Family Tree: Trace Your Roots

My Great Grandparents

I haven’t met my Great Grandparents on both sides since they died before I was born. But my father told me that his grandparents were the exact opposite from each other. His father’s parents came from a rich family while his mother’s family was very poor. On my mother’s side, both came from the family of farmers. Even though they don’t have enough riches to impose significant contributions to the society, I believe they lived a life of honesty and dignity that reflected to their children who became my grandparents.

My Grandparents

My grandfather, Rufino, fell in love with a poor lady named Lorenza. His family was against their love because of their social status gap. But love is all powerful, it’s powerful than any riches on the land, and for that my grandfather was disowned and lived a life of simplicity and honor with my grandmother and their children. My mother’s father was part of the guerrilla, he was one of the brave veterans who fought for our freedom against the Japanese in World War II, and I am so proud of him. His wife, my grandmother, was a loving and faithful wife and mother, who raised her 12 children to be God-fearing and responsible adults. For me, that’s one big accomplishment, one that you can truly be proud of.

My Parents

I don’t know how to thank God for giving me the most responsible and loving parents in the whole world. My parents spent their whole lives working hard to give us a comfortable and bright future, and they did a very wonderful and successful job. We have learned from them the true value of honor and dignity, and to live in honesty and simplicity is the greatest contribution that you can give to the society.

My Brothers and Sisters

When we were kids, living with them was almost unbearable, the fights and the quarrels that lead to minor injuries. But there were also the abundance of laughter and happy moments together. Looking back, I can never imagine a life without them, for what I am today is the product of a happy and fulfilled childhood with my brothers and sisters.

My Daughter

Whenever one say “I’m complete”, it means that life has been good to her, and that life has given her all the desires and longings of her heart. It means that she has achieved her purpose and will continue to live that way. One day, a beautiful baby by the name of Jasmeen came along, I whispered a little “thank you” prayer to the Lord and said, “I’m complete”.