Cavite Governor Remulla writes about his son

(Editor’s Note: On the campaign trail on April 22, 2013, re-electionist Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla, son of former Cavite Gov Juanito “Johnny” Remulla, wrote about his son Tiago. It was his son’s birthday and he wrote him at around 4:30 am because he would not be able to be with him and greet him. The young Remulla was re-elected governor in the May 2013 elections, with his rival Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi conceding defeat. We are posting Remulla’s piece with his permission. It shows a different facet of the young politician/governor. )

It’s my son Tiago’s birthday today. He’s turning 5. It was my father’s birthday 8 days ago. He just turned 80. They are the two most important men in my life and today I take a pause in the campaign to show my love and appreciation for the two.

My father is everything to me. He was never around because of his job. And when he was around, he never talked to me much mainly because most men of his generation rarely do. I don’t recall many conversations or guidance for it was my mother who took care of that. Nevertheless, while he was primarily “Gob” and “Boss” to everyone around, he still was a dad to me and the rest of my siblings. A good dad.

I’ll probably write a book about him one day. It will be a about a boy from Barangay Toclong in Imus, Cavite. Of how he was born to modest means who managed to become the man and leader most people aspire to be.

I remember stumbling across random notes my mother used to write and in one of them she was writing about all her children. There were notes about her children: my eldest sister Dolly and how she had a cast iron will, my brother Boying and his charming wit, my sister Chinky and her winning beauty-grace combo. Under me she wrote, “…although he carries the name of his father, he is nothing like him.”

I remember crying as a 17-year-old. My father was my hero, and I was his disappointment.

I’m 45 now and much has happened in my life. I am married to the most loving and forgiving wife, Aggie. We have 4 daughters and a son all of whom she showers with great love and affection. On my end, I shower my children with funny stories and remarks (at least that’s how I intend my tales to be). Although they tell me that they find my sense of humor totally “jeje,” I secretly know that they too are laughing (sometimes).

Now, I find myself reflecting about Tiago. 

More than any one, I know how difficult it is to bear the weight of expectations and how difficult it is not to live up to them. I have struggled with this all of my life and I don’t want him to go through the same. Instead of him living up to my expectations, I hope to live up to his.

He is 5 and I try to be as much a hero to him as my father was to me. On days of rest, we kick the soccer ball across the field, wrestle on my bed and play hide-and-seek with his sister Tobie. I have dreams for him, but I will never burden him with them for they are my dreams and not necessarily his.

I hope to always be there for him and all of his sisters. I hope that if times get too hard, we can find a way to stick together and ride out the storm. I hope that, as much as I have been blessed with the opportunity of leadership, they will be given the freedom to choose their own goals and seek them with all confidence. 

As for Tiago, I hope that he finds his direction in life and when he does I pray that my guidance and experience will illuminate the path. I hope to answer all his questions, however trivial or complicated. I hope that despite my feet of clay, I am accepted as a loving father and a good friend.

My father has just turned 80. Tiago is now 5. I love them both. They are my heroes. – Rappler.com