Konted's Make My Day: June 2012

6.28.2012

Time Quickly Passes By

Time Quickly Passes By

How time flies ! It seems like only yesterday when three young kids, all of the same age, would play, stumble and fall and create noise without which the place would have been dull. Bicycles were left slumped on the grass, toys were scattered everywhere and rubber shoes were almost always missing. Cousins Ryan, Manolet and Allen were born only months apart. Allen is my second son while Ryan and Manolet are my nephews. I lost track of Ryan and Manolet as the years passed by and still had to do some inquiry as to their whereabouts.

Ryan works as Foreign Service Officer at the DFA and is now based in Geneva, Switzerland. In Geneva, he sits as delegate to the regular sessions of the WTO General Council. He is the Philippines' chief negotiator in the WTO Trade Negotiations Committee. Ryan is also a delegate to the ASEAN Committee in Geneva and to the APEC Geneva Caucus.

He held the various positions of Charge d'Affaires, Officer-in-Charge of the Philippine Mission and as Acting Administrative Officer in various times. He concurrently serves as Communication Officer of the Mission. Ryan was a consistent honor student at the Ateneo De Manila, Philippine Science High School and was a Dean's Lister at the University of the Philippines.

Manolet now lives in the United States of America where his father worked for more than 30 years at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D. C. I was then very close to this boy and we used to exchange jokes. He would call me "Mr. Funnyman" and "The Joker". Manolet graduated cum laude at the prestigious Georgetown University. He also took up law. He is now a successful barrister. The next time we meet, I have to call him Atty. Manolet. He is married to an Iranian engineer who works with the NASA.

I thought then that one day he would dabble in local politics as his great grandfather ruled a Southern Luzon province as undefeated governor for 24 years. His grandfather too was a congressman and assemblyman. Manolet takes pride in being a direct descendant of the legendary revolutionary hero General Miguel Malvar. On his balikbayan trips, he visits the shrines of his revered relatives.

The third one, Allen, works at San Miguel Brewery Inc and is also doing well in his line of work. Allen had his elementary and high school education at the Ateneo de Manila. He took his tertiary education at the De La Salle University in Manila. He is a member of the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity. Of the three, Allen is the most sports- minded, He still plays competitive basketball regularly and on weekends, joins his friends biking through the back roads of Rizal. He has, as pets, white cockatoos and blue naped parrots. He is also into dog breeding.

All three are in that stage where their potential is being actualized and where their assets are put to good use. You don't see them playing together anymore. Gone are the toys. Gone are the small trikes. No more childish tantrums. No more petty quarrels. All are too busy chasing their dreams in different parts of the world. Armed with guts and strong character foundation. I wish them well.

- Konted

Ryan is a Foreign Service Officer based in Geneva, Switzerland

Place in Geneva, Switzerland where Ryan stays

In Interlaken, Switzerland

In Zurich, Switzerland

Manolet is now a successful barrister in the USA

Manolet's lovely Iranian wife is an engineer working with the NASA

Photo taken at the NASA

With sibling Melissa

Allen is with San Miguel Brewery Inc.

Attending a conference

At a convention

SMB is #1

Both siblings with SMC

With his Colnago bike

His other bike is a Pinarello

Target shooting

As a boatman of Nasugbu

With his family

Allen's Cockatiels

Allen's talking Mynah -" Kumain ka na?"

Cockatoo

Pikoy

Allen's Eclectus

Cockatoo's name is Guard

Bleeding Heart Pigeon

Philippine Oriole

6.19.2012

Who Cares About The Rain?

Who Cares About The Rain?

The rain was really pouring last Sunday night. You could hear the sound on the rooftop and on Andy's pool as raindrops splattered against the still blue water. But this did not deter us nor did it drown the lively conversation we were having with the special guest for the night.

Chito Villarroya, who has been staying in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada for the last 35 years, slipped into town last June 1, took a side trip to Sorsogon for a speaking engagement and traveled back to Manila to attend Sunday's get2gether. Speaking for the first time with classmates he had not seen for 46 long years, Chito, who is in the pharmaceutical business, was candid and started opening up. And, boy, was I impressed.

In exchanges with classmates Capt.Ronnie, Francis, Greg, Ed DLR, Ted and Andy, Chito, all through the night, delved on political, social, economic and other relevant issues and expressed himself well. He presented his views in a clear and concise manner. I did learn a lot just by listening to him. For sure, he talked about the good old days. Of his college days at the University of the Philippines where he was a volleyball varsity player, of his brief stint with a top nutrition company and of his eventual migration to Canada.

A little later, dinner was served. Of course, with Andy's wife assisting. We had a barrel of KFC chicken, which was Andy and Ronnie's winning dividends for betting on the right horse in the last impeachment trial, pancit canton, kikiam, crunchy chicharon and gelatin. For drinks, we had San Miguel Premium beer and Coors. There was enough food for everyone.

The rain would not stop even as the clock was ticking deep into the night. No one was making an overture to leave as everybody was enjoying that rare moment. As another bet was placed for the winner of the Miami Heat vs Oklahoma Thunder finals, Andy continued serving beer. While beer affects the senses, it triggers the mind in recalling the happy times. No doubt everybody was having a good time. And in moments like this, who cares about the rain? Who cares about the flood? Who cares about the time? And who cares about the wife?

- Konted