Lives In Motion

From the long, earsplitting and dusty avenue of Katipunan, he makes his grand entrance to Ateneo everyday. Suited in his regular upright garments while driving one of Cinderella’s modern day coaches, he is much awaited by so many people. Students, teachers and school staff compete against one another to ride this small green metal motorcycle- operated vehicle. He travels several kilometers and makes a hundred rounds everyday going back and forth from Ateneo to Miriam to the mini stops and vice versa. From six in the morning to the late hour of ten pm, he works blood and sweat bringing people from destination to destination.

Finding himself in the urbanized streets of Manila in 1994, this man hails from the northeastern land of Panay Islands famous for its mother-of-pearl shells- Roxas City, Capiz. Brought into this world on the first day of November 1971, he was not born with a silver spoon. He never got the privilege of going to the big universities and experiencing college. He finished high school in the Capiz National High School.

Before flying his way to Manila, he used to manually work his hands handling pigs and sentencing these fat creatures to their deaths. His travel to the metro has brought him rainbow colored opportunities. He underwent the complicated task of finding a job for him to survive. Interestingly, he found himself driving the famous dermatological expert, Dr. Vicki Belo around the city, but later on shifted to his career in tricycle driving. In Manila, he also met the woman who makes his heart beat faster every time he sees her. Together, they gave life to four offsprings and built their family in their humble abode; however, fate was not that generous to purely provide him with good chances. He singly brings in the money for his brood of six and battles each day like the only brave warrior left in the frontline.

Even though luck does not seem to be on his side, this man still keeps his faith intact. Raised by his parents as a Catholic, he dedicates his life in service for others despite his own undertakings. However, his obligation and desire to provide for his family keeps him busy as a bee that’s why he does not get the chance to be a regular attendee in Church during Sundays. Although he lacks attendance in Sunday masses, he makes it up to the Lord during Sunday evenings. Along with his wife, he is a member of Couples for Christ and it has been part of their Sunday evenings to reach out to others through their ministry’s activities.

Aside from his faith, he also believes in a bonded family just like the bonds of metallic compounds that are difficult to separate. He prioritizes his family above himself, friends and anything else. He is a family-oriented man working his heart out in the hustle and bustle of Katipunan and Ateneo to give his family a happily ever after fairy tale turnout. He goes by the name of Rex Digones.

There are certain aspects of his life, personality and beliefs that are similar to mine. Both of us travel along Katipunan to get to Ateneo everyday. Like Rex, my religion is also Catholic. Like him too, I am not a regular attendee in church during Sunday because of the work we have to attend to. Like him, I used to involve my self in organizations that reach out to others.

From his stories, it is evident that he clearly knows his priorities well and on top of that list is his family. Family is also an aspect in my life that I prioritize above academics and self. Like him, I am happy to spend time with my family. The way Rex works hard everyday exemplifies how passionate and determined he is to provide for his family. Like him, I also believe in the power of hard work. In everything I do, I always try my best to get something done. Despite difficult tasks, I do not easily give up on challenges just like Rex.

Rex may just be a common person we see around Ateneo in his tricycle, but he is more than that person we see. Within that body driving from Ateneo to Katipunan and vice versa is a persona who has a lot of capabilities. Having gone through different jobs and played baseball when he was in high school, Rex is gifted. Just like him, I consider my self also gifted with different skills and capabilities. I matter to my family, friends and the people around me like the way Rex matters to his family, friends and the Ateneo community.

Although there are similarities between us, there are notable differences, too. Unlike Rex, I am privileged to have a college education. I go to Ateneo everyday to learn and not to work. And different from his experience, I do my schoolwork inside the classroom while Rex works under the sun riding his tricycle. Unlike Rex, I do not worry about whether I will have something to feed for my family because my parents are taking care of those matters. I am not the one supporting my family like the way Rex has to.

Rex keeps his focus in providing for his family that’s why he does not join groups of friends. Unlike him, I am often in the company of my friends. Unlike him, I easily complain when I am not comfortable. Unlike him, I do not have to earn my allowance because my parents give it to me weekly and support me in everything I need. I easily get what I want any time I need it unlike him. I have time to enjoy, go to parties and travel to different places different from Rex because he has to work hard to provide for his family.

Seeing my life through the ordinary life of Rex brought me several realizations. One of them is that I do not have the right to complain about any disappointments and discontentment I feel about my life because I am fortunate to be in the position I am right now. There are people like Rex who has more heavy burdens compared to the little problems we try to make big. Sometimes we think that getting an F is the end of the world, but if we look at the policeman, the tricycle drivers, the vendors in the streets, our problems are just like dust particles compared to theirs.

Putting my life side by side to Rex’s life, I had a realization that there is so much to be grateful for. For someone like Rex, he did not undergo the easy life. He did not get to enjoy the privileges of going to college, using a lot of technological devices and getting what we want easily that’s why people like us who get these privileges should appreciate and be contented with what we have.

Although there are a lot of problems that Rex worries about like the future of his children, it is evident that they are happy as a family. He does not complain, instead he does something about it. This made me realize too that happiness does not depend on how much one has, how great one had done or how rich one is, but true happiness is fulfilled seeing the people who make your life matter, happy.

The story of Rex’s life creates a strong motivation and serves as an inspiration to everyone. Seeing the story of his life made me remember a quote by John Homer Miller. He said, “Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.”

-Samantha Uy