro and oh, she makes giling better than the EB Babes or Rochelle Pangilinan. She can recite poems, or do some modeling. Her mom once told me that after being scolded — the latter would invent songs and feign crying! As in, she would hum some lyrics she made up. My sister instead of maintaining her composure, ends up laughing.
Pamangkin 3: Aoi Ymir aka Aoitots turned 1 year old last August. My nephew was born to geeky parents. Nah, just kidding. His mom (my sister) and dad are both DOST scholars. Indeed, Aoi has the making of a scientist too. A hunky-cutie-scientist that is. Now I couldn’t access info about the little boy, he’s cloaked in secrecy at the moment. Lol. My parents were terribly missing him. You see, he’s been with them for quite some time because mom and dad are working somewhere.
The fourth and the youngest of them is Akilah Yzabel aka Khaele (only nine months old). Akilah and her chubby cheeks makes me want to have another baby. I super-super love cute babies! We we’re invited during her Christening last August but I was so busy then.
The last time I saw her was like, May this year? Yay, forgive Tita Bebet’s memory gap.
Family reunions are valuable moments I look forward to, though it doesn’t happen as often as I wish it to be. Kids grow up too fast, before we knew it, they’re already teenagers. In fact, by the time I reach my late 30′s I’ll already have a college student. Faith will be in high school then.
As far as children are concerned, I would like to borrow Bruce Barton’s words: If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm!
Lookie!
Before these kids, there’s us!
From L to R: me (10 yrs old), Marianne (3), Lola, Grace (8), Eric (6)
Us now:
(Grace, moi, Marianne, Eric. All three of us are married except Eric). Pictures of second batch Maki and Shai not included (reserved for future post)
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