Kuya

My brother and I couldn't help but be close when we were growing up. For 17 years we shared a bedroom that was small but filled with personality -- books, comics, CD's, VHS's, Lego boxes, model kits, movie and Broadway posters.

Yes, we had our categorically un-fraternal moments. Me throwing a fit ("inaaaaaaaayyyy!!") when he wouldn't let me play with his Lego, and him throwing a fit ("inaaaaaaaayyyyy!!") when I lost his Lego. Him terrorizing me by teaching me (at 10 years old) about communism and nuclear war. Throwing rolled-up socks at each other, and chasing each other with kitchen knives, which resulted in Inay imposing a TV viewing limit of one robot show per week. Him screaming at me for falling asleep on his bed, me screaming at him for leaving his sweaty basketball clothes all over the floor.

But for the most part, and especially factoring in our differences, we got along pretty well. He eventually gave me all his Lego. He taught me Dungeons & Dragons. He introduced me to Choose Your Own Adventure Books, to the Hardy boys, to Transformers, to Voltes-V, and to the X-Men. He tried to teach me to drive (see related entry, haha) and how to play chess (I gave up). He also tried to teach me how to play basketball (and ended up teaching me that it was something I'd rather not learn).

He was there when I fell off my bike so hard that I chipped a tooth. We learned to play the piano around the same time, and he would have been damned good if he hadn't given up early on. He inspired me to draw, to write, to be editor-in-chief of the Eaglet, to make sure I'd be in 1A, to try out for Dulaang Sibol, to be active in Days with the Lord, and to pour my heart into Tulong Dunong. And when I came out to my family, he put his arms around me and said, "You're still my brother, and nothing can change that."

These days though, we're not all that close. I moved to Cebu in early 2001; that same year, he got married. Today, five years out of that small bedroom, we lead very different and very busy lives and we see each other only around every other month. Needless to say, don't think about him all that much.

When I talk about him, I usually center on how different we are. He's an intellectual; I'm an artist. He studied Political Science, Economics, and English Lit, has a masters in History, and is on his way to a Ph D in Philippine Studies; I have a degree in Communication and I dropped out from an MBA after the very first class. He can answer endless questions in Trivial Pursuit; I have to wait for a question I'm lucky enough to know the answer to. His career in the academe will take him straight to heaven; my career in capitalism requires me to rack up good karma on the side. He still wears socks with sandals; I've discovered low-rise jeans. And that's that.

But tonight, when Igo pointed me to a website that reviews teachers, I felt a surge of pride in having an older brother like Jo-Ed. I knew he was sought after during registration, loved by his students, and recognized by award-giving bodies as an outstanding teacher. But this was the first time for me to actually read people talking about him.

"Very funny. He makes history a bearable subject. He is the best history teacher I've ever met in my whole life because he relates the past events to the present circumstances."

"Best teacher yet. friendly with students. Knows history very well. Insightful, even. Cool teacher."

"His lectures give a totally different perspective of Western History. He makes you realize your role in history. He inspires you to see the whole world in a different light. He does not make you memorize anything, he makes you understand, and think. He's the type of teacher that makes you WANT to do well. Every Tirol class is something to REALLY REALLY look forward to. He's NEVER boring. He's smart, witty, funny, engaging and insightful. You'll learn so much, not just about history, but about life. At the end of the semester, you'll come out a whole different person. Definitely not easy A, but in the end, while you're at it, the 'Tirol education' will be one of the most memorable times in your life. Bottom line: life-changing."

"Probably the best history teacher ever!"

Part of me had to re-read the "funny" and "comedian" bits a few times, and charge it to differences in our senses of humor. Part of me wished that I had had a good history teacher in college, because I didn't. But I had to admit -- people saying "best ever", "every class is something to really look forward to", and "life-changing" had me glowing with pride. That's my kuya. Still inspiring people the way he inspired me.

So, Jo-Ed. I don't know when you'll read this from your unpopulated, "just there so I can read about people" Multiply account. Whenever that is, for the record: as different as we are, as rarely as we talk or see each other --

You're still my brother, and nothing can change that.

See you around. :-)