As a sister of a good Samaritan brother, I feel overwhelmed by all the kindness and support of the people who He have touched. His act has served an inspiration to all teachers, not just all the teachers but to all kind of profession to serve humanity at its best. Students were touched as well by his kindness and felt motivated to do the same deeds as well. In all honesty, I felt very emotional to this graces and to the power of love that have been poured out to him especially to the act of his service. As his "Ate", I feel the joy that his good deeds have been recognized.
So as his Ate too, I can tell you a little about him that I want to share. Although I wanted to expose his total goodness, however, I'll choose not to say too much just to give respect to the privacy of my brother.
My little brother as I always call him, He has been doing this since we were little children. He has always been very close to street kids and homeless. It's natural to him, it's not even an effort, his love for them is so huge that even myself is amazed.
My parents wanted him to be a nurse. Oh well, our parents wanted us to be nurses. Well, because we're poor. So being a nurse if graduated and find a job from it, is the only hope my parents had to give us better lives for ourselves.
Well, I failed to be a nurse, because I knew that being a nurse is not my calling. I'm too sensitive to be in the hospital; I couldn't do it. Being around with patients drains my energy. I could feel their being and pains, I'm too weak for it. I cried for them and as a nurse if I would become one, being soft and wimpy is not acceptable, because nurse should be emotionally and mentally stable. I then realized those moments of weaknesses at school that hospital world is totally not my world. So no wonder, I failed in that endeavor. It was good for me but not for my parents.
My parents next target was my brother next to me whose Ken's older brother. Ken is our youngest brother by the way. However, my parents failed to convince him because Rap wanted to be a Police Officer. Not a nurse because according to him He wants to protect poor helpless people like ourselves for injustice, always his dream.
So since Ken is our youngest, the last hope was him. He thought about nursing essential benefits He can have if finished. But at the end, He listened to his heart and followed what He is called to do. And that is to be a teacher, for teaching is a joy to him, He wanted to teach kids whose helpless and unable to go to school.
Ken, didn't start college right away, He had to wait two years. The main reason was He wanted me and his older brother to finish our degree first since our parents couldn't afford the three of us together in college. He sacrificed those years for us, that, by the way, broke my heart. Ken has always been kind and gentle. He never wanted us to feel sorry for him, so He tried to comfort us by saying "It's okay. Don't worry, the school never run."
But sometimes, I would see Ken sad, and I couldn't take it and I would get so emotional about it and cry. He never likes when I cry so instead of me comforting him; He ended up comforting me.That is how sensitive my brother. He always put us first more than himself, his love is so selfless.
I promised him during those times that once I'll finish college, I'll take him to the University that He wanted to study, and I told him "Ken, it's okay. God has a plan for you; that is why He is delaying your school. Let's try not to be sad, One day, You'll see the fruit of your labor. One day, at that right time, Heaven will shine on you. We just need to be patient and endure the pain for now."
You know, God had been so good, as I told you, we are poor, Our father provided and fed us through driving a taxi, our mother, is a housekeeper. However, God made a way for me to come here in America in an unexpected way. I couldn't believe it! It was a miracle that I was able to fly here. Apparently, failing my nursing degree made a way for me to shift to Bachelor of Tourism that enable me to get an opportunity to come here in America. Ken was my prayer companion during the process of my papers; we would often go to the Eucharist Chapel at the St. Augustine Cathedral to pray, and God answered our prayers! I made it to America!!!
Before I left Cagayan De Oro, I promised Ken to take him to Xavier University. Since that was his dream school, He'd always wanted to study in that prestigious University but didn't voice it out because Ken knew that our parents couldn't afford the tuition fee. However, through the grace of God, I was able to enroll Ken to Xavier!!!
Living in America is not always a happy and carefree life, I had rough and challenging stages, that forced Ken to get a student job at Xavier. His journey to college was not easy before He got his diploma, it was quite a painful one and very challenging financially. However, in those trying times, Ken never give up and loses his hopes. Even though, his college years were prolong to more extra years to finish but He kept on moving forward, without getting affected by his circumstances. In those hardships in school, God was behind my brother's back. Some kind people shared their goodness to my brother, helping him to some of his school expenses and tuition when I couldn't send any. I may not know some of them, but I am forever grateful for they have helped him reach his dreams.
Ken's goal in life is just so simple, to teach the street kids who can't afford school. They are one of the reasons why He never give up for He wanted to serve them. Money for him is not so much of importance, maybe, because we got used to being poor. So it's not a big deal if He have it or not because whenever He have money is his hands, He gave it away to homeless people, sharing them whatever little He have.
