Happy Holidays!

A lifetime companion and friend. My kuya RJ is the only brother I’ve ever had. There’s a saying that it is by chance that we have relatives, but it is by choice that we have friends. With Kuya, it is both.

My bodyguard. Well, not all the time, but I know he is my unspoken defender and protector whenever I need him. This goes for both physical and emotional situations.

On-the-spot escort. When I had my debut celebration 2 years ago, he was the first choice. Thankfully, having no “someone” was not a problem at all.

A prompt movie buddy. With Kuya, it’s just “Nood tayo ng [insert current movie playing here].” Two hours later, we’re off to the nearest cinema. I can’t count all the movies we’ve seen together, but it was always fun everytime. We’ve seen Van Helsing (in which we laughed gaily at David Wenham for his monk portrayal), Peter Pan (which he slept through), and Shrek 2 (in which we chortled like we were back in our kiddie years).

A walking Bible. Kuya has always been a Bible reader. I consider it one of his best characteristics. Not just because whenever I’m searching for the particular book and chapter where a verse is, I can just ask him right out, but because I know that this habit has helped him grow more as a child of God. He uses these verses as a weapon against transgression. I wish I could be the same Bible fanatic that he is. Oh, and this has helped him win a few Bible quiz bees, too.

Absorber of my moods. We spent half of our college years living in my auntie’s loft in Manila. So we had to endure each other. Unfortunately he had to do more of the enduring because I am a moody person. My brother must have seen me in a cranky state countless of times. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to be too affected and didn’t lash out at me in return. (:

My steady Valentine. For all those times I didn’t have that “someone” everyone’s supposed to spend Valentine’s day with, my brother filled that nothingness by giving me a V-day card or flowers every Hearts’ day.

Someone to influence my obsessions with. I am talking about my Lord of the Rings fanaticism. Although he has never reached the level of a fan that I am, he loved the movies and the music from the films as well. I think it’s just natural when at home I must have seen the DVDs (and HBO screenings) countless of times and played the soundtracks time and again.

My personal Santa. When I express my desire for certain things but am not financially capable of obtaining them, my brother remembers those wishes and gives them to me as presents when occasions turns up. For instance, last Christmas season we were at Tower Records and I was mooning over an Orlando Bloom calendar. Well, wouldn’t you know it? A few days later, Kuya gave one to me as a Christmas gift.

The only athletic member of the family. With the exception of my father when he was younger, Kuya is a good basketball player and fanatic. The only true Michael Jordan fan who has each and every pair of the legend’s shoe versions starting from XIII (I think). My own athletic capabilities, you ask? Well, I’m more of the cheerleader. I cheer my brother on when he plays in leagues in our subdivision.

Testimonial generator. Yes, I am referring to Friendster here, haha. My brother’s testimonial for me meant a lot the most. Feel free to read it.

My personal driver. Actually, this is soon-to-be. He has just been to driving school and is still a beginner. But I just know he will gladly drive me to wherever I need to get to when I ask him (or beg) when he becomes a pro already.

My Fort Knox of Secrets. I have yet to fully test this characteristic because when we were in elementary school, I remember having a crush on his best friend. One day, word just slipped to the friend about my silly admiration for him. Well, you guessed it right. Kuya was the culprit. Of course, it’s all different now. I’d like to think that my secrets will be safe with my brother when I entrust them to him.

Someone to joke and laugh with anytime. Kuya and I have this understanding when we joke on things. If you didn’t know what we were talking about, then you wouldn’t understand what was so funny. We’d often laugh at and mimic funny scenes from movies, funny lines and even actions and facial expressions. And this can go on every time even though we are not watching the film.

Commuting companion. There were times when I had to commute from Laguna to my school in Manila. And I disliked commuting to and fro alone (the reason elicited by unpleasant experiences traveling by myself). That’s why it’s such a relief whenever my brother had to go to school on that particular day also. I’m more comfortable when I have someone to accompany me.

Two of a kind. We are a singing duo! When we were younger, we used to do duets in church singing Psalty’s music and other kiddie Christian songs. We even had some choreography, courtesy of my mother. Hahaha. Now, we ditched the choreography and we just stick to the singin’.

More responsibilities are given to him. Such as setting the example. Hehe. Actually, as a girl, I am expected from more when it comes to household work. That’s hard, too. :P

No proper comparisons can be made because he’s a boy and I’m a girl. People can’t say that one is prettier or more handsome than the other, heehee. Although attitude-wise, there could be.

Someone to be proud of. Although I haven’t said this to him, I am very proud of my Kuya. He graduated college just this past June with a gold medal for outstanding thesis. The best part of it was that I felt like a winner, too. I guess it’s just that way with siblings.

Someone to look up to. Even though he’s had his share of mistakes and failures, my brother will always be my role model, especially on the spiritual aspect. His fervor for anything relating to Christianity is by itself admirable. He never stops questioning and looking for answers when things boggle his mind. But even the human mind cannot conceive everything. Sometimes, only our faith can give us the answer.

Someone to call “kuya.” A short Pinoy word that makes it all the more meaningful when you really have one. You can call older relatives and acquaintances “kuya,” but nothing beats the feeling of having an older brother to cherish your whole life. I could not ask for a better sibling than my Kuya.