And I say thank you

Another chapter in this writer ‘s career is about to come to a close. Although it saddens me, it also gives me pause to think of so many happy memories throughout 54 years of existence, and 32 years as a journalist. Reminiscing brings so much back, all in sharp color and emotion. No real regrets, because everything brings you to where you are. Every step is necessary to growth. As Jack Canfield said, you can drive from New York to California seeing only the next hundred feet in front of you.

I say my greatest thank you to a single mother who decided her unborn first-born was worth having and keeping, American racism and Filipino public opinion be damned. She brought me back home with her to the Philippines in March of 1965, and raised me singly until she married when I was seven. She tutored me in English and Filipino. She put me in swimming class and took me to doctors to address my asthma, scoliosis, migraines and flat feet. She believed in me, gave me a spiritual life, and allowed me the room to follow my passions. She grieved in silence when my decisions hurt me or her. She was my pillar, and my life has never been the same since she passed away. Thank you, Lirio Unson Velasco.

I say thank you for the biological father who wanted nothing to do with me, and who disappeared again after I spent years tracking him down. His absence gave me the space to develop as a person, artist and athlete, and seek answers to who I was all on my own. I gave up playing basketball to find him. Since I last saw him in 1989, I only spoke to him over the phone in 2012, and he hung up on me. So thank you, John William Schöen.

I say thank you to my mom’s youngest brother, who introduced me to basketball almost 50 years ago, and let me tag along. He was an outstanding high school guard who wasn’t allowed to follow his passion, and I am grateful for his guidance, humor, and playfulness early in my life. Through him, I fell in love with the game we all love, the place where even a half-breed could find belonging. I found the place where we were all equal, following the perfection we would never achieve, joyfully. I found my first home. I say thank you, Romy Unson.

When you are finding yourself, you need a safe place to express, explore. When I transferred from De La Salle to Ateneo, it was not easy. I had to find my place while finding myself. It was a very painful time, and I needed a sanctuary. Only one man fought for me, knew what I needed. He gave me a brotherhood, a getaway to breathe, pray, write, act, sing, dance. I was molded, formed, free. I created, corrected, cried onstage. And I was never alone, as he was my English and Filipino teacher, teaching me how to find greatness in myself and others, feeding the storyteller I am today. I will never forget all the lessons. That part of me will never grow old. That part of me will always live in Dulaang Sibol. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you, Onofre Pagsanghan.

I have known my best friend for 40 years, since we met that first day of first year high school. When you have that one friend who will be your anchor, you can take risks. You can get hurt. You can go without seeing each other, yet still be in step. We were total opposites, yet brothers under the skin. He was the smart, safe, stable, reasonable one. I was the feisty, firebrand, foolish risk-taker. Throughout our careers, we stood with one another, until we finally found a way to work together almost a decade ago. I named my first child after him. Can’t go wrong with that. Thank you, thank you, Vince Concio.

After college, I was given the chance to work sports news when nobody else was doing it. And when the network still didn’t have vehicles, we drove ourselves. My late cameraman Rey Teodoro and I logged 100 kilometers a day on weekdays, and 150 kilometers a day on the weekends. I covered the Senate, military, Congress, police beat, always, always coupled with sports. Finally, we put up a four-man sports department. We won awards, broke stories, set records (nine stories in one day, seven of which aired). I was also getting up at 4 a.m. to do the ever-changing morning show. Those first four years were a whirlwind. I thank you, ABS-CBN News.

Having children is the biggest mirror you can hold up to yourself. They see right through you, and live with your mistakes. You can’t fool them, ever. They make you function at a higher standard, or at least try to. At a certain point, when they exceed you, you can’t take credit for them. You wish you could do more, be more, and it hurts like hell when you let them down. That hurt never goes away. You’re torn between your desire to be with them, and your need to provide more for them. When I would travel for the Olympics, SEA Games and boxing events, the longing to be with them can be excruciating. But in their presence, the tiredness melts away. I say thank you, Vincent, Daniel and Alexandra Velasco.

There are so many other people to thank, when you think about it. When I look back, so many people have turned me in the right, direction, or held me back from the wrong one. Sometimes, a kind word, the right advice, made all the difference. Hindsight is always clear. For all that, I say thank you.