to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy… and to laugh along the way
Just some episodes in my life that have contributed to who I am today
The pull toward the wild isn’t new to me. Rather, it feels more like a homecoming. I’ve always been an outdoor man. It is a desire I rediscovered during my days as a young lieutenant. Patrolling the mountains with the elite Scout Rangers wasn’t just a duty; it was where I felt most alive.
Now that I have officially breached the gates of seventy, I’ve discovered there are actually some magnificent perks to being a septuagenarian. For starters, I just received a birthday cake from my favorite city, Taguig. And some cash to boot. They give us free entrance to the moviehouse on Tuesdays too. There is also the truly noble-intentioned “Senior Discount,” which I wield like a trump card.
Manoy Cesar taught me what it means to carry myself with dignity; he challenged me to pursue excellence for its own sake. And most of all, he inspired me to believe in myself.
Life doesn’t need to be complicated to be fulfilling; it just needs a dash of adventure, a bit of competition, and a creative mind to capture it all. My playing days may be over. As my Papa used to say: I used to be an all-around athlete, but now the only athlete left in me is my athlete’s foot! But the passion for the game – and the stories behind it – will remain as strong as ever.
I was an accidental soldier. Never really intended to be one, but I was lucky I had a cousin who was going to take the PMA exams. My Papa forced me to take the exam with him. The rest is history.
Now, I carry these memories as reminders of where I came from. And the journey I have taken. And even in my senior years now, it serves as a guide to help bring me closer to some of my unfinished dreams. The kindness of Ms Chan, the tragic death of Francis, the warm welcome I got from new friends in Tagbilaran, all these and more, have to a certain extent shaped the person I would grow up to be.
Color My World 