Few days before Christmas, I reflected on my experience that day about Teby, a young boy. I was reminded by an experience that he once told me about running away from home and for few years, he didn’t see his family and now living in an orphanage for the abandoned. I asked myself of what would be a Christmas on the street; I remembered them in my prayers. The Institution had a chance to participate in an afternoon show, Wowowee last December and Teby was given a chance to speak to the tele-viewers and said, “Kunin n’yo na po ako rito…”

Today, as usual Saturday of my visitation with the children at Asilo to teach them with their basic subjects. I found a real and valuable gift for Christmas when I arrived. I entered the office to log in when I noticed an old man and a young woman. Teby was there also, standing behind the man. I greeted the and entered the room while waiting for the logbook from the counter. I was wondering what were the two doing there and Teby was talking to them. The social worker, guessing my reaction, told me that the man with the boy is his father, and the woman is his sister-in-law. I was very happy at that very moment that the boy found his family or maybe his family found him! They saw him on TV and they started looking for the Institution from that day. I learned from the father that they gave up looking for him after a year and presumed dead or adopted. I was little bit disappointed that he lost his hope but I saw with my very eyes how happy he is that he has his son again after four hopeless years of losing him. Teby hugged his father. His age is not 12 as he related to me last time, but he is now 14 and five months old. He is already a teenager and yet he seems to be underdeveloped basing the developmental growth of his age.

I turned to him and smiled, he came to me and hugged me while happily telling me how grateful he is this time. He thanked me for the time and laughter we shared everytime we have our tutorial. I recalled how hesitant he was with me at first but we became friends when I related with him a story about a father and son who escaped from prison using birds’ feathers’ to fly (I forgot the whole story…) I was touched of this morning’s grace. We bid goodbye as if we will not meet again…kaya pa-pics na kami

After many days of looking from the time they saw him on TV, at last they found him, and now, Teby found his family. Who was lost? There was that moved them into that situation, I was sure, there was that atmosphere of longingness and love this morning. I was very happy, everybody was happy. How much more with Teby and his family? What love can do?

n.b.
Unchecked grammars and spelling.
Teby is not his real name.
Can’t continue writing, iiyak na ako!