Well, I've always been the princess of my brothers without the crown like what Ken and Rap would tease me because my mentality differs to my brothers for my dreams are big. I came here in America painstakingly because of those dreams, well I never really dream of coming here in America, it just happened miraculously, but I've worked so hard to get where I am now. So even myself is impressed by the humility of my brother. Well to my brothers. They are so kind and generous; I feel like If they have wings, I have a tail. My brothers are so humble, unpretentious and very content with what they have, even without nothing in their hands, they have joy in them. Whenever they do good deeds that I've witnessed so many times, Rap and Ken are silent. They are uncomfortable with attention. (I can't help sharing my other brother, it just that its hard to only speak to one because I grew up with them both)
On the other end, I guess there is a divine reason for why I was born to become a writer and flew me to America. I'm the curious one in my family. I love to explore life, and I speak my mind, I speak my heart. I'm a rebel, and I have always been like that and I don't apologize for it. My parents can't control my stubbornness neither my siblings. I've always been the person who loves to follow one's heart. I don't like obeying rules, especially rules that don't feel right to me, totally opposite to my brothers. If they are obedient, humble and meek, I am not. I can follow to some degree. When they can't speak, I'm their voice. I guess God needed a writer in the family to share God's message.
Look, I've I always believe in the power of a soul's voice, your voice. I always think that God planted a seed to each one of us to inspire people, to be a good example. Honestly, Ken has been uncomfortable with the attention for his intention is pure. He felt like media is not necessary for exposure. Our goodness doesn't need to flaunt according to him. But as a person who journeyed spirituality, traveled and had seen life outside of my home. I totally objected on his reasons! I feel sorry for disagreeing with him of his principles in life. I am not saying He is wrong; I am not saying He is right either for I called his reasons as his authentic truth. However, I can't be silent about it because I'm a writer.
I have been working on a book that contains the life of the Angels in this world that human kinds are unaware. I can smell an Angel scent even from far away and can recognize them even before they speak. Once confirmed; I always encouraged them to get up and never give up and to be mighty in dealing life's challenges or else they'll fade away like a speck of dust.
Angels in this world are the weakest and have the worst suffering to endure but once overcome, their power can help heal the world. Angels are messengers and as a sister who lives with an angel, who shares my blood, do you think I can keep myself in silence? No.
I want my brother to share his message. God had given him the candle to light up a room. Sadly to say, my brother felt overwhelmed with all the attention for all of these came to him by surprise, that it clouded his clarity to share the word of God through his example.
I want to shake his body until it reaches to his soul this word "SPEAK!!! Do not be afraid! For being humble is no more humbling when you refused your story to the people who need it." The sadness I felt is tremendous when He unconsciously denies the stage that God had prepared for him. I prayed to God out of my desperation "Oh God, give him more clarity for He is just afraid. Let the holy spirit guide him when his judgment is unclear for the children needs his voice! Help him God."
I don't have humility, but I do not care for I want my brother to share his story because humanity needs his example. I want him to use the "15 minutes of fame" wisely to influenced as many people to do the same deed. So Teachers around the world can serve uneducated children even for free because we all can do it. Using our gifts and skills in our chosen profession are a light in the dark. We all have pure kind hearts in planted within us by our God. Nothing is ever impossible to reach out to the hands of the people who needs it. For God have called us to minister his good will to each one of us. God have called us to matter to each other. God have called us to heal one another, and God have called us to be a messenger of God's glory.
My brother didn't just teach those kids academics. My brother ministered to them as well of the work of God. My brother showed the kids kindness, humility, perseverance, patience, endurance, compassion, and sincerity. He made those kids felt LOVE. He built relationships with them over the years, guiding them and teaching them to love and help one another. He accepted them for who they are with their scratches and burn. They are his family, some of those kids lack attention, maybe barely get a hug. My brother gave it to them selflessly. In the end, it's not the money or materials, it's what you can give them that money can't buy, and that is your soul.
I can't decide for my brother's decision in life, but I left him this message to decide "When the world opens up, and you see God smiling at you, smile back and receive all the blessings from heaven for your blessings will be a blessing to the person near you, and it will ripple to not just one but to many! So take it!! It's all yours!"
God bless you all!! May the story of my brother will somehow touch your hearts and follow his deeds. I think the biggest thing that you can help my brother is you doing your good deeds to the person next to you, or to any person you will encounter. If my brother did it, you could do it too! Let's ripple all the Love we all have!!!
Thank You Cath Bagayna for this:
I always see this guy teaching less fortunate children at Divisoria. I find it so striking, unfitting -- ridiculous even, that a lone boy in his baseball cap, clean shirt and decent jeans, to actually sit on the floor with dirty, sometimes, rowdy street children without having to worry about safety and health. Rain or shine he is there, unmindful of the possibility that he might get sick. He reads them books like a big brother does -- teaching them A B Cs and colors too. I know it is rude to stare at other people's business but I did - can't help it! Until one day I finally had the courage to ask him questions.
I found out that he's a graduate of Xavier University BS in Education. Right now he doesnt have a job. He finds it very fulfilling to teach street children. He gets some of his books, crayons and other school supplies from donors and sometimes from his own pocket. And the best part is? He does it for FREE and he is, in no way, related to any organization. And just like that, my faith in humanity is a notch higher than it used to.
I asked him what he still needs. He says additional school supplies will do just fine and first-aid kit as well since some children would get wounded and could not afford to buy even a Betadine or band-aid.
I took his contact number and promised to donate goods that I could afford.
May God bless him well. May he continue to share his talent to those who need it most. You will go places, kid.
Update: He just got a job 2 days ago. He is now a teacher at XU.
