On December 8, 1941, the then Japanese Imperial Army
launched their invasion attack on the Commonwealth of the Philippines. It was
the start of a 3-year brutal and inhuman atrocities by the occupiers on the
hapless and helpless poor Filipinos. It took the famous return of Gen Douglas
McArthur at Leyte Gulf to regain their liberation. But the human cost during
the occupation was so devastating with an estimated 1 million Filipinos dying,
more than 10,000 American-soldier and more than 250,000 Japanese-soldier
casualties. The Japanese resistance went on despite the victories by the
Fil-American forces until the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were
bombed by the United States on August 6 and 9, 1945 respectively.
It was the last straw.
Japan finally surrendered and signed the Instrument of
Surrender with many leading countries at that time.
That was September 2, 1945.
As destiny would have it on this same auspicious day, our
beloved Dad, Silvino C. Santos Sr., was also born. It was a peaceful time to be
born yet the difficulties and uncertainties of nation rebuilding hangs on every
Filipinos mind. But, with the loving perseverance of his parents and his
determination and hardwork, he finished his studies at the University of the
East and was able to be employed at Marcelo H. Del Pilar School where he met
his future love of a lifetime – our mom. After getting married, they would have
planned for a one-boy-one-girl child family but we ended with a basketball team
(4 boys + dad) and with a muse (our mom). From then on, it was just an
avalanche of trials and challenges but he piously stood his ground as the head
and provider of our family, a steady sail and rudder that gave us all spiritual
direction.
When we were growing, Dad would give praise when it is
due and would discipline us when it is necessary. He slowly inculcated in us
the virtue of hard-work by admonishing us to participate and contribute to the
house chores and small family businesses even it means just giving change to
customers, washing dishes or running errands. On the other hand, he freely
allows us to play our hearts out with friends when there is no chore or work to
be done. He did not supervise us or look over our shoulder when we were out
with our friends. Instead, he puts premium on his trust on us that we will not
make any stupid action that can harm us, our family or others. In return, my
brothers and I valued and kept this unspoken father-and-son trust unblemished
(ok, so we maybe did some crazy stuffs then but nothing at the “serious”
level). We eventually turn out to be fine young men.
Fast forward to today, our Dad, is celebrating his 70th
birthday, a remarkable and memorable milestone for him and for our family. All
four of us his sons are now well in our own family way. Not that Dad has
totally left us each on our own, instead he (and mom) simply took more steps
backwards to make sure we do things on our own yet always and still ready to
give advice if something is amiss. I guess the father-and-son trust is still at
play in our family.
Maybe for some, being 70 means sipping a cold pineapple
juice while pushing back and forth on a cozy comfort rocking chair watching the
sun setting over the horizon. This is not true for our Dad. With 10 young
grandchildren in our circle, there is simply no time to rest for him as he
continues his latest role as the doting grandfather Papa Ben to each one of
them. He still opens, attends and closes their small convenience store and
delivers cooking gas to his clients everyday. He keeps his mind whirring by
keeping abreast with world and national news and politics. Just a few days
back, he received a recognition plaque and medal from his alma mater MHPHS alumni group for many years of
coordinating and organizing their reunions and projects. Recently, he was
browsing the net on bungee-jumping and sky-diving as part of his future
activities but we are strongly opposed to these extreme sports since these are
detrimental to one’s health – our mom.
Cheers to our Dad on his 70th birthday!
We are so blessed and proud to have a father with
integrity, humility and piety by our side all these years and in the years to
come.
We love you po!
God bless you always.
