baon / "bawn"

me and my relatives had a little get-together today in memory of my grandmother's death anniversary.. i think its been 24years already.. so everyone was here at home for luncheon.. lots of FOOD.. we were all in baboy mode kanina.. hehe.. ;)

around 4:30pm we went to the cemetery and visited our loved ones "puntod" i forgot the english term.. hehe.. on the way there my aunts bought some candles. i told them "lolo doesn't like candles to be placed in his 'puntod.' he told me that when we were still visiting my grandma. when he was still alive... :( but they didn't listen.. i hope my grandpa would understand.. i was his favorite grandchild.. idk why but i like it.. :) he doesn't get tired telling me that im his favorite.. we did a lot of things together..

1. he taught me mahjong and how to play cards.. esp. solitaire.. ;) but i never really learned the ropes of mahjong up until now.. hehe
2. when i first visited the temple in manila i was with him.. just the two of us.. and he told me that a few nights before that he dreamed of my grandma.. he said grandma is calling him already
3. we fell on a window together while he was attempting to scare me that he's going to drop me.. and yes we did fell..together.. hahahah.. that was a funny ouchy moment..
4.we traveled to cebu just the two of us and we bought a television.. ;) he lost his wallet while we were on the bus.. hehe..
5. he's always buying me icecream for no reason.. he thinks that children loves icecream so i think that's why he's always giving me icecream.. ^_^
6. back in the day during sundays we'll just walk from the meetinghouse down to their home to have lunch.. and everytime we walk he'd always carry me at the back of his neck.. i really love that! i don't have to walk bcoz he's carrying me already..
7. he was my first dance. ;) he'd place my feet on top of his so that he won't step onto my clumsy little feet
8. whenever i'd visit them i always sleep next to him and he'd cover me tightly with blanket. i always woke up early because he'd wake up early and listen to the radio for news..

this wasn't really the reason why i blogged today.. but it just came out of my crazy mind.. my apologies.. ;)

so we visited my grandparents at the cemetery.. a kid, wearing a red jersey shirt; blue shorts; red slippers; and a gibo wristband around his ankle, asked my aunt if we'd like him to clean my grandparents' "puntod" and so he did.. he helped us sweep the ground and burned the dry leaves.. got rid of the stones and the broken bottles around the area.. and my aunt gave him a 50peso bill.. and he was so happy about it.. my aunt told him right after he got the money that he should not use it in vain.. either he could give it to his mom to buy rice or keep it for future use and not just use it on senseless stuff.. and the kid replied right away "dili oi! ako ning bawn!" after he said that a feeling within me was awakened.. i can feel that it wasn't just me.. everybody felt it too! we all felt respect to that little child. it was nothing but a simple phrase and yet i was in awe while pondering on his words..

that lil child was working hard so that he would have 'baon' for school.. at such a young age he already learned something so useful in this earthly life.. something which most of us (even adults) takes for granted or maybe even not learned at all up until now.. he learned about responsibility and work.. the ones reading this probably haven't tried working for his/her own 'baon.' i for one is guilty of that.. when i was a kid i could not remember that i worked for my baon.. me and my sisters are so dependent of my mom.. i am so lucky and grateful that my mother and father were able to provide for my needs.. and yet i was envious of that lil child who already understood that (at such a young age) he needs to work in order for him to get something..

this is just a passing event so i want to record it here so that i won't forget about the lesson i learned today.. the lesson i learned from an impoverished lil kid who wore a gibo wristband and used it as an anklet.. hehe.. i know that im such a forgetful person so better put it into writing asap.. :) put it into typing i mean.. hehe.. this is just a short version of the story but im too tired today.. i was w/ my makulit pinsans and nephews all day long.. pizza all you can and powercards with them was fun fun fun!!! :)

note: this is not the 7y.o. kid i was telling you about..

BTW: im not crazy.. im just a lil unwell.. i know right now you can't tell.. but stay a while and maybe then you'll see.. a different side of me..