Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Rite of Passage!


mickey Posted by Hello

Coby Posted by Hello

Father and Sons Posted by Hello

It has always been said that the children are nothing but the parents all over again, only better. Here are pictures of my two boys. Mickey is the artist. He plays the violin. Been doing that since he was in grade three. He is a member of the school's symphony orchestra and one of the quartet who plays in concerts and school activities. As a visual artist, he paints using all sort of medium and is a member of deviant art. You can view his works here. Coby, on the other hand, is the youngest of the brood of four. He is the athlete among the lot. He belongs to the training team in swimming in school and plays basketball well. The last one is yours truly, when I was about their age. Can you see the resemblance? i have written a poem which I would like to share here. This was written right after the three of us had gone home after a three day camping trip to Makiling during the school's Father and Son camp. This has been published online. You'll find it here Hope you enjoy the pictures and the poem as well. Here goes:

Rites of Passage

I have camped on
these grounds when
I was young,
braved the thick forest
to test if I
could be a man.

Leaves relentlessly fall
raining down on my tent
weave a golden mat on the dirt
just like it did before.

Insects stubbornly
invade the silence
unfazed by the dark night
or the snores from
other fathers
tending their sons.

Inside my tent
two growing boys
saturated with play
innocently asleep
carelessly sprawled
on the sleeping bag.

How I envy the trees
defying the wind outside
with each offspring
a success,
they stand
sturdy and proud.

I come back
to camp on these grounds
once more
to test if I
can be a father
to these youthful boys.

35 comments:

batjay said...

ang galing ng tula mo tito rolly. medyo naluha nga ako. siguro naalala ko ang daddy ko. i'm sure mataas ang tingin sa iyo ng mga anak mo dahil cool na cool kang tao. and from what you've told us, you are really proud of your children.

medyo napansin ko lang eh mas guwapo ata ang dalawang bata kaysa sa iyo. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Romeo Moran said...

i must say sir i can't wait for this year's father and son camping. :P

cathy said...

naks titorolly, mukhang artista. like sons, like father.

Anonymous said...

tito rolly, mickey looks like you!

rolly said...

Bosing Ako din, maganda ang relationship ko sa tatay ko. Kaya naman na-mimiss ko pa rin siya inspite of the fact that 21 years na siyang namaalam.

panong magiging mas gwapo sila e ako ang original, hmmph.

Pepseeh malapit lang tayo this year. Lipa lang. I'm sure maraming sasama ulit.

Cathy Mukhang artistahin? Wag naman sanang pang kontrabida no? HAHAHA

Mari Talaga? At least sigurado akong anak ko lahat ang mga yan. Pinagtitingnan ko na lahat ng kapitbahay at talagang wala naman silang kamukha doon. PArang yung barkada kong mayaman. Sabi ko sa kanya, "Pare, sa palagay ko, lalaking magaling na driver yang anak mong bunso." "Ows, bakit mo naman nasabi yun?" "E kamukhang kamukha ng driver mo e.

Bayi You think so? I will have to disagree because if they look like me, then anything that befell me in the past will be whats going to happen to them. The truth of the matter is that I never had too many girlfriends. I am a one-woman man. ;-)

Jhun Billote said...

truly, the children are the parents' monument. our job's not done until we see them where we have envisioned them to be...it will be up to us how we lay the pillars of their developement.

nice to know a proud father or the other way around...proud sons! God Bless...

ting-aling said...

'gandang lalaki niyo pala noong bata kayo Tito Rolly. Anong nangyari? Hehe..just joking..pero mas gusto ko yung colored para hindi napaghahalata na dinadaanan este dumadaan ang panahon.

In fairness, guwapo rin naman yung inyong mga binatilyo..eh ayan nga at kitang-kita ko yang pagka proud ninyong ama.

rolly said...

Metal alam ko tatay ka din kaya you can relate to this post. Syempre, since our children are our legacy to the world, we have to make sure we raise them properly.

Tingaling Ewan ko nga ba kung ano nangyari. Naaksidente yata ako ng di ko alam e.

Tanggero said...

