A cheerful man. That’s my first impression of my uncle and godfather, Edgardo “Ninong Eddie” Samaniego. Since a child, I have seen him crack jokes during family reunions to the enjoyment of everyone. There was no dull moment with him!
He also ‘created’ words that would surely confound anyone hearing it the first time. Hence, “tuwalya” (towel) becomes “dwalakaluk”, “tanim” (plant) changes to “nemtes”, “pera” (money) transforms to “raspis”, “katulong” (housemaid) turns into “longkatus”, and “kainan” (eating) converts to “eskus”. Incidentally, he calls his wife “durleng” (darling)!
This jolliness isn’t superficial though. It is not confined only in jokes and coined words. This happiness goes deeper into Ninong Eddie’s persona. His “pagkamagarbo” (lavishness) and compassion to others would attest to this. My siblings and I are indebted to him and Ninang Aida (his beloved wife) for becoming our surrogate father and mother when our parents went abroad. Apart from that, their tandem has always made any family reunion held in their house (when they were still in Kawit, Cavite) a success. For indeed, how can one be really generous and compassionate if one isn’t happy at all?
I am deeply touched by the stories related to me as to how he helped his parents earn a living. Times have been tough then, yet these didn’t deter him from pursuing his dreams. By being industrious and focused, he managed to face challenges head-on. I would like to think that the inner happiness he has in his heart inspired him to surmount what may seem insurmountable. For how can someone have the passion to pursue dreams if he isn’t happy to do so?
Ninong Eddie can be strict at times. When he wants you to stop being silly, he won’t utter a word. Just a look from him should be enough to warn you. He can also be impulsive like what happened many years ago when Philip (his youngest) and I lost the money change when we bought some hot bowling (that’s the shape of the bread hence the name) in a nearby bakery. When he learned about this, he was cursing which brought many tears to me and Philip. Yet before the night ended, he humbly approached us to apologise. He even hugged us (which drew more tears from our eyes; Ninong Eddie’s included). That made me respect him more. Which made me think: A happy man is a humble man! Eventually, as a Dominican priest once said in his homily, a happy man is a holy man!
Heartfelt greetings on your 80th birthday today, Ninong Eddie! Thank you for being such a loving uncle to us, for providing that father-image when we needed it, for being such a cheerful person whose happiness has surely been passed on to the many lives you have touched! Stay happy!
May God bless you always!
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Friday, August 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Happy all the time!
“Happy” has always been the adjective used to describe an occasion like “Happy birthday” or “Happy anniversary”. You wouldn’t hear people say “Merry birthday” although strangely we oftentimes say “Merry Christmas”.
“Happy” or happiness is deeper and richer in meaning than “merry”. Being happy involves more of the inside than the outside.
While eating lunch last weekend, I read an article from Life Today (“Happiness is within us”; Sept 2009) written by Sr Catherine Cruz, OP, a Filipina Dominican nun currently based in Korea. In her write-up she shared her experience of doing missionary work in a foreign land. What kept her focused in her work in Korea, amidst the culture shock and other challenges, was her decision to happy. She encouraged readers to always stay happy even when there are so many problems.
I read this piece with interest, but my interest got more intense towards the end of the article when the nun recalled someone who was “married to a rich man’s son as payment for her family’s debt”. Similar to what’s in a telenovela like that of Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz in "Maging Sino Ka Man" - the woman came from a poor family and got married to a Mama’s boy who didn’t love her. You would have a feeling that the marriage is doomed from Day 1. But this woman decided not to be miserable. “She made a firm decision to be happy…” by doing the following:
1. She told herself, “I will be happy by loving myself.”
2. She lived simply.
3. She lived up to her title as “Wife and Mother”
4. She was patient and forgiving towards herself and others
5. She trusted in God.
Sr Catherine wrote that this woman recently celebrated her 75th birthday, describing her as a “fulfilled wife, mother, and grandmother”. Her husband, seeing how his wife conducted herself, had a change of heart – he loved her very much and confessed to the nun that he only had one prayer: that both of them die together. Five months after the woman’s birthday celebration, both died when their bus fell into a deep ravine on their way to Baguio. Both died “embracing each other”.
