A DAY IN THE LIFE

Last Saturday my son finished his first ever basketball training. I really wanted him to learn the basics in the most effective way before I teach him everything I know about the game. And I do believe that the best place to learn the fundamentals is at the MILO BEST Center. He completed his Level 1 training (which lasted six days) and I was happy with the results. Seeing him dribble the ball properly for the first time made me proud but watching him do the spider dribble was amazing. My son is also proud of his newly-acquired skills because he told me that he also wanted to learn and play my sport. His mom plays (and coaches) football and she enrolled him in a football school at the age of six that is why I didn’t teach him basketball earlier. Well, now that he’s learning the game, I hope that this will be the start of his basketball career.

A few months ago he told me that he will be the first Filipino NBA player and that he will give me courtside tickets for his first game. Man, that would be one memorable event. But for now, our garage is his playing court. Like what the Milo ad jingle says, great things start from small beginnings.

It was also last Saturday when my youngest brother had his pamamanhikan. The idea that he’s getting married a couple of months from now is somehow surreal to me. Definitely a weird coincidence… Fourteen years ago this month, I accompanied him to the graduation ceremony of the Philips Sardines Basketball Clinic (under the respected former national team coach Joe Lipa) where he received his first basketball training…

And now, he will be playing an entirely different ballgame.

"Tay, paano mo nalaman na ikaw ang tatay ko?"

Kids are expected to give the usual "paano ninyo ako ginawa" straight jab, that is why I was caught offguard by that unorthodox uppercut my son gave me last Monday— and a berserker barrage of questions followed. All this time I thought that I was prepared for that much awaited conversation with my son about the birds and the bees. Unfortunately, the words that came out didn’t seem to make any sense and my attempt to answer his questions went kerplunk. So I told him that I would answer his questions and explain everything after two days. I guess that’s enough time to prepare my materials (and to brace myself) for my son’s first day in Sex Education 101.

This morning I googled for sex education and how to properly present it to a child. I also took notes of what psychologists and child experts had to say about the do’s and dont’s in discussing the subject. Surfing the web as if my mouse was guided by providence, I stumbled upon The Hormone Factory. Eureka! It was exactly what I was looking for. The website is made especially for those curious ten to twelve year olds. Although my son is just turning nine next month, I believe he’s smart and mature enough to understand it. Besides, drastic times call for drastic measures.

I was still a bit nervous at first but with the help of The Hormone Factory (and some drawings that I made), I gradually felt relaxed and comfortable discussing sex education to my son. The interactive website is so cool even parents will enjoy browsing it (and wish they had Internet access during their childhood). It covers various topics like anatomy, puberty, pregnancy, sex and many more. There’s even a section on bullying. I still had to further (and carefully) explain a lot of things to him but at least it wasn’t as brain-wracking and as awkward as before.

At the end of our discussion, I asked my son if he understood everything that he learned today and if he still has anything to ask. In an assuring voice, he said he understood and that he has no more questions. I was relieved but I also became afraid. Why? Because I, too, was once a raging hormone factory.

Writing does not cause misery. It is born of misery. - Michel de Montaigne

I never had the chance to write an entry last April. Burnt out? Maybe. Today I am going to write and release. I want to keep my sanity so I can go insane again.

These past few days, my son and I were excited and all about his upcoming football tournament at Ateneo. It will be his second time to play there. They placed third in their category two years ago. I told him that I believe that they can win the championhsip this time.

The said tournament was scheduled for tomorrow, or so I thought. For days, I’ve been asking the other parental unit of my son what time the tournament will start so I can plan my departure from LB. It said that it will just inform me ASAP. This morning I texted it again and asked the same question. It’s reply: The tournament will start at 10am TODAY.

What the f**k?! I asked why I wasn’t informed. It said that it was only notified about the change in schedule at the last minute (I assume that was yesterday). F**k! That’s the lamest and sorriest excuse I’ve ever heard. My mother asked me if I can be here at the shop today for some important matters. I said yes because tomorrow I’ll be watching my son play and kick some coñio ass. But no! It was my ass that was played on. What pisses me off more is that this is not the first time that I wasn’t informed (or was misinformed) about my son’s football game. Once again, I never got to see my son play.

I don’t write these things to get sympathy or whatever. That’s the least that I want. All I want is respect. If you can’t respect me as a human being, at least respect me as the father of my son. That’s all I am so don’t you ever fu**ing take that away from me. I can be disrespectful too you know.

Enough of this. I’m sick and tired of this shit. I’m also sick and tired of using the asterisk key. Fuck.

I’m ready to have another miserable day.