National Siblings Day: April 10

Celebrate April!

Other things may change us, but we start and end with family. – Unknown

There are seven siblings in my family. Six of them are my brothers. Mum used to call us her Seven Crosses. On our good days, we were her Seven Angels.

It has been really easy for me to recite our ages because they are in multiples of two’s. Like when there was a baby (0 years old), the siblings were 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12.

Until we had a proper bedroom, my siblings and I slept on woven mats on the living room floor. 

It was on my 13^th year, I think, that I got my own room. The Brothers got their own space as well. It was furnished with three double-decker beds.

Perfect.

Two of them were my mortal enemies: Brother No. 1 and the Youngest No. 6.

BROTHER No. 1 and I celebrate Christmas at Lolo Gorio’s. Manila: Circa 1949

 

My favorite brother was Brother No. 3. He was my partner in crime. 

All seven siblings quarreled regularly. Those that say they never fight are most definitely hiding something.

At other times, we were the best of friends, sharing a sugar cane or spitting watermelon seeds at passers-by.

Official Studio Foto on BROTHER No. 3's second birthday. Manila: February 5, 1953

FOUR BROTHERS, so far. BROTHER No. 4 was zero years old.

Now that we’ve grown, I have come to realize how they were like stars. They may have annoyed me, but at least they were always there.

 

When we get together, it’s like a stand-up comedy show. We can make each other laugh until our stomach hurt.

Foto with inscription in Mum's handwriting. Manila: October 7, 1973

I had left for America four months earlier when this foto was taken.

My brothers may not always be at my side,

but they are always in my heart.