i took time to see the godfather trilogy in the past, which is considered to be one of the greatest film in cinematic history. although the "godfather" title was used in a different light i perceived it as a film that strongly holds family ties and values. the godfather tries to head the family, his clan.
as i traced the history and origins of a godparent i found out that generally it is a religious practice since the second century. traditionally, godparents are responsible for ensuring the child's religious education and upbringing and godparents are also responsible for caring for the child in the event that the child become an orphaned.
in the modern practice and perspective, godparents are chosen individuals by the parents of a child to take an interest in the child's upbringing and personal development initiated through the child's baptism.
then came the time that i became a godfather for the first time, it was unforgettable not just because it was the first time but because it came simultaneously, and when i say simultaneously it literally means "sabay-sabay". they were four:
1. the son of mareng lolet and pareng zaldy velasques
2. the son of mareng marivic and pareng arnel san diego
3. the son of mareng pinyang, (daughter of tata doro), i do not know who was my kumpare with her.
4. and the daughter of mareng jenny and pareng darwin aquino.
these four of my godchildren have been baptized on the 3oth of december the year i cannot remember, in which coincides the yearly celebration of our baranggay "pasasalamat".
it was during these times that i was very active in the baranggay youth and most of them i have gained closeness through our activities together, and i believe that they decided to make the ties forever so they asked me to be their kumpare.
at this day i really do not keep track of how many godson or goddaughter i have at present. but as i am writing this entry i would like to recall them one by one, an accounting of sort of my "inaanaks"
5. the son of my mareng bing marcelo from marilao, bulacan
6. the daughter of mareng raquel doronia also from marilao and sister to my mareng bing
7. daughter of pareng harley lozada, one of my regular cook when i was still with chowking
8. daughter of pareng bambi, my former headcook at chowking
9. daughter of jocelyn "geri" cumabot, my headcashier at chowking
10. daughter of chat dela cruz and patrick dela cruz who are both from chowking also.
11. son of pareng allan and mareng germaine, my former colleague and till now a closest friend. we were hired at chowking together as management trainee way back 2004
12. son of pareng jowen and mareng lorna, also my former colleague and a confidante to this day and age. not to mention jowen and pareng allan have a slightly similar love story.
13. daughter of pareng marjonelle and lalaine, my protege and also a former colleague at chowking.
items 5 to 13, all i have met and gained them during my stint at chowking petron marilao for over 4 years.
there were also those closest relatives that really wanted to strengthen the bond between us, in spite of being related by blood, they opted to asked me to be a godfather to their children. mas nagpapatibay at magpapatibay sa pagiging magkakapamilya.
14. daughter of patrick and mel, patrick is my second cousin and has been among my contemporary in terms of growing up and the range of our age. from kuya aris to pareng tuts.
15. son of tita beth and tito delo, tita beth is my aunt and the first cousin of my father. and i would say tita beth has been one of my motivation of doing good in school and doing good towards my cousins and relatives. she has readied herself to become a mother even before she had her own children. several of her nephews and nieces ay lumaki sa kanyang mga bisig.
16. son of ate mercy and kuya rolan. ate mercy is my first cousin, in reality my cousin is my godson.
17. daughter of kuya romano and his wife mina. same scenario and consanguinity with ate mercy.
18. daughter of miriam and her husband. miriam is also a first cousin on my maternal side. my niece is my inaanak.
19. son of tita osie and tito arthur. tita osie is a sister to my mother, and ariel, son of tita osie. my first cousin is my inaanak.
some of my godchildren were from my own baranggay.
20. daughter of ate len len and kuya roswin. ate len was like a sister to me specially during and after our efforts in the baranggay youth council.
21. daughter of rachel de ocampo and her husband, rachel was also a colleague at the baranggay youth council.
22. daughter of ate amy castillo and her husband.
23. son of ernie de guzman and his wife.
24. daughter of lea and willie ipapo. whom i remembered the baptism celebration was held at macapilapil, san ildefonso and it was a rainy season that time.
25. son of kuya abner apostol and his wife.
26. the child of gloria manio and her husband. whom i believed to be because of the late tata doro manio why i was asked to become a ninong of his great grandchild.
27. the great grandchild of the late tata gusting, in which i do not know the names of my kumare and kumpare. my inaanak was the grandchild of mang sesay and aling pilar.
28. the daughter of wilson and reivah aboboto. on a personal note, wilson as i told him, played an important part during the time of our mourning and weeping. and being asked to be a godfather to their daughter is just a manifestation of our relationship more than acquaintance, its a family bond.
29. daughter of ate mary and her husband. ate mary has played an important part during my studies at the university belt. she has shown motherly concern for me eventhough she is physically challenged. her life is an inspiration and not to mention she is one of the many who have been given help by "wish ko lang" a public service show of gma 7.
30. the son of pareng june samson and his wife from calawitan san ildefonso. a cousin of my kumareng len len and in which through her we became friends.
there were also few of my inaanaks whom their parents had been my workmates in my previous jobs and eventually have developed into a certain degree of friendship to close as family relatives.
31. son of elena and her husband. who was our cook during my work at a political office in baliuag. she fed me my during that time not only with food but with friendship.
32. daughter of pareng nathan and mareng len. nathan was my former colleague at fernandez colleges, the academe which has gave me some of my closest friends to this day.
33. daughter of mareng criselda and her husband. also a colleague from fernandez colleges. noting that her sister marie rose had been my high school classmate, but i think our closeness in the college where we taught gave us the way to establish a much more closeness than marie rose.
34. daughter of mareng maricel and her husband from pulilan, bulacan. maricel had been my colleague at a political office during the 2007 elections.
35. the child of my classmate and closest friend grace kelly melendez, whose parents were also like parents to me, we have the same emotions and feeling towards our experiences specially in family life and relationships.
there is also parent-godparent relationship that seems to be a continuation of a tradition, a means of prolonging the ties, friendship and relationship..
36. daughter of mareng kaye and pareng archie mariano. kaye has been a childhood friend, both our fathers are magkumpares and worked with the same company in the past. my sister maileen was a god daughter of tita zeny, mother of kaye. and once i remember telling kaye, i hope that our children will continue the link in the family by getting one to be a godparent of each child or vice versa as generation pass by.
the latest addition to my circle of inaanaks is of course my one and only pamangkin..
37. daughter of ate maileen and kuya pat. honestly, i did not pushed myself to be my nieces godfather its the initiative of my sister and brother-in-law the very reason that gave me an ultimate joy.
my apologies for those i forgot to mention but i hope i was able to recall all of them. i may not remember your names specifically but i will always remember the thought that i am your god father.
i may not be the most lucrative ninong that gives all the material gifts in the world but everyday as i live i am giving all of you the gift of prayer even if nobody asked for, that each one of you would become the most responsible human being and become successful in any endeavor you will take, that may your parents nurture you with all the love in the world.
i do not hold the record of having the most number of inaanaks but i have plenty of them to have a good thought of what i have been doing for the past 29 years of my life and i believe that this manifest not my richness in wealth but my richness in character.
i am very proud to be a ninong to each one of you. i pray that you do not remember me in times of christmas and gift-giving but rather remember in all the good ways you can imagine.
a godparent or a godfather does not start and end in yuletide season of present giving, its more of a moral and social responsibility in which i am more than willing to partake as long as i live.
