TRACKING A LIFE OF APPARENT AFFLUENCE

By: Norberto Betita

By the measure of her parents’ financial standing in the community during our times, she is one of those few students who enjoyed a life of affluence and prominence. Her father was Provincial Treasurer for the Office of the Treasurer of the Philippines. Her mother was a teacher. Her parents were also in apartment business and were known to own agricultural lands in the different parts of the province. Basically, she is one of those students who had nothing to worry about except studying.

However, SNNHS ‘69er AMELIA ROMERO had her own early challenges. Yet it never deters her from doing her best in meeting the demands of being a top student. She is among those who had the opportunity of tracking a life of apparent affluence, but she never allowed such to spoil herself as many students among those in prominent families did. She was just that modest and unpretentious young woman. Her down-to-earth desire to achieve granted for her the honors of graduating salutatorian in our class.

A medical course at the Velez College was somehow a very affordable pursuit. As in high school her only realistic concern is to burn her midnight candles. Meeting the demands of her studies was not even strenuous because of her inbuilt intelligence. College therefore was just an ordinary daily routine with a few hurdles toward a desired graduation. Following her high school dream she made it fast to enroll in the Cebu Institute of Medicine for another four years of study. This no longer was an easy brainteaser. Although well supported with necessary material needs, the conundrums and perplexities associated with every medical related subject and physical projects were extremely consuming. Yet she determined to traverse and cross the chasm and soon became a licensed physician. While in medical practice she trained for specialization in pediatrics. Her pediatrics clinic then became a popular destination of mothers for the therapeutic needs of children.

She should have easily followed a life of ease, but she instead chose to live a life of charitable service, where she seemed to find real joy and gladness. She served as a Medical Ambassador for her Church affiliation, serving people in need. Her love of service for others, by some means, made her forget herself. She probably had captured the words of Mother Theresa: “Love is service. The first fruit of service is peace.” Her benevolent and charitable service, however, became the key that opened the windows of heaven for blessings to flow freely. At an early age she was already tracking a life of apparent affluence no longer as an heir, but by her own and for her personal future. She should have remained a maiden, but God in His infinite wisdom inspired her to navigate life’s thoroughfare.

One day, while I and my very good friend and fellow employee at PNB were in a very emotional discussion about some failures in life, Amelia came. She was one of our VIP clients. Without her knowing it, I suggested for my friend to court her. I guaranteed to him that she is such a very good woman. It was only kind of a joke. However, their roads crossed and at the intersection of the paths they trudged a friend and client introduced them to each other. Then her life’s star reached into an avenue of no retraction---a most desirable marriage to a man of her dreams. My best friend Marlo gave her the name Nambatac. I was privileged to be at their wedding and be one of the speakers. I repented that my silly tongue said something that is somehow unworthy for the ear to hear, an exact repetition of what I said when I first introduced her under condition when he was heartbroken. I am grateful though that the crowd seemed not to recognize my mistake. Yet I know from the heart that she was his best choice of a wife and he was her best choice of a husband.

More than the joy of service to others and the seeming affluence she enjoyed, she was blessed with two priceless gems, a daughter and a son. Alongside family and self, she continued to extend her generosity and benevolence in service to the weary and the distressed. She is building memories to carry into eternity and surely her name will be called blessed by the Lord.

However, life is not all comfort. As in the words of Terry Goodkind, “If the road is easy, you’re likely going the wrong way.” Her son was diagnosed early for a non-verbal type of autism. She had known it herself as a Pediatrician. The saddest and most poignant part, however, is that she can do nothing about it. While still very young, the boy had been the focus of the family’s deepest love and attention. All possible avenues and chances for development, even just for the boy to be able to talk, were given preferential attention and budgetary priority. She employed every available modern therapy and medical remedy, but in vain. As the boy grew in size it had become difficult for her to handle tantrums. Eventually she decided to have her husband resigned and start a business to have times of his own and make sure that he is available when needed. She was defeated and her only resolve together with the family was to accept her son as he is and extend her deepest and undying love, care and devotion to him. Her remaining motivation might have come from the words of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross:

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”

The children are now grown. Her daughter is now pursuing a course leading to Doctor of Medicine following her footsteps, and tracking a life of apparent affluence. Her son remained to be a challenge, yet unruffled and relaxed by the grasp of abundant love and heartfelt affection. Her career remained to be a source of an abundant and charitable life. She was one of the incorporators of the Surigao Health Specialists, Inc. and the Surigao Doctors College. At this moment, she must have thought: “Never to suffer would never have been blessed.” (Edgar Allan Poe).

Her tracking a life of apparent affluence afforded her the comforts of life and the ability to overcome all material requirements and demands. But the nostalgic and emotional pains resulting from nurturing and caring for a son with special needs which even she as a Pediatrician could do nothing about, give her the privilege to understand better the meaning and purpose of life and the preeminence of family life.

She will surely be attending our golden jubilee reunion for SNNHS ‘69ers comes 2019.