My little brother is back home…


The title is a misnomer actually…coz he’s not so little anymore. In fact, he’s physically much taller than me now and he’s home for a vacation after spending more than two years as a layout artist/graphic artist for a big-time advertising outfit in Abu Dhabi so that makes him pretty much a BIG TIME GUY! Coz he earns a 6-figure salary …about 5 times more than I make in a month!

And truly…I find that ironic…Since back when we were younger, my brother was the one who usually gets scolded for having failing grades…he regularly attends summer classes …and gets a tongue lashing for coming home with his notebooks devoid of lecture notes and his books often left behind inside school classrooms, cafeterias or even during his jeepney rides home. Instead, his notebooks are filled with drawings of cartoon characters and other famous super heroes back then…I guess, he truly wasn’t into REAL STUDYING even back then…real according to normal standards of schooling, which is why he was always on the brink of failing although he did manage to finish high school.

Then, in college he went against my father’s (subtle) wishes to follow his career path of entering military school…well being the only son it was more or less implied that he would follow in Papa’s footsteps to the PMA and have that military career he never truly had. But instead, my brother chose to follow his heart’s true desire – to DRAW. He also sported long hair, tattooed back and arms (some of which he himself drew) and indulged in music (drums and electric guitars) My father never openly opposed any of his whims but he was disappointed and it shows through in not so many ways…still, he just let him be. In fact, my brother did not even finish his college degree because he did not want to take up ROTC because he’d have to cut his long hair short. He worked in small advertising firms and generally lived a musician bum’s life for quite some time…jamming with friends, chicks and booze.

Until he sired a kid…and I guess that’s what changed him…made him truly look at life seriously this time. He began to hold serious jobs, and for a time had a family – with wife and kid. But it was temporary – like most things in his life… just another thing he took seriously but only for a time until he got restless again…and he moved on. Except for the fatherhood thing – that is one thing I believe he would never renege on. And I guess it’s what pushed him to seek greener pastures abroad.

He’s been working in Abu Dhabi for more than two years now and I’m glad he’s making good there…now at least he can provide well for his family (he has 2 kids na though he’s long been separated from the mom…don’t ask me to explain coz he can’t either…) And he can also afford to indulge in his hobbies – photography and music during his lonely times working abroad…Now, he can also afford to shoulder some of Mama’s needs (even whims!) and can give generous gifts to his siblings (including me!), pamangkins and even friends.

But I guess more than the financial stability that he has achieved… I guess my bro can now lay claim to being ‘successful’ in his own way despite all the pitfalls and insecurities he had as a child. And in spite of all what the doomsayers and naysayers may have said about his future as a rebellious child. Now, he can thumb his nose at all of them and just be proud of what he has become…but I don’t think it is in his nature to do that… I guess what matters to him now is the recognition and importance granted to him now by my father – who is in a way, quite mighty proud of what he has achieved…coz no one ever expected that the one among us who did not finish college would be the one most successful!

God truly moves in mysterious ways…For what someone may lack in diligence and intelligence in studies, He would more than make up in talent and grit…and I guess these my brother had in abundance, and it paid him off very well…I can say without a hint of envy (okay maybe a bit) that I am also quite proud of what he has become. I just pray that he would continue to take advantage of all the opportunities that comes his way…that he would not just splurge all his earnings on highly technical non-essential gadgets and instead set aside something and plan for his and his kids’ future. I know that despite the good pay, it is hard to live and work abroad, staying too long away from the family – and I hope God continues to give him the patience and tenacity to survive loneliness and whatever hardship he may face there. Be strong bro… we’ll always be here for you!