Our Roan

My wife always teases me that one day, she's going to tell Roan my first reaction after I saw him the first time after birth. I was trying not to say it then but I couldn't help but ask my wife "Ba't ganun itsura?"

That was because when I first saw our baby boy he did look dark and kinky. It was only after several peeks at the hospital's nursery room did I realize that my son was quite a looker. And he did grow up to be a goodlooking kid. One time we brought him to the Quezon Memorial Circle and some adoring woman said to my wife, "Siguro foreigner parents nyan, ano". I guess she thought we were the yayo, yaya!

Roan brought us joy we have never felt before. At around nine months, he started to stand and and walk. Or should I say, run. Before reaching two years, he was humming the classical tracks of his favorite CD. I remember one time he even hummed the national anthem from start to finish. I was set to brag that our Roan learned to sing even before he uttered a single word.

Until, we had him checked by a developmental pediatrician. At around two years old, he was still not able to say "mama" or "papa", something which comes naturally to almost every other kid. He also did not have eye contact. He watched television oblivious to anyone else, even if you shout out his name. He used gestures instead of words in telling us what he wants. That was the first time we were told of the possibility of autism.

But God really knows. Years back, I got to know through the Internet the president of the Philippine Association of Speech Pathologists. I got to chat with her one time and I ended up helping her put up a website for their organization. As soon as I learned about Roan's condition, I immediately sought advice.

Thus, unlike other kids with similar condition, Roan had the opportunity of early intervention. He has been undergoing speech and occupational therapy since then and have been making great progress. At four, he already has a rich vocabulary, knows his letters, numbers, shapes and colors, and to say please for things he wants. Lately, he even says hi to people he meets. Now, that's something for a kid with autism.

Sign of the Cross

Come to think of it, it is quite funny why we make that extra motion of touching our chins after making the sign of the cross. It is funny because, if asked what is that for, it is very likely that very few if not none of us will be able to give a sensible reply. We seem to do it by force of habit, but for no known reason. Or so I thought.

Our recollection master this Holy Week, a young SVD priest assigned to do mission work at the tip-most part of Palawan, finally gave a plausible explanation. He told us that, during the Spanish times, believers were taught to make the sign of the cross by crossing their forefingers and their thumbs to form a small cross and touching that small cross on their foreheads, breasts, right shoulders and left shoulders, after which they were told to kiss the small cross with their lips.

The explanation actually gave deep meaning to what I have been doing mindlessly for years. Kissing the cross represents one of the key teachings of Christ. It reminds us that there are harsh things in life that we need to accept with humility and forgiveness. These are our crosses and kissing them makes us like Him, if only for a little bit.

How not to visit a mall

It was my first time to visit the SM Mall of Asia. It's been a long time since the mall opened but I haven't really had to chance to see it. What a way to see it for the first time. I went there to scout for an activity we were going to have the next day. So I was more concerned about the floor plan, the entrances, the exits, which way to go, and things like that. Good thing I have pictures to look at again. See them here.