That was May 16, 1978 in the morning, when I realized I have new baby brother and I was five. I was ecstatic when I saw him, robust, healthy, and very energetic. We are extremely different but fond of each other and have one thing that binds us more, our love for our family. Our family is not different from yours, we have our own dynamics and face the same challenges that your family have too.
Physically, we are different, he is healthier and athletic, while I am health challenge guy and always stay indoor. He fancy things outdoor, I learn things outdoor from reading but both of us love to be in nature. He chases frogs and butterflies for me to study its morphology and taxonomy, he enjoys playing with it. He explore the vastness of the field, I sit on the middle of the field and enjoying observing it. He loves to climb the fruit trees, i love to bring him the fruit baskets but we enjoyed eating the fruits together.
Socially, he is we are opposite too. He is more of outgoing and I am reserve. He easily socializes with people of different strata while it will take time for me. But both of us always love to help and serve and sometimes beyond the line that occasionally both of us will in trouble for putting others first, trait that we get from the genes of our parents. Emotionally, he easily fall in love, I am not. He easily can move on from heartbreaks while I am still licking broken heart to health. He married young but I am still a bachelor until now.
But, unfortunately, he was gone so soon when he was still starting his family, leaving behind his young family. His untimely demise pains me so much and makes it difficult for me to understand and accept. However, it makes stronger and can happy to support others on how to cope the loss of their love ones. Maybe, it was destiny that we just share a limited period of time in these earthly dwelling and so that I can share what are the brothers are for.
We always look after each other, I do love him very much but I am not born to be expressive. Boys are often reminded in my family not to show emotions particularly in public. I do gave him gifts always but never say” I love you bro”. I often hug him when we were young boys but when we become teenagers we do not hugs any more particularly in public, only on special family occasion. However, during the last time that I saw him before I left, he said, “bro, you did not hug me yet”. I went back to hug him while asking assurance from him to take care of our family because I will be away long especially to take good care of our Tatay and Nanay in which he replied in affirmative. And I was guilty,during our last phone call conversation, I was in a hurry to in my next appointment for that day when I told him, I will call him back later but he said I have listen to him for a minute, when he uttered “ I love you bro”.
That 8th of September 2009, I wanted to sleep but I can’t and at 3:00 a.m. in the morning when I heard for the first time my Tatay over the phone, and said your brother left us already and I know what it means. I was not shocked but comforted my Tatay who is also my brother’s best friend. It was later when I climbed to the roof top of my dorm when I saw the flickering light sin the darkness that still envelope the city that I realized that a part of me is missing and not anymore complete, tear srolls down from my eyes in silence and in grief.
Reading the autopsy report in front of his coffin, my heart was full of anger and guilt. My brother died alone on that farm dirt road alone in agony and pain from the hacked wounds, I always wish I was there to treat him and comfort him in those critical hours. I wish I was able to hug him always and say to him how much I love him.
Even in his last hours, he still the very loving and protective brother of mine. He was always there like a lion with a kind heart, protective of his kin and family .He is physically gone now, I miss him but I am always assured he is always there for me and my family. Rest in peace bro, and enjoy the company of Nanay as always.
Now, I am always touch and have a deep appreciation and respect to see siblings especially brothers bonding together. How I wish my brother Jonathan is still alive. You are blessed if you still have your brother, treasure them like diamonds, they are the only one that you have, your real treasure, the brotherly love!
