May, 2010
Dear Justine,
We took time to attend the graduation ceremonies of Otay Ranch High School held at the Southwestern College stadium, yesterday (June 2.) It was a warm day. Traffic was heavy. And older adults such as your Grandpa and myself are not used to the screaming of friends and loved ones in the audience every time the names of the graduates are called.
In the Philippines, graduation ceremonies are so solemn that witnessing one here, especially your graduation day, makes us feel less comfortable.
But we made our way in through the thick crowd after almost emptying our gas tank in search of a parking space. We wanted to be there to witness a very significant ceremony, not only for you but for us, your grandparents. To us, education, is the most important family value. One of the speakers, Arlie Ricasa, President of the Sweetwater Union High School Board of Trustees who also handed your diploma, shared an advice she got from her parents which was also our own parent’s advise to us and which we are handing to you: “People can steal your car. They can steal your jewelries. They can break in to your home and steal all your valuable belongings but they can never steal your education!”
We are in your graduation ceremonies because we are proud of your accomplishments. We are happy to see you receive your diploma – a significant symbol of your success in acquiring basic secondary education. But this is just the first step. There are more steps ahead of you as you pursue higher education towards a meaningful lifetime career. There will be more trials and challenges that you will encounter. We are confident that you would be able to surmount all these because of the love and care being showered by your parents, brother and sisters, the spiritual nurture embedded by both your maternal and paternal grandparents, and the influence of your many cousins, aunts and uncles and even friends who continue to surround you with deep affection.
Graduation is actually a commencement towards the pursuit of higher goals and more noble ideals. You have to be clear of what you are aiming for and focus your efforts in achieving them. There will be temptations around you but strength of character, wisdom and courage that springs from your heart and mind will carry you through.
We can share with you our wisdom and experience as your grandparents who have traveled more than a thousand miles in their journey through life.
We have traveled through plains and valleys, forests and mountains and have walked through unchartered paths and tortuous terrain . We are about to reach the end of our journey which started in the Philippines fifty five years ago. There is one truth we would like to share with you: It is God and God alone that carried us through. With God all things are possible.
Press on!
Your loving grandparents,
Winlove and Aurora
Thursday, July 1, 2010
A letter to my grandson on his graduation from high school
April, 2009
Dear Joseph Winlove,
Almost seventeen years ago, I decided to come to the United States upon the invitation of your Mom who was then about to deliver her first-born baby. She wanted me to be at her bedside when she delivers you, a request that no mother can deny. So I filed a leave of absence from my job as Director of the Center of University Extension Service, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, hoping that I will be able to go back to the Philippines and resume my work after you were born.
Upon my arrival, I found many of your Mom’s friends gathered at the garage of your home. There was a surprise welcome party for me! Your Mom is fond of giving surprise parties, you know. She was so excited and tired that afternoon preparing the food and entertaining her guests. She was already full term but there she was trying her best to be a gracious host and to make me feel at home. She told me that my arrival was timely. Her baby will be due in a week’s time.
The morning after the party, I heard a commotion. Your Mom was rushed to the Sharp Memorial Hospital. You came earlier than expected. The Soriano and Cudal families were all excited to receive into this world a healthy, normal and handsome baby boy. Your Dad recorded the moment with his video camera. He was so excited. The birth of a baby boy to any Filipino family is most welcomed – they are bearers of the family’s name.
Your parents were not so creative in choosing your first names – Joseph Winlove – they just adopted the names of your two grandfathers, the Rev. Jose Soriano and Winlove Cudal. Parents often choose the names of their forebears for their children as a sign of love and respect, especially when the bearers of the name are honorable and worthy of emulation. It goes without saying that your Grandpa Jose and your Grandpa Winlove are very good and godly men. You should be proud that you bear their names.
Your grandparents took good care of you while your parents returned to the normal routine of earning a living, with a difference. They have now a reason to work harder. They have a son who will one day go to college. They have to prepare for his future. They would like him to get the best education that they can provide. Their hopes and dreams are to see their son succeed in life and college for them is the ultimate venue to build your dreams on and to prepare for life.
