Mabuhay to Five Great Filipino Parents!

When are Mother’s Day and Father’s Day? I could not tell you to save my life. Such artificially designated days have never registered with me. I choose to honor good parenting at any time of the year, and this is the day for me to bow deeply to five of them: Dr. Myline Cornel, Bienvenido V. Jalbuena Jr. and his wife Helen Grace, and Robert Gallardo and his wife Josie.

The first listed, Dr. Cornel, is a high-ranking administrator in the Philippines’ Department of Education. She has, to a large extent, raised her son Kean Nawang alone. Kean graduated from John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation and has, since 2016, been co-owner of Bully’s Bistro in Bacolod. Kean, a husky young man who has gotten two tattoos despite the disapproval of his Uncle Richard, is something of a motorcycle fanatic. He has done a lot of serious racing in recent years but claims to have given it up. While I have sometimes offered to buy him a 1200cc Harley-Davidson, I hesitate because I’m afraid he would start popping wheelies on it just to show off.

Like Dr. Cornel, the second and third listed, Mr. and Mrs. Jalbuena, are natives of the province of Negros Occidental. They married in 1989. He worked for many years as a mechanical supervisor of an overseas gasoline company; she continues to sell health and household products. They raised two daughters, Krystelle (born in 1990) and Bey (1995). Big sister, a graduate of Riverside College, works as a neonatal nurse, and little sister (a JBLCF grad like Kean) is co-owner of Bully’s Bistro.

Another name has to be mentioned, that of Dupert Rae Gallardo. He went to Riverside College along with his well-loved wife. Dupert is a radiologist and like Kean, a big and robust guy. (I once told Dupert he looked fit enough to box three rounds, run a 10K race, swim across the the Cebu Strait and pump iron for 45 minutes without getting tired.) His father, Robert, was a payroll clerk, and his mother, Josie, still works in the marketing field. Dupert has a younger sister named Elaine Joyce. The Gallardos also hail from Negros OC.

Dr. Cornel, Mr. and Mrs. Jalbuena, and Mr. and Mrs. Gallardo evidently did something right in raising their sons and daughters. Krystelle and Dupert married in 2017, although their relationship began 12 years earlier as uniform-wearing middle school students. Bey and Kean are engaged, having made a commitment to each other on December 9, 2013. Every year when December 9 comes around, they celebrate.

I have never met any of these people, and yet I know them. I know them well enough to characterize the two central relationships. I will start with Krystelle and Dupert, as they are the older set. Of all the photos (and a couple of videos) I have seen of this pair, one thing is obvious. He loves her, and she knows it. She loves him, and he knows it. Their faces exude love, attraction, joy and oh my goodness—everything a woman and man could possibly want!

Their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jalbuena, and Mr. and Mrs. Gallardo, must derive considerable satisfaction in seeing this relationship which is always in bloom. I’m serious—Krystelle and Dupert seem to be perpetually happy together. There are no ups and downs with them, only ups. I honestly believe they have fun when doing mundane things like washing the dishes, doing the laundry and cleaning up after the dog makes a mess in the living room. I must commend them for yet another reason—in the last few months, they have performed heroic duty as first responders in the effort to halt the COVID pandemic in their province.

Almost the same situation obtains with the other couple, Bey and Kean. They are comfortable with each other, they share love and respect, and there is an unmistakable bond between them. They have distinct personalities, yet they go together seamlessly. Neither is dominant or submissive. Their relationship has survived the stress of being business partners for more than four years.  So much togetherness has the potential to damage—or even ruin—a relationship, but not with these two. Kean and Bey (as well as Krystelle and Dupert) have never experienced a breakup or even discussed it. Both couples are blissfully monogamous. If you really and truly love your partner, there is no reason to go looking for so-called excitement with strangers.

It is not my intention to slather Krystelle, Dupert, Bey and Kean with fulsome praise. All are human beings and thus prone to various imperfections. Might one or both of these couples have ever had a misunderstanding or argument? Did the sisters never quarrel during childhood? Possibly, but I do not know for certain.

I salute Dr. Cornel, Mr. and Mrs. Jalbuena, and Mr. and Mrs. Gallardo for the parenting they have done and continue to do. It’s so easy for kids to get on the wrong track, as all five of them undoubtedly know. Cautionary tales are much too common. Somehow our four young adults turned out well. They are physically and mentally healthy, they are well-educated, and they are productive Filipino citizens. Perhaps there was some luck involved in meeting the right person. I take vicarious pleasure in knowing how happy they are.