Iba napansin ko Sir Rolly, yung ngiti mo nung bata ka at yung ngiti mo sa picture sa profile, walang pinagbago...mukhang pamatay mo yang ngiti mo nung college days mo ah, ilan ba nadale nyan? heheheh
hopefully, mapalaki ko rin ng maayos ang anak ko, kaya nga madalas kong tinitingala ang mga mabubuting tatay tulad mo.

Unknown said...

Tito Rolly, now i truly believe that a good son is always a good father.

Dr. Emer said...

Mickey looks like you while Coby looks like Nitz, your wife. Even if you said you didn't have too many girlfriends when you were young, I'm pretty sure many girls had a crush on you, Tito Rolly.

Now I know how Mickey will look like 30 years from now.

You're a good father to your 2 boys, Tito Rolly, and there's not a doubt in my mind that they'll be good fathers to their sons as well. :)

BongK said...

good morning Sir!!!!

sana po eh wag nyo ipamana sa mga anak mo ang mga "illness" na namana mo sa magulang mo...

you are a good father to your children and im sure that they'll be like you when they reach your age now.. (ive seen micke's paintings, ang galing nya parang ikaw)

Anonymous said...

Hi, Kuya RO! :)

in the midst of all these pressures caused by the PAASCU visit, and my preparation for my compre this saturday, i thought of visiting your blog again. btw, i used to visit your blog everyday; but lately, very rarely coz of these pressures here in school. GUSTO KO NA TALAGANG BUMALIK SA CLASSROOM!!!

the first time i read RITES OF PASSAGE was the night we went to your house(i was with nancy then). i really found it heart-warming coz rarely we can find fathers sharing their thoughts, especially when these thoughts
concern matters of fatherhood...

today, the same poem gave me a different insight. the fifth stanza struck me the most. it begins with: HOW I ENVY THE TREES DEFYING THE WIND...i was reminded of my answer to a friend's inquiry about my ideal man. i remember telling her that i would like to have one who's a good provider and so on. today, after reading your poem, i was reminded to pray for someone who is
ready to defy the strongest foes to defend his me and his future children...

wilma

Mec said...

tito rolly, kamukha mo nga si mickey!!! :)


napaisip lang din ako...

minsan, naiisip ko, 20 yrs from now siguro i'd be longing for my youth back...

and then i'd turn around and see my kids and realize, i wouldn't have it any other way

and pray they grow up happy instead...

am pretty sure the same goes for you...

parenthood is a privilege... an honor... a great duty... and one hell of a learning experience :)

Rachelle Grace said...

grabe tito, na-touch ako. :)

Night Moon said...

lovely poem, and great kids, i still believe parenthood is the hardest occupation and it gets harder these times...kaya ayoko! hehehe

rolly said...

Tanggero Musta ka na? Tapos na ba ang operasyon mo? Wala naman akong masyadong nadale nung college ako e. Mahiyain kasi ko atsaka mas marami akong kaibigang babae kesa lalaki e pag kaibigan mo, syempre di talo diba? Thanks for the kind words. I'm sure you'll do the right thing with your kid. PAreho lang naman tayo e.

luchie_g I don't know if i had really been a good son. My father also had his share of headache with me. But thanks for the vote of confidence anyway.

Doc Emer Wag mong ipadidinig sa mga anak ko that you know how Mickey will turn out to be 30 years from now. Aalipustahin na aman ako ng mga yun. Sasabihin nila kay mickey, "ay papangit ka?" Bwisit no?

BongK Welcome back. Iba na talaga ang byahero. Alis ng alis. Thanks for your kind words.

Ate Wi Good luck on your compre. Tapusin mo na agad lahat yan at ng makapag tennis na tayo ulit. Tapos badminton sa hapon. o ano pa? Salamat sa dalaw ha.

Mec Buti ka pa, twenty years from now ka pa mag-lu-look back. Ako nandun na. There are a lot of things i regret not having done in my youth. I know I could have been better off today had I played my cards right all the time when I was young. Oh well...

Rache Haha san ka na touch? Sa pogi kong mukha? HAAHAHA biro lang, baka mawala paggalang mo sain hehehe

Demented Sinabi mo pa! Napakahirap nga pero it also has its highs. Mas marami naman ang sarap kesa sa hirap, so far.

