This Ghost's Family

This is This Ghost's first post. And as always with This Ghost, family comes first. 

It’s all about my parents—my Pa and Ma; and my siblings-- Jane, Dward and Dith. 

Let's begin. :D

Pa and ma at Fish & Co. in TriNoma. April 2008.

The 'Rents.

Okay, a gauche topic—talking about the ‘rents—although they don’t have any problem whatsoever talking about me to their friends; sometimes even to strangers! And then they do it as if I’m not inches away.

But still, I can’t help but love them. I mean, they did raise me. And sappy as it may sound, they love me and made sure my sibs and I got everything we need.

As I write this, my Ma is asking me through text how I was doing. Now that my Kuya and his wife and daughter moved out to their own house at the Village last June, and I’m staying here in Manila with my sisters, my Ma and Pa now have the house to themselves.

It’s almost like they were starting over.

I think my Ma’s missing me, which is nice. She might’ve conveniently forgotten that I being in the house with them is total chaos. I play loud music; I don’t pick up after myself; I’m too lazy for house chores and I generally make a pest of myself. Plus, I go overboard when I buy the groceries.

My Pa and Ma married young. And I give them a thumbs-up for eloping. Fact is, my siblings and I wouldn’t have been the fastest swimmers in our respective batch if my parents had delayed the HAPPENIN’, if you know what I mean. And I’m so relieved that I was born on October 23, 1989, to the happiness of those waiting for me to go screaming outta my Mama’s.

Probably they weren’t as happy when I hit puberty, but that’s just me talking.

Okay, so my parents wanted a better life, not just for us, but for themselves. Pa used to be in construction and Ma earned some money by doing other people’s laundry. I wasn’t born yet, so I haven’t experienced that life when they had to make do with what they have and work all day.

It must’ve been a hard life—making sure there were enough cash for food and saving up so my brother and sisters could go to school.

“Masuwerte ka na nabuhay ka na nasa NAPOCOR na si Papa mo,” (You’re lucky that your father’s already working in NAPOCOR when you were born.) my Ma would tell me when I was a little and refusing to eat dinner.

She would continue: “Tios kita dati. Minsan lang kami makakaon san ginkakaon natun niyan.” (We were hard up once. We couldn’t afford back then the food you're eating here now.)

And I would grudgingly pick up my fork.

At my college graduation. That's my Pa and my Ma. I'm the guy in the middle with the funny hair.
April 2010

My parents thought about the future. A lot. They decided that how they lived wasn’t enough.

Pa was a college graduate; he used to teach at some school in Sorsogon and when he heard about the job opening as electrician at NAPOCOR, he applied and got the job; but not without my Ma pushing him to it when he doubted himself.

Pa became a master electrician. And he was so handy around the house too, with his skills. My Pa took care of all the electrical thingies at our house. Actually, HE built that house. He’s the family handyman who can take on the various whatchamacallit that needs fixing.

He’s an awesome provider, and with my Ma at his side to manage the income, our family had evolved from a small nipa hut into a comfy two-story structure of stone and metal and glass. We’re not rich, but we live in comfort; with a strong roof over our heads, six meals a day and all the basic convenience typical of a middle-class family.

Fatima Church, at my big brother's wedding. From left: Pa, me, Ate Jane, Kuya Dward, Ate Dith and Ma
June 2008

If my Pa’s the strong, silent type of guy, then my Ma’s the strong woman who’s not afraid to speak her mind. She stayed at home and raised us like a good mother should—kids who are disciplined and put value on education. And we grew up to her vision.

Family and friends would always commend my Ma for rearing us into adulthood (in my case, young adulthood) without incident. And by that they meant no teen pregnancies, no drugs and without vices whatsoever during our years in school.

We aren’t perfect children; but we are GOOD children; and hurting, disappointing and dishonoring our parents are things we will never, ever do.

My Ma and Pa are the best parents, again, not perfect, but they did a good job by us and for that, me and my two big sisters and my big brother will be forever grateful.

In the house where we grew up in Sorsogon City. I'm checking if my toga fits me.
April 2010

The Sibs.

I’m the youngest of the four children, born four years after my sister, Judith or Dith. Ma and Pa took a break from the happenin’ because I think Ma’s pregnancy with Dith was already a bit difficult.

First to the Edma family is my eldest sister, Mary Jane. There’s a bit of a tale about the choice of names for my Ate (‘big sister’ in English). My Pa wanted it to be just Jane, but my Lola (grandmother) wanted to put in Maria too. It’s a religion thing, see, the Maria first name was all the rage back then in 1979. So, in the spirit of satisfying both parties, my sis was christened Mary Jane.

My Ate Jane at NAIA. June 2010.

My Ate was probably the nicest of the bunch, well, back then anyway. She’s small and delicate; polite and religious and she once thought of joining the convent.

Today, she’s still nice as can be, but at the same time, a super sister. As the eldest of four she has to look out for the rest of us. Now she’s not afraid to call us out when she thinks we’re getting into trouble. She’s even willing to embarrass us if she thinks that’ll drill the reasonable point into our stubborn heads. She exhibited that the last few weeks, when she knew trouble was brewing at my other sister’s love life.

Her staying and working hard in her job in Manila has hardened her shell. She’s stronger now; she’s not gonna take shit from anyone anymore. And that’s a good thing. :D

My Kuya, (which means ‘big brother’) Edward, is big and beefy but as gentle as a teddy bear when it comes to his wife and his daughter. My bro’s married for two years now and busy working and settling into his version of a good, stable family life. And he’s doing a great job at it.

Kuya is a lovable guy; and his friends from work will all second that. They said Kuya’s, like, the model son. (That kind of annoyed me because that’d saying I’m the inadequate little brother) Oh well. :D

My big bro, Dward with his daughter and
my niece, Kyla. April 2010.

He’s a hard-working, straight-arrow kind of guy. He loves sports, plays good basketball and smart like all the Edma children. He used to give me piggy-back rides when I was little coz he’s a tall dude. He tried teaching me basketball and failed miserably (sports are definitely not my thing). He annoys me sometimes, like a big brother should. But that’s okay; I’ll jump on his back or tackle him again when I get home to Bicol. No matter if I’m already twenty and taller than him.

Yes, Kuya, I’m taller than you now. :D

Judith— or Dith to me, I dropped the ‘Ate’ years ago— is a strong girl; and boyish enough to scare the crap out of some guys. Dith is funny and fun-loving. She’s a joker, like me, we have the same sense of humor— the sharp, almost rude kind.

My Ate Dith in Bora. June 2010.

But she’s very affectionate, lazy like me, and she plays one hell of a game of table tennis. Like my big bro, she used to be an athlete and now their skills are always put to use in tournaments in their respective companies. They always win.

Just recently, Dith won the gold for the table tennis tournament at an inter-company sports fest. And she’s not afraid to gloat— she earned it anyway.

And I don’t piss her off. Ever. One glare from her and I wither. I remember the time when she’s still a teenager and I was the little brother of bullying age. She’d pinch my shoulder or yank my hair until I shout. Ahh, memories.

Always good to know that my siblings and I have no serious issues with each other. We’re like so harmonic. :D