Name: Br. Winston C.

Quilaton (ESHT) Course Description: Advanced Philosophy of Man

How does it feel to have a family? Does a perfect family exist consistently? I existed
in this world under a lenient and incomplete family. First, while growing up, we have the
attitude to rebel against our parents for the biased treatment they show us. Due to this,
our parents tolerated our actions for they could no longer control our misbehaviors.
Second, we were no longer complete for a reason that one of my brothers already passed
away two years ago when I was still in the seminary. It was a painful feeling to be apart
from your loved ones especially when I could not take a visit during his funeral wake and
final farewell. Although we have pets and other domesticated animals, they could not
replace the happy and old family picture we had. I could not even say that it was home for
a reason that most of my siblings already settled in distant places. Our hometown is in
Kidapawan but my brother’s address is in Ilo-ilo. My sister is in Magpet while I am here
in Cavite. Evidently, we never had the chance to have regular family bonding. We could
not even go to church because of their busy schedules and conflicting religious beliefs. I
could not also remember that we had an agreement or basic house rules for we could do
anything that we wanted inside the house. Although there were household chores, it
became the reason for our fight. We pinpointed each other about it but in the end, my
parents would do most of it. As a result, our family was a complicated one and we hated
each most of the time. The anger issues also drove us away from each other. There was a
time when two of my brothers fought against each other in a bloody manner and then one
of them was nearly dying.
Maybe these are some of the reasons why I am always rebellious against my parents
and siblings. They could not control us because of family leniency. Despite of this, I did
not blame them because it was how they nurture us and I still respect them for they are
my parents. In this manner, I began not to believe any kinds of traditional practices and
beliefs that my parents taught. For instance, Filipinos are fond of believing superstitious
beliefs. My grandparents taught it to my parents and they valued it so much that they
would try to insist on it in the current family. My mother would say, “Ayaw panguy-ab
ug pangayo ug kwarta samtang ga tong-its ko kay mapildi ko.” I would immediately
cross my eyebrows because I did not understand what she talked about. Was there
scientific proof that it might eventually lead to her defeat or just a coincidence? Another
instance of my disbelief is the kind of planned decisions they made for my future. They
wanted me to become either a professional doctor, computer technician, engineer, or
lawyer. However, I am an entitlement person as a result of growing up in which, I could
not love the things they would suggest. In the end, I would find other ways and had my
decision-making in life. I choose the priesthood track because my family is not religiously-
inclined and I want to have my own identity in life in which I may find my happiness and
contentment.
Nevertheless, these personal lived experiences within my family are typical that
everyone should be thankful for, not in a way that we should follow it, but on the benefits,
it gives oneself a pure understanding of his or her own identity. This natural occurrence
helps me to have my own identity and be fully aware of my surrounding. Furthermore, I
should value most, not the things that I should believe because it is their belief, but rather
the things which give me the freedom to choose the track I want to follow.