"Never lose the ability to dream"
By this time, the Holy Father is already in his apartment in Sanctae Marthae near the St Peter's Square. It is time for us to remember with fondness and immediate nostalgia what, to us, was the Pope's sweetest message to the Filipinos. During his dialogue with the Filipino families in the arena in MOA, speaking from the heart, and deviating from the prepared script, Pope Francis exhorted the Filipinos, especially the young, never to lose the ability to dream.
To dream is to nurture one's most fervent wishes, to cultivate in imagination and reflective thoughts every person's deepest aspirations. It is not just an exercise in vain imaginings nor a futile clutching on straws of useless thinking. To dream is to plant the seeds of a desired future, a vision that is anchored on a clear picture of desire. When reinforced with a firm determination and followed up by hard work and perseverance, to dream is to draw the plans of a predetermined future. That is precisely what Pope Francis left us as a fatherly counsel.
The young Jorge Mario Bergoglio did not lose the ability to dream since his young days in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He did not mind working as a cleaner in a small establishment. He even worked as a night club bouncer, a chemist and a teacher. Like any other young boy, he nurtured his dreams. Unlike many other youth who merely wallow in dreams, Jorge Mario worked his way very hard, with focus, commitment and perseverance. Although he might not openly discuss it, he must have entertained some dreams to rise from being priest, to bishop, to cardinal, and then Pope.
This writer too had many dreams. I was just a small barefoot boy from Langin, Ronda. I was plowing the cornfields of my parents when I was barely eight. I used to work alone in the mountains tending the goats, cows and carabaos of my father. And whenever a plane would pass by the horizon, I would imagine that someday, I would be aboard that plane going to places in the country and all over the world. I was walking everyday to and from school. For six years in elementary, I was barefoot, with hand-me-downs as pants and clothing from my cousins.
At the age of twelve, I left the mountain village and worked as houseboy in the house of my father's relatives in Dumanjug. Then, I worked as school janitor in SWU cleaning the big high school library alone at 4:00 AM every morning. I finished college as working student and university scholar. Because I had a dream, I was never discouraged even if I did not have what my classmates had. I finished law in UV while working as a court interpreter in the Cebu City Court.
I became a lawyer and was offered a job in such companies as Petron, San Miguel Corporation and Pepsi Cola. I travelled the whole world and built a family with five children who are all professionals now and have stable business and jobs. Yes, the words of Pope Francis should transform the lives of the young: Never lose the ability to dream. Work hard to fulfill your dreams. And always remember who you were. And thank God for what you have become.
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