The first step to a big leap

“What we have once enjoyed, we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us (Helen Keller, 1880 -1968).

Sunday is an enjoyable day with our first grandson, Nykko with his mother, Easter Colette. She is our eldest and architect daughter.  The usual family gathering was altered on Feb. 20, 2011 because our second daughter and the youngest, our only son were in Manila. They were in Cuneta Astrodome to receive their respective awards from the Unlimited Network of Opportunities Int’l Corp. (UNO).

Judy and I decided to spend the weekend at “Kalubian ni Lolo”. When Colette learned about it, she opted to go with us.  Together, we attended the anticipated Mass at Fatima Parish, Basak, Mandaue City.  Coincidentally,  we were part of the joyful celebration of its 35^th founding anniversary as a parish.

Early morning on Sunday, we were all set for the 2-hr drive to the farm.  Colette drove their KIA Sportage while I followed driving our ISUZU Elf loaded with planting materials, a variety of household refuse and extras to be recycled and reused in the farm.

I observed Colette to be driving professionally.  She maneuvered the heavy traffic with ease, speeding up in clear highways, slowed down when I was lagged behind and carefully and safely overtaking slow moving vehicles in uphill and downhill blind curves.  I recall how mad she was at me during her student-driving days.  Dissatisfied with me as her instructor, she enrolled herself in a driving school.  Momentarily, Noriel, her geodetic engineer husband is in Seychelles, Africa (Indian Ocean) patiently earning a living for their future.

While driving, I visualized a convoy of the “primary stewards”, the heirs of the late Mr. & Mrs. Fulgencio M. Perez who are on our way to develop, nurture and enjoy the ‘fruits’ of our pet project,  “Kalubian ni Lolo”.  This is an application area and our little contribution towards our social responsibility and simple solution to environmental problems.

As “mastermind”, I earnestly pray that during our family (ala-corporate) meeting scheduled on May 2011, we can come up with a ”we-opic vision” (not my-opic)  to focus on the cooperative and collective capability that will empower the “primary stewards” as an effective/productive multi-disciplinary team in our coconut-based permaculture living system. Unfortunately or fortunately, in the roster of team members, the air force pilot (newly married to our medical doctor niece) is crashed-out because of infidelity.  Being a bum, a good for nothing “son of a gun”, we allow him to “fly his separate way” with his “doomed flight plan”. 

The day before our trip, Colette presented her plan to celebrate the second birthday of Nykko this coming April 2011 with the children of the dwellers who are the “secondary stewards” of the farm.  It is a laudable, commendable and a great idea to socialize and establish a harmonious relationship with everyone involved in our “living system”.  We are with Colette’s best friend, Arch Care Abella-Huang with the thought “that one big leap starts with the first small step”.


I acknowledge and appreciate Colette’s initiative and creativity showing her leadership as the eldest among the grandchildren who survive their grandparents. The memorable experience of sharing snack items after tree planting last Nov 10, 2010 with the farm children must have triggered the idea.  We planted a hundred sour soup or guayabano  (a cancer healer).

 Niña, our graphics and advertising artist employed with the Cebu governor’s office with her husband Ramie, a young police officer and an IT expert; Colette with Noriel and I assisted by 2 farm workers enjoyed tree planting.  It was Noriel’s second planting session because he planted 38 “pangantuan” trees during his previous vacation.  During that November 2010 tree planting activity,   I pointed out their respective contributions in our “living system” considering their respective technical training and professions.

In conclusion, I am inspired by the immortal slogans of great and famous personalities:

“If we are together, nothing is impossible.  If we are divided, all will  fall” (Winston Churchill, 1874 -1965).

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” (Eleanor Roosevelt).