Cerridwen said...

Mickey is quite a good artist. You might want to start collecting his work, who knows :)

a child's future will be the image of his parents combined with his individuality shaped by what he picked up and processed along the way of his maturity.

and judging by the kind of man you are and the kind of relationship you had with your father......you will be congratulated endlessly for having wonderful sons like them.

Toni said...

I feel the strong bond you have with your boys. :) They're very lucky to have a father like you, Tito R!!!

Nick Ballesteros said...

Tito Rolly! Anong taon po nakuha yung photo nyo? Kahit noon pala eh, showbiz na kayo! Kahawig nyo si Coby :-)

JMom said...

Ang po-pogi nyo naman! And talented to boot, laglag talaga ang mga girls :)

Ms. etc said...

Awwww, he's your son? Saw that site a month ago I think. He writes poetry and wants his works to be critique. Oh well, like father like son(s) eh?

ajay said...

wow! am floored. there's no doubt that you have very talented sons, tito..and that they're taking after their father. well, we all know that parenthood is not easy and i don't know if you agree with me that it's harder to raise a son than a daughter. in that case, am hats off to you and wifey for raising the two boys well:)

Jillsabs said...

tito rolly! natawa si ida nung nakita niya yung pic niyo pagkabata! hehehehehe

excited na ba kayo sa father and son camping next week? i know my dad is. naka-2 meeting na nga ang mga daddies. desidido sila mag-champion this year. hehehehe

rolly said...

Cerridwen As much as possible, we leave the children decide for themselves... that includes taking care of their things. Well, I have kept a few of his works but basically he has to learn how to keep his works.
Yeah, i just hope they pick up the good things and discard the bad ones.

Toni Actually parang magbabarkada lang kami pero syempre dapat alam nila kung kelan ako serious.

Watson Let's just say na matagal na yang picture na yan. Kita mo, sepia pa.

JMom Di naman siguro. My wife always stresses to the boys the importance of respecting women. So far naman wala pang mga girlfriends. Well, maraming kaibigan...

J I don't think he writes poetry yet. Maybe a long time coming , if ever...

Ajay Alam mo palagay ko mas mahirap magpalaki ng babae. Sabi nga nung iba, pag ang lalaki hindi umuwi, tatlo lang ang paghahanapan mo...Ospital, punerarya o beerhouse. Sa babae ang daming hangups... What if kung nasa motel...

Jillsabs nakita ni Ida? haha Oo nga malapit na Father and Son... Last time na yata ng daddy mo pag graduate ni Melo no? Baka sa apo naman, hehe

rolly said...

Cerridwen As much as possible, we leave the children decide for themselves... that includes taking care of their things. Well, I have kept a few of his works but basically he has to learn how to keep his works.
Yeah, i just hope they pick up the good things and discard the bad ones.

Toni Actually parang magbabarkada lang kami pero syempre dapat alam nila kung kelan ako serious.

Watson Let's just say na matagal na yang picture na yan. Kita mo, sepia pa.

JMom Di naman siguro. My wife always stresses to the boys the importance of respecting women. So far naman wala pang mga girlfriends. Well, maraming kaibigan...

J I don't think he writes poetry yet. Maybe a long time coming , if ever...

Ajay Alam mo palagay ko mas mahirap magpalaki ng babae. Sabi nga nung iba, pag ang lalaki hindi umuwi, tatlo lang ang paghahanapan mo...Ospital, punerarya o beerhouse. Sa babae ang daming hangups... What if kung nasa motel...

Jillsabs nakita ni Ida? haha Oo nga malapit na Father and Son... Last time na yata ng daddy mo pag graduate ni Melo no? Baka sa apo naman, hehe

ajay said...

hahaha. hindi ko pa naman iniisip na nasa motel ang mga anak ko, limang taon pa lang eh. natakot naman ako. basta ngayon, mas mahirap magpalaki ng lalaki kasi super likot, ang hilig sa video at tamad mag-aral pero nunka, kasali pala sa quiz bee,haha

poppycock said...

tito rolly,

how nice this post :) i followed mickey's link to deviant art. wow! your son is on to the finer things in life. you must be proud of him. i think your athletic coby looks like you. you are blessed to have these fine young boys.

but when can i see your work?

cheers,
misispi

santi said...