That time has come today as you step out of Otay Ranch High School with a diploma on hand. You will start a journey of a thousand miles to pursue a career. Your options are unlimited. But the final choice is yours. You should decide what you would like to be five years or ten years from now.
Life is a matter of choices. It is up for you to choose the right from the wrong, the good from the bad. Making choices is not easy. It takes discernment, wisdom, courage and prayer. Never underestimate the power of prayer. With God as your anchor, you will always be able to make wise decisions. You have to look into your core values which I believe you already have developed through your growing up years.
You are now on your own and you have chosen to pursue higher education in a different state – Utah. I don’t know why you have to go out of California but it was your decision and I respect that.
I love you enough to give up my prestigious job and to leave my homeland. You are the reason for my being here and I thank God that I had the opportunity to sing my sweetest lullabies for you every single night during your first eight months. Those were precious moments for me.
The future is bright for you. Go out there and pursue your dreams. We are here to cheer you on.
Happy graduation day!
Dear Joseph Winlove,
Almost seventeen years ago, I decided to come to the United States upon the invitation of your Mom who was then about to deliver her first-born baby. She wanted me to be at her bedside when she delivers you, a request that no mother can deny. So I filed a leave of absence from my job as Director of the Center of University Extension Service, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, hoping that I will be able to go back to the Philippines and resume my work after you were born.
Upon my arrival, I found many of your Mom’s friends gathered at the garage of your home. There was a surprise welcome party for me! Your Mom is fond of giving surprise parties, you know. She was so excited and tired that afternoon preparing the food and entertaining her guests. She was already full term but there she was trying her best to be a gracious host and to make me feel at home. She told me that my arrival was timely. Her baby will be due in a week’s time.
The morning after the party, I heard a commotion. Your Mom was rushed to the Sharp Memorial Hospital. You came earlier than expected. The Soriano and Cudal families were all excited to receive into this world a healthy, normal and handsome baby boy. Your Dad recorded the moment with his video camera. He was so excited. The birth of a baby boy to any Filipino family is most welcomed – they are bearers of the family’s name.
Your parents were not so creative in choosing your first names – Joseph Winlove – they just adopted the names of your two grandfathers, the Rev. Jose Soriano and Winlove Cudal. Parents often choose the names of their forebears for their children as a sign of love and respect, especially when the bearers of the name are honorable and worthy of emulation. It goes without saying that your Grandpa Jose and your Grandpa Winlove are very good and godly men. You should be proud that you bear their names.
Your grandparents took good care of you while your parents returned to the normal routine of earning a living, with a difference. They have now a reason to work harder. They have a son who will one day go to college. They have to prepare for his future. They would like him to get the best education that they can provide. Their hopes and dreams are to see their son succeed in life and college for them is the ultimate venue to build your dreams on and to prepare for life.
That time has come today as you step out of Otay Ranch High School with a diploma on hand. You will start a journey of a thousand miles to pursue a career. Your options are unlimited. But the final choice is yours. You should decide what you would like to be five years or ten years from now.
Life is a matter of choices. It is up for you to choose the right from the wrong, the good from the bad. Making choices is not easy. It takes discernment, wisdom, courage and prayer. Never underestimate the power of prayer. With God as your anchor, you will always be able to make wise decisions. You have to look into your core values which I believe you already have developed through your growing up years.
You are now on your own and you have chosen to pursue higher education in a different state – Utah. I don’t know why you have to go out of California but it was your decision and I respect that.
I love you enough to give up my prestigious job and to leave my homeland. You are the reason for my being here and I thank God that I had the opportunity to sing my sweetest lullabies for you every single night during your first eight months. Those were precious moments for me.
The future is bright for you. Go out there and pursue your dreams. We are here to cheer you on.
Happy graduation day!
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