“Choose to be happy” is an advice that I always tell my friends and loved ones. It can be a struggle, but if the woman in the story made it so can we! Let's follow her good example as shown on the five points above.
As I turn 36 tomorrow, I thank the Lord for guiding and strengthening me all the time. I thank too my loved ones (my wife Nidz and our daughter Chiara most especially), friends, and colleagues who have been there for me through thick and thin. May happiness be with them all wherever you go!
Here’s to more happy years ahead!
***
I cannot celebrate my life without mentioning another person whose birth to eternal life coincides with my natal day. Lola Piling, as I have written before, was not only my paternal grandmother; she was also the physician who assisted Mama in giving birth to me that fateful Monday afternoon 36 years ago. She was really a helping hand to us when she was here. I remember when we would hear Mass at the St Rita Hospital Chapel, she would always mention people who asked her for prayers during the Prayer of the Faithful (which she used to read; Lolo Paul does the Mass readings). On my birthdays then, she would say a brief prayer for me - her eyes gazing on me as she utters those words of supplication. I'm sure she'll be a powerful intercessor now that she is with God. May the good Lord bless her soul!
***
Happy 1st wedding anniversary to Jim and Kristina Budney on the 23rd! May God who called you to this vocation continuously inspire you to share that love with each other and with the family that you will be building in the future.
“Happy” or happiness is deeper and richer in meaning than “merry”. Being happy involves more of the inside than the outside.
While eating lunch last weekend, I read an article from Life Today (“Happiness is within us”; Sept 2009) written by Sr Catherine Cruz, OP, a Filipina Dominican nun currently based in Korea. In her write-up she shared her experience of doing missionary work in a foreign land. What kept her focused in her work in Korea, amidst the culture shock and other challenges, was her decision to happy. She encouraged readers to always stay happy even when there are so many problems.
I read this piece with interest, but my interest got more intense towards the end of the article when the nun recalled someone who was “married to a rich man’s son as payment for her family’s debt”. Similar to what’s in a telenovela like that of Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz in "Maging Sino Ka Man" - the woman came from a poor family and got married to a Mama’s boy who didn’t love her. You would have a feeling that the marriage is doomed from Day 1. But this woman decided not to be miserable. “She made a firm decision to be happy…” by doing the following:
1. She told herself, “I will be happy by loving myself.”
2. She lived simply.
3. She lived up to her title as “Wife and Mother”
4. She was patient and forgiving towards herself and others
5. She trusted in God.
Sr Catherine wrote that this woman recently celebrated her 75th birthday, describing her as a “fulfilled wife, mother, and grandmother”. Her husband, seeing how his wife conducted herself, had a change of heart – he loved her very much and confessed to the nun that he only had one prayer: that both of them die together. Five months after the woman’s birthday celebration, both died when their bus fell into a deep ravine on their way to Baguio. Both died “embracing each other”.
“Choose to be happy” is an advice that I always tell my friends and loved ones. It can be a struggle, but if the woman in the story made it so can we! Let's follow her good example as shown on the five points above.
As I turn 36 tomorrow, I thank the Lord for guiding and strengthening me all the time. I thank too my loved ones (my wife Nidz and our daughter Chiara most especially), friends, and colleagues who have been there for me through thick and thin. May happiness be with them all wherever you go!
Here’s to more happy years ahead!
I cannot celebrate my life without mentioning another person whose birth to eternal life coincides with my natal day. Lola Piling, as I have written before, was not only my paternal grandmother; she was also the physician who assisted Mama in giving birth to me that fateful Monday afternoon 36 years ago. She was really a helping hand to us when she was here. I remember when we would hear Mass at the St Rita Hospital Chapel, she would always mention people who asked her for prayers during the Prayer of the Faithful (which she used to read; Lolo Paul does the Mass readings). On my birthdays then, she would say a brief prayer for me - her eyes gazing on me as she utters those words of supplication. I'm sure she'll be a powerful intercessor now that she is with God. May the good Lord bless her soul!
Happy 1st wedding anniversary to Jim and Kristina Budney on the 23rd! May God who called you to this vocation continuously inspire you to share that love with each other and with the family that you will be building in the future.
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