The Ambos Mundos legal story can already be considered a saga by virtue of the long period that has elapsed since it began. To say that our legal system is quite slow is the understatement of the century. Rights have been trampled on and disregarded without compunction behind the legal gooble-de-gook of appeals and motions that have clearly exhausted their reason and relevance....
We parents often think that it will always be us who will do the teaching when it comes to our children and not the other way around. Nothing can be farther from the truth as I have come to realize that they have been doing some teaching directed to me, whether they were conscious of it or not. I am not simply talking...
Image Source: kmberggren.com Motherhood is said to complete the essence of a woman. Does this mean to say that women who are unable to bear biological children are less of a woman or for that matter less of a mother? I don't think so. Women who are blessed like me to have children of our own can easily be "unmother-like" if we are...
Bebet was my uncle who I never got around to calling Uncle Bebet, Tito Bebet, or Tiyo Bebet. I knew he was my father's brother but since his age was closer to our generation than that of his brothers, I grew up seeing him more as one of my cousins. In family gatherings , he almost always ends up being photographed with us instead of the older generation. And so to me and the rest of my siblings and first cousins in my father's side, he was simply Bebet.
This photo will show you just exactly what I mean. A much younger Bebet beside his best-friend/nephew Jun is shown with his three much older brothers towering behind him, (my father Nene, Tito Carlito and Tito Luis) along with Tita Baby and Lolo Peping. The rest of us came almost successively, not very long after this photo was taken, thus the age difference really wasn't that much so as to make Bebet's seniority to us very obvious to everyone.
There are probably only two moments that stand out in my memory when such actual seniority was summoned by him at least with respect to me. Bebet was every inch my father's brother when he lent his full support and guidance during one of the most difficult times of my life when my father died. The next and the last instance was when he told me about his terminal sickness. It was very difficult for me to understand how anyone can accept certain death with calm acceptance. In fact, it was so difficult that I had no words, only silent tears.
He said it was okay because he has lived a full life. That comforted me in a way and the thought continues to comfort me now that he has passed on. Like the rest of us, he did not have a perfect life but I believe he got to finish most of what he had to do, which is something most of us are still trying to accomplish.
My Say
Life is too short to finish everything we want to finish.
That said, let us try to make the most out of the time allotted to us. Have a peaceful journey Bebet.
This photo will show you just exactly what I mean. A much younger Bebet beside his best-friend/nephew Jun is shown with his three much older brothers towering behind him, (my father Nene, Tito Carlito and Tito Luis) along with Tita Baby and Lolo Peping. The rest of us came almost successively, not very long after this photo was taken, thus the age difference really wasn't that much so as to make Bebet's seniority to us very obvious to everyone.
There are probably only two moments that stand out in my memory when such actual seniority was summoned by him at least with respect to me. Bebet was every inch my father's brother when he lent his full support and guidance during one of the most difficult times of my life when my father died. The next and the last instance was when he told me about his terminal sickness. It was very difficult for me to understand how anyone can accept certain death with calm acceptance. In fact, it was so difficult that I had no words, only silent tears.
He said it was okay because he has lived a full life. That comforted me in a way and the thought continues to comfort me now that he has passed on. Like the rest of us, he did not have a perfect life but I believe he got to finish most of what he had to do, which is something most of us are still trying to accomplish.
Antonino Roberto "Bebet" Jacob Gaudinez
May 10, 1958 - March 31, 2012
Image: Facebook
My Say
Life is too short to finish everything we want to finish.
That said, let us try to make the most out of the time allotted to us. Have a peaceful journey Bebet.