I think almost everybody knows Superman, Wonder Woman and for that matter – the League of Heroes in the Hall of Justice, and the graceful femme, Barbie in her wondrous animated adventures. What about Voltes 5? Kiddy idols put flames on young hearts with the candid intention of bringing great aspirations and firing up imaginations while mimicking their heroic deeds from their triumphant battles against evils, for their never ending saga of waging seemingly endless war against all scheming villains, and for their coveted ways of upholding what is right and just even at the cause of their lives. All these have understandably shaped every kid’s heart and the with moral lessons they get from watching them. The implication is real but their subtle makings are all from imaginary works of art. So why do we look upon them as idols or heroes of our lives? Well, maybe the reason behind this justifies what is something within us and working out also to win something worth fighting for and for some reasons, we wanted to be like them with the power and abilities to battle against the odds. Yet, in all reality we are just human, and I have already come to reconcile with this idea at my young age. Most of the time, we also learn from others ways, from others mistakes and from others achievements. That is why, it is encompassing to place a conclusion why the subject History is integrated in some curriculums simply to know the real heroes of our times and the great makers of mankind’s histories. My father thought me this.
So you can pick your own hero or an idol with his values to live with, but in this column, I would like to tell you of an idol I looked upon, a hero in our family we all looked upon and with all certainty, one of our family circle’s main source of inspiration for his unparalleled strength, determination and will to battle against the real odds of life. I humbly talk about my father whom I looked upon not only as a loving and supportive father but also an idol in all aspects and an accommodating friend and brother to us. With all honesty, he told us that I and my sister are not only his precious kids but also his kiddie friends.
Before I and my sister transferred here in Santa, little was known to us about our father. He barely even talk about his school days in the elementary. He never told us anything how is it like during his elementary days. As time goes by, we learned who he really was and not just from our grandparents and neighbors but also from our relatives and other prominent people. In fact, most of my teachers during my elementary years and some parents of my school mates who knew him well would tell stories about him. Yes, he is actually well known not only for his achievements before in school but also in other mannered aspects. And even today people in our place knew him so well as if his name was somehow imprinted on their minds for some reasons. Surprisingly, his characteristics were true and transparent to his two younger brothers and her only sister. Most certainly, they made marks wherever hey go.
I managed to write for this column with the help of my mother. I do not want anybody holding a feeling against me boasting about my father. After all, every class, then and now has its own pride and whose parents are them now, are also blessed. The story begun when I was in Grade I, back then when we were still residing in Manila. My father met a vehicular accident while en route for work and has sustained severe injuries. I would often look at his x-rays and CT scan results filed up out of curiosity but could not have the slightest idea. Only in my later years that I came to know and understand the severity of his case. He suffered major injuries in the spinal column having his cervical 3, 4, 5 and 6 cracked and worst, a burst fracture of cervical 7. He was physically shrunk an inch due to spinal compression. The doctors even took or chipped bones from his hips to patch the burst one. I could remember then during our visit at the Makati Medical Center the intense pain and grief he was suffering. I could only imagine that someone of his condition would sweetly prefer death. No visitor would leave his room without a tear in his or her eyes on his very sight. He grew so thin and pale. He was completely immobile from neck down to the lower extremities for almost six months and with the intense sensitivity to pain. Our relatives, most especially our family almost seemed to find no consolation. But he still has the courage to tell that he is more than happy that none of us was on his present state. His neurosurgeon and his therapists apparently confronted him with the unbearable declaration that he could no longer ever stand on his own and walk again. It was a very surprising act, according to my mother, that he persuaded them to tell him the truth. But this did not quite affected him a bit as he would always say every time during our visit that he could soon be able to walk again with the grace of God. He made that promise to us and as time went on, he actually defied the laws of medical science. He stopped taking pain relievers several months after leaving the hospital and also stopped availing for the therapy rehabilitation, as he managed to perform the therapy himself with the help of our mother and father’s brothers. He reasoned that the process is too costly and instead mother should just use the money for his therapy for our studies. We watched him struggled those turtle pace in his four-legged clutches and stretched those weary hands day by day. We watched him lovingly fed by our mother every meal for less than a year, spoon to spoon. It really came the days, that a very strong man like him even trained in PMA came helplessly incapable of nearly everything. Those were the hardest days of his battles in life. I was told that his doctor at Makati Medical Center was even amazed to see him standing during his last annual checkup and even his neurosurgeon doctor at Vigan did not believe his case until he himself saw his medical files. He said he had seen death and was able to escape from it, and to turn back now is giving up everything. I believe God was really with him, for none could ever shed a sheer determination and a strong will to be able to move a paralyzed muscle and walk again if without the grace of God. I learned that from our Religion Class and he also thought us of that virtue – to rely everything to God. Most people I have known would always complain for a small pain, but never did I hear my father complained pain in front of us. He thought us that feeling pain is a constant reminder of being alive. Most people would tell him that it was a miracle that he survived, yet he would often respond not look for miracle as miracle always happens when you woke up each morning still alive and breathing.
It has been more than 9 years now since he met that tragic accident in the wee hours of June 29, 2002. For those who are in pain, he could only advise to make them as offering and as form of atonement and sacrifice. To date, he honestly told us that his whole body is still in constant pain but have long come to bear it. Perhaps his only consolation is to see us happily grow by his side. He tended our gardens and cultivated orchids as a reminder of his slow recovery because orchids develop very slowly. Hew also had a number of love birds he tirelessly care probably to divert his pains.
Yes, he is my idol. Our idol in the family. He was a born fighter and he always fights for what he believes is true. He is very gentle yet, also strict in discipline. Sometimes, there are things we can not fully comprehend but later understand before going to bed as he explains the reasons of disciplining us. He is also very wise and I think experience thought him that. I have learned also that he was a self-supporting student during his college days. He worked for the day and attends classes at night so I guess he value education so much, but he always leaves unfinished lessons when teaching us. He always tells that giving us everything would make us dependent and that finding the final solution will always be done by us. Now tell me, is my idol a family hero or a super dad? I think he’s more than that. My father is Rodel Garcia, do you know him?
