Life on Speedy Wheels

Maneuvering his way through the busy tracks of Katipunan and the smooth curves of Ateneo and Miriam, he is able to place food in the family table. He rides his wheels non-stop around the dusty and noisy streets of his workplace. Dust-covered skin and fatigued arms and legs are just part of a day’s work for him. He goes an extra mile everyday to drop some more round metal pieces into his safe. Day in and day out, he drives the fast lane with his green side car bearing in mind the faces of his children eagerly waiting for their baon the next day, and the face of his wife hoping for a larger budget to spend the next day.

Before living a life in the fast lane with his tricycle, he lived a humble and hard life in the province of Roxas, Capiz. After finishing high school in Capiz National High School, he decided to earn a living by using his hands to cut throats of pigs-by condemning a quick death as much as possible to these animals. Wanting to earn more, he went to Manila in 1994 and became the driver of Dra. Vicky Belo. He drove through the busy streets and polluted environment of Manila and ended in the no-difference Katipunan as a tricycle driver for four years.

He resides in a lowly abode near U.P. with his wife for twelve years and their four children who are all in elementary. Aiming only the best for his family even amidst the truth of poverty in the lives they are living, he emulates a life of righteousness so that his children would live the same life when they grow and will not be easily led astray towards a life of waste. He pushes himself to earn and even desires to get a second job to be able to sufficiently support his family. He does not have vices because he wants to concentrate in being able to send his children hopefully to college. Wanting his children to have a brighter future in being able to finish even a vocational course unlike him who only finished high school is a dream that needs years of hard work. It is only in this instant that his life of mobility and speed turns to a long and dragging realization of a desire that is for him worth every sweat, every strained muscle, and every risk in that busy and noisy straights and curves of potential death.

His speedy work life is paused by his deep Catholic faith. Missing Sunday masses is inevitable for him but mass of obligation is an exception. Being raised by his parents in the Catholic faith, he grew and lived in its doctrines and teachings and raised his children in this way as well. He and his wife are active members of Couples for Christ and thus sees to it that they regularly attend households and CLPs. He is encouraging his children to be part of the Kids for Christ so that they stay away from the bad elements present in this human world.

Pushing himself too hard in working might cause him to break; demanding too much from him brings nothing but harm. He sees to it that he knows what is happening in his environment-the government, the latest in sports and local entertainment. He bears a stand about the Philippine government, that is, he lost trust in the present administration and that GMA is a president with too many connections that makes the bad turn beautiful and fragrant. He is also anticipating the fight of Manny Pacquiao that is drawing near and watches games and practices of baseball in Ateneo since he was a baseball player back in Roxas. A man whose character is filled with principles, straight-out plans and priorities, positive outlook and true love for God and his family even if he is walled by hardships and problems whose gravity had etched in this man’s every wrinkle and callous. This great but lowly man is Rex Digones.

Like Rex, I am also from a province which is Bohol. Rex went to Manila to work and find a greener pasture. Like him, I also went to Manila to study because I believe that I will have a brighter future if I study in Ateneo. Like him, I am also raised by my parents according to the Catholic faith. Rex and I go to Ateneo everyday for the reason that the former earns his living by driving to Ateneo and that the latter studies in Ateneo. Since I am occupied by academics, I watch T.V. occasionally like Rex. I am also very eager for the fight of Manny Pacquiao this March like him. For me, my family is the most important aspect of my life and I always consider them in every decision that I make. This treatment towards the role of the family is similar to how Rex treats his family. Like him, I also do not trust the government anymore because of all the problems that the country is in especially when the ZTE scandal exploded to the public. Rex is a member of Couples for Christ and I am a member of Youth for Christ. Both organizations are under the same big umbrella. The most important similarity of me and Rex is the hard work we exert for our families. He works hard to provide for his family; I study hard to be able to help my siblings someday.

Unlike Rex who is working to support his family, I am a student supported by my parents. Unlike him, I go to Sunday masses regularly. I had the opportunity to go to college unlike Rex who was deprived of such opportunity. Unlike Rex who did not go home to his province for eight years, I have the privilege to go home to Bohol last December. Rex was a baseball player in high school unlike me who just played for fun and was never a varsity player in any sport. Unlike Rex who has nine siblings, I only have two siblings. He also can push himself everyday to work until ten in the evening unlike me who can only do that kind of effort at most thrice a week. Unlike Rex who already went to Wowowee to play, I still did not watch the program live even if I want to. Unlike him, I consider John Lloyd Cruz as a good actor. Rex is also very determined to support his family and this determination reflects in his eyes. This trait of Rex is what I admire most about him which I want to have. He hopes for something good that will happen in the middle of all problems on money and the bleak future ahead of his family because of the present condition they are in. I desire to have that same consistent determination that he has. Even if he is soaked in a very sticky fluid, he still remains to paddle himself hoping to be free, hoping for his family to breathe and live better, even if the viscosity continually pulls him down.

Rex might be deprived as a child and an adolescent and depriving as a father because of the also depriving world that he is born into, but this deprivation that characterizes his life will bring him to greatness. Greatness may not be in the form of luxury, fame or money but in the form of love, hope, family and the experience of God’s goodness. I believe in this greatness because I myself am made of this kind of greatness. According to the Bible, this greatness comes to those who humble themselves. As I’ve said, Rex is great but lowly-great because he is lowly. This greatness brings contentment and happiness which counteracts the speedy life that the modern day is demanding from him, from me, from all of us.