Tito Rolly,

..."that the children are nothing but the parents all over again, only better." So true especially if parents have done their share of bringing them up and supported them in order that they can pursue and achieve their dreams and bring out the best that they can make out of themselves.

Kakaingit ka you have all of your time with your kids and you are very lucky to have kids who are very talented as well as good looking.

Buti yung kuha mo nung maliit ka colored na, ako puro black and white eh.

Sassy Lawyer said...

kung pwede lang sana na yung mga mistakes natin in life pwedeng ituro para din na nila maranasan, ano? but they have to learn their own lessons...

Mec said...

but tito... you learned from all the uninformed choices and the compromised dreams, did you not?

and you're still living a full life, aren't you?

that's what matters... that's what counts...

although yes, of course, it wouldn't hurt to seize the day :)

Anonymous said...

A father's love for his sons. Great site! I'll surely be visiting again!

http://thelastmuse.blogspot.com

Svelte Rogue said...

tito rolly, did you know i was here when your entry was still super new? i couldn't get into the comment posting page... kaya ayan, pang 35th na ako after a week.

wanted to say then... your sons look great. mukang kamuka mo si second one. bilib ako na they're into music and sports. those are the things that make my world go 'round.

take care.

sachiko said...

You seem to be a family man,a good son and a good father,that's nice! I'm sure your students will gain a lot from you,not only academically.

I post a lot about my kids,too. I have three,19,16 and the youngest is a boy (14) who is giving me a headache now because he'd changed a lot (mind hopping to my blog and tell me what you think,since you have two boys..It's "Growing up" (January post) at http://sakurasampaguita.blogspot.com thanks!

A lot of people tells me too that my daughters look after me and the girls will roll their eyes and how I wished I've taken a lot of pics when I was their age..I was young once too,girls! would always be my standard reply..

cheers!

Anonymous said...

Ajay HAHAHA hindi naman yun fast and hard rule. Syempre it will still depend on how you raise them. and still, hindi ka pa rin sigurado. Depende pa rin sa environment nila. MAhirap talagang maging magulang no?

Mrs P aka mayamaya Thanks. Masipag yang si Mickey atsaka nag-iisip kaya lang minsan tamad e. Hindi ko naman ma-obliga dahil baka mawalan ng interes. Marami nagsasabi, si Mickey daw kamukha ko. Ngayon tatlo na yata kayong nagsabing si Coby. Mabuti naman kasi magwawala ako kung kapitbahay ang kamukha nila e. hahaha

Santi Ang talagang swerte ko e kasama ko sila sa eskwela. Mind you hindi ako stage father ha. Pinababayaan ko silang dumiskarte ng sarili nila.

Sa totoo lang, black and white yung picture na yon Ewan ko, during the 70's may pinsan akong photographer (may he rest in peace) and one of his preoccupations was to add some semblance of color to black and white photos kaya ayun!

Sassy Alam mo, ang theory ko e kahit sabihin pa natin sa kanila ang mistakes natin, short of tinuturo sa kanila ang mga ito, di pa rin tayo siguradong hindi nila gagawin e. Nasa age of discovery sila and sometimes at that age, they think they're invincible and is far from harm's way. Sometimes it's too late before they realize they're in big trouble.

Mec YEs on all points. I haven't given up. I would be fighting the fight even until I'm 90. Believe me. hehe

Cindy (that's your name, right?) Tanong lang. Bakit hindi ka nag-sign in ng pangalan sa comment box? Automatic na ng mag-eestablish ng link yun and you don't have to write your addy anymore. Thanks for the visit. I liked your site, too. Will comment soon.

Svelte Welcome back! Buti naman at nagtyatyaga ka. Minsan talaga mahirap i access ang comment box ng blogger e. How's Belgium these days? Makapal ba yelo?

Sachiko Been to your site. I was trying to look for your blog the first time you came here but it isn't available in your profile. You see, when you log in to the comment box, it provides a link to your profile, not the blog. i'm glad you added the addy here. Thanks for your comments. I'll drop by your site again soon.