WOWBatangas.com Your Source of Great News and Stories from the Province of Batangas, Philippines
Related Articles
At his best, he showers me with a myriad of things I call “favorites”, blurts out an oddly humorous punch line and tells me hilarious stories about his escapades. At his worst, he’s nothing short of becoming an ogre— his sneering voice and alarming appearance never fail to give me the chills.
“Learn to fight for yourself”, he would always say whenever some naughty kids try to make fun of me at primary school. He’s always been the tough guy his classmates dreaded having to fight with. At the same extent, however, he’s an example of what student delinquents are. Not that he’s done much harm to his teachers and peers. He’s just more interested in playing basketball and mastering the skills of online gaming than doing school stuff which he considered rubbish.
“Studying isn’t just my thing”, he just shrugged his shoulders when I asked why he didn’t even bother to review his lessons. “I ought to be famous someday. Shooting the ball at crucial situations and bringing home the most valuable player award.” He added with a surreal look on his face.
I admired the confidence with which he said those words. With his oozing determination, I was convinced his dream would meet reality.
It was unfortunate that we had to be separated after he finished second year high school. He went to a private secondary school somewhere in Alitagtag (a place which was an alien to me, really).
We didn’t actually lose touch. He would visit me in Lipa whenever he had time. But then, his occasional visits had gone from seldom to never. I guess we were both busy with our studies. It was a good thing that technological advances made communication between two people apart possible.
We finally got reunited during my first year in college. When I saw him again, I could sense that his lively spirit and caring nature did not fade with time. He would still laugh crazily with the corniest joke, eat his burger in two minutes flat, pour two tablespoons of sugar into his coffee and play basketball till his body couldn’t take any more torture.
He has improved a lot. He began showing interest in his studies. Taking up BS Hotel and Restaurant Management, he started taking control of his life (and doing a pretty good job at it). Learning to cook a variety of delectable dishes was just a bonus; plus having the opportunity to visit astonishing places which brought him so much satisfaction.
“I really think this is my calling. For some time I went astray and ended up lost. This is high time I redeem all faults.” He uttered this profoundly in one of those rare times I caught him looking very serious and staring blankly at nothingness.
He certainly learned a lot of things. He even risked doing the unthinkable and grabbing unique opportunities for personal enrichment while preparing for his future career.
Well, he might have changed a great deal, but for me, he’s still the same old him— only better.
At this point, I can very well say that he’s on the right track and has really established proper momentum. He did not become a basketball player in the professional league, by the way. He will never be, sad to say. His height speaks for it. But he succeeded in drawing out what’s possible from the complex maze of impossibilities. That’s what’s so amazing about him.
Now, he has also found his set of friends— a group where he really fit in. They labeled him mamay (probably because he’s the oldest in their circle). His classmates? They call him Andrew. Relatives identify him as AJ. His girlfriend tagged him with different mushy endearments. He’s Mr. Amante to his professors and will forever be my mom’s totoy. But simply, he is the perfect kuya to his darling little sister— me.
by Anjenelle Amante
