Yesterday, I went Tarlac to do an important task. I went there to become the godfather of a child. My friend Lany had come home from the US to have her Daughter dedicated here. Now as Pinoys would have it, Christian denominations other than Catholic also hold a "binyag."

You see for Pinoys, the significance of "binyag" or christenings aren't limited to the religious. It also has cultural aspects that define us as who we are. It's a thanksgiving of sorts to the God of your belief. You invite friends and family to participate in the ceremony and partake of the small feast you prepared. You cannot do away with food. Food is an intrinsic part of Pinoy celebrations. Feeding a small multitude is tantamount to an offering. That's how a feast for the saints (fiestas) work, that's how it is with a "binyag." So, Catholics have their christenings and most other Christian denominations have a dedication.

I went to Tarlac with my son, wife and mother and became a "ninong" for the 6th time in my life. It was an important role given only to the closest of friends. I was glad to have been remembered by this dear friend of mine that she wanted me to become a godfather to her child. It was a memorable day, and my son was there to witness it. The time will come when he too will become a ninong to someone's child, and he will remember that I taught him the impotance of tradition and friendship.

In the larger scheme of things, all of life's miseries can be blamed on the self and the untiring pursuit of things we feel will complete us. But in the end it all comes down to insatiable desire of the ego to have, covet and possess all that there is. Greed is what fuels us. Wouldn't it be futile to go on then if all that makes us do what we do is that which can destroy us? When the thirst can never be quenched?? When the desire will only end when we lay in our cold grave???

What else is there to look forward to ?

Its been a long while. I haven't had that much time to surf the net. Been busy with work. After about a week in the graveyard shift, they offered me slot in the 5 am - 1 pm shift (the torture shift!) which would last for a month or until they settle our next shift schedules which are set to change on April 4. I had to accept it though. To paraphrase Don Vito Corleone, "make him an offer he can't refuse."

They offered me a Saturday off. My wife has the weekends off, and I don't. It's been ages since I managed to land a Saturday off. She wanted me to take it. End of story.