The GAJOs on New Year's Eve 2009

New Year's Eve was definitely for the GAJOs.

After almost 40 years, the Gajo siblings had come together at last.

One by one they came, Manoy (Wito), Manay (Nene), Ade, Nenette, and me. Each bringing along different memories of the past, each depicting a character, a life, a belief, and scars in feelings and preferences.

Manoy had this dream of having all his siblings around him. That wish came true and even for only 24 hours starting on New year's eve, we gathered around him coming from all different places, California, Canada, Florida, and the Philippines.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I saw the rare twinkle in Manoy's eyes, the all-giving and all-loving gestures as he sang along with Nenette and Ade, the fulness of his mouth as he laughed and smiled all throughout the night, and most of all, the invisible love that was there, which I felt and which we all want to feel.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL YOU LOVELY GAJOs!!!!