A Persistent Grandma

What happens to a hardworking civil servant after forty (40) years of incessant dedicated public service as an elementary school teacher? The law says one must retire and enjoy the rest of your life pampering your grandchildren. Well, I'm talking of my Mom. On November last year, she passed on the baton to somebody else whose joints don't ache yet. She was the Odiongan South Central Elementary School District Supervisor as inscribed under her name "IREJEAN M. FAMERO" in a marble ornament sitting flat on her desk.

With all those enormous workload gone instantly, Mom can't help but train her eyes on things she has been raring to do - renovate our dilapidated house and play around with her grandchildren.

Just five (5) months ago, Barjae Miguel was born. He was my second child and one of only three male grandchildren in the burgeoning Famero family. Though seen only a few times, my Mom developed a strong affinity to Barjae. She has been very persistent in asking Happy, my wife to let her bring Barjae to the province so that she can take care of him even for just a short while. Persistence and patience are great virtues and they give excellent results. We eventually gave up our reluctance. And on March 26, 2010, we set sail back to Odiongan together with Karylle, my eldest, Nono and Prince John, my brothers and of course, the persistent Lola.

It was such a happy moment to be able to come back again to your native town, enjoy the company of your old neighbors, savor the fresh easterly wind at the beachfront and most of all, the warmth of your family celebrating your rare visit.

And the dilapidated old house? It's great to see it has been refurbished. All because of a persistent Grandma.

A Refreshing Start... Again

Here I go again! I have to say to myself, "Congratulations, Bar. You made it! You managed to pull yourself again to visit The Graveyard Shift!"

Actually, it's very true. I have been raring to once again write an article but never found time. It's a great hurdle, indeed, to make time.

Great things happened in my absence. Let me count (the blessings) the highlights which stayed off due to my hibernation.

First, I am now a daddy twice. My second child is a healthy, handsome and richly endowed boy. (I think I will be in for numerous girly problems in the future. Things I never experienced in my adolescence because I was a "good boy".)

Second, the yard for the table tennis has been set up by our homeowners association. It's not a very good place but will surely satiate our desire to start a weekender activity where we can all shed pounds and sweat. It's great to know that there are professional table tennis players in our neighborhood. It serves more than render a trimming to your physical body but also to connect and to get to know newfound friends in the block.

Third, Pacquao wins again! I was right in my prediction that the Pacman will prove them all wrong. His winning streak is surely unprecedented - class after class, division after division in ten years. Morales now thinks that he is the best among these fallen legends as he was he last one to pull a win from Pacquiao. I'm really proud of what Manny did (and does). It makes me proud to be a Filipino.

What else? There are other things but those can wait. Just happy to be back. For now...