February 3, 2012
Dearest Lynette,
Your retreat is a time for reflection, for looking back, of what you have done in the past, and of looking forward, of the things you have to do, for the greater glory of God.
As you take your retreat now, Mom and Dad, are also reflecting of what we have done to you in the past, and to look forward, of the life ahead of you, which we know, would be more independent than what you have now.
We know you are special and gifted. It is by God’s design, and your parents’ nurturing too, even as you were yet in the womb. Your mom had to take a lot of vitamins and fruits, even against her stomach. It was a torture for her. But it was for you, so she endured.
We don’t know if you heard the Meditation of the Thais and other classical music, the music we played early in the morning, at around four every morning, even when you were still first month in the womb. We continued playing the music from first month up to the time you were born, and even up to the time you were two years old.
We did that since we read that would help your emotional stability and also to endow you with the gift for music. True enough, you are calm amidst the crowd, and a voice that soothes the senses. Do you still recall when you were six years old, when your Dad was the judge of a singing contest, you pleaded that you sing on stage, which you did, and sung your Lola Janie’s favorite PAPER ROSES? That night, you enthralled the audience. Maybe one day, you sing again.
Your music though took the backseat when you asked Dad to buy you a tennis racket, at the age of eleven. Since then, your life revolved around school, home, and tennis court.
The almost six years of tennis training have been rigorous and exacting. There were many hours toiling under the searing sun, early morning runs, and the many “tampos” with your Dad when you two disagreed on training schedules.
Tennis though has instilled in you the Spartan discipline, and the value of enduring pain to achieve a goal. These values will come handy in the future. Tennis has made you strong as a person.
That was before. Looking forward is something any parent would not want to venture but it must be done.
Few months from now, as you enter college, your Dad will not be knocking at your room for the early morning tennis training. It will now be your coach in the college varsity that would set the schedule. Few months from now, you will be on your own to go to the beauty parlor for your hair relax. Your ever adoring Mom will not be there anymore to accompany you. During weekends, we would miss you at the tennis courts. During home parties, we will miss you devouring chocolates, cakes, and other pastries.
Even as you become independent, we trust that the virtues you have learned will be there as your torch, as a guide. We are assured that the Ignatian ideals will be your crutch.
Finally, we know that you are in the stage of deciding what course you are going to take, and the career that you are to embrace. You told us you wanted to be a lawyer. Your Dad, smiles upon knowing that you want to follow his footsteps. But we want you to decide on your own. Whatever your choice, we would be there for you 101%.
Even as you become independent, and as you chart your path, remember that we are always your parents, and to us, you are our baby, to be cradled anytime and anywhere.
Your loving Dad and Mom
