FRANKIE IS A JOY FOREVER
by Ricky F. Lo, The Philippine Star, February 14, 2001

Last Sunday, Sharon Cuneta wrote about the great joy of having a new child, Simone Francesca Emmanuelle (nicknamed Frankie), who was baptized at their Wack Wack Village home in Mandaluyong City last Saturday (Feb. 10).

Itís Frankieís father Kiko Pangilinan and sister Kaceyís turn to express their own exhilaration over Frankieís coming.

Here's what Kiko has to say:

After four and a half years and two miscarriages, one can only imagine the immense joy we felt when Frankie was born in the early morning of December 16, 2000, at 4:41 a.m. to be exact. Sharon, Kacey and I were extremely exhilarated upon seeing her and hearing her cry out for the very first time. I probably cried even louder than Frankie (hahaha). Both Sharon and I were in tears clasping each otherís hand while Kacey was practically jumping up and down, thrilled at seeing her little sisterís first moments as a newborn baby. This scene in the delivery room will forever remain etched in my mind. It was an outburst, an outpouring of emotions that was almost magical. For as long as I live I shall never forget it.

It is amazing gazing at little Frankie in my arms. Tiny feet. Tiny hands. Tiny little fingers and toes. Yet she brings with her a joy so great and a happiness that is immeasurable to us who had long awaited her arrival.

Frankieís delicateness can be utterly intimidating. Her helplessness and her dependence on us (her parents and her family) to live places great emphasis on our huge responsibility as individuals. Suddenly there is a feeling of inadequacy. An inadequacy filled only by a resolve to succeed in providing all that is necessary to ensure Frankieís protection. Indeed, our entire world has changed. It has never been the same since Frankie was born. It is a change that truly warms the heart.

Having seen what my wife had to go through and remaining in awe at the sight of our newborn Frankie, I wrote on Christmas Day: "I pray, dear Frankie, that you grow up to be a fine young lady and that you acquire your motherís most admirable traits. Your mother is a beautiful and extraordinary person. Strong-willed. Generous. She loves with a passion. Her dedication and her sincerity are traits to marvel about. But most of all I pray that you acquire the purity of her heart.

I also pray that when you grow up you marry someone like me.. hahaha.

You have brought so much meaning to our lives, dear Frankie, and I commit my entire being to trying my very best to place as much meaning in yours.

Kacey is your big sister, Frankie. I pray that you will look up to her and see her as a role model. I can see that she in turn will try her very best to be the best Ate to you, to take care of you and to love you with all her heart.

Every husband should be made to sit by his wife during delivery. The experience is a realization of the extreme sacrifice that a woman has to make to bear a child. Fraught with danger and untold pain, it is a reminder that husbands should love their wives even more and be more sensitive to them for the suffering they have to go through for the sake of the family.

Both Sharon and I were afraid of the possible outcome of the operation. I tried my best, however, not to show it because I had to be strong for her. As the operation went underway, my fear remained. I was worried about possible complications. I was afraid that something might go wrong. The thought had actually entered my mind that her words uttered at the time the operation was being performed could very well be her last had things gone wrong. I was so afraid of losing the single most important person in my life. I thank the God Almighty that none of that had come to pass. It was a reminder of how much my wife meant to me.

And hereís Kaceyís piece:

Simone, as I like calling her, is definitely a joy to have in the house. I never knew what it would feel like to have someone like her around, but it feels good to think that there is a child who needs you in her life, especially now that she is still very helpless, innocent and loves you unconditionally. I now realize what it means when people associate babies with joy, and although these descriptions may have been used many times before, they are the words that appear in my mind right now.

It was strange, and still is, how the presence of Simone has made me perceive and handle certain things in my life differently. It affects some things I do in the sense that I remember I am now an Ate and I need to be more responsible for my actions, therefore I do things well, or better than I would have without that thought. Iíve learned and realized so many things in the little time that sheís been in this world, and her presence alone makes me a better person already. Now I feel that I have to consider how my actions will or may now affect her, and this helps me to avoid making mistakes, and making the wrong decisions especially as a teenager. Iíve learned to look at myself and value family more than I ever have, and also see myself as a significant part of Simoneís life.

I know that there are many more things to learn in the future, as she grows up ñ things about each other as sisters, things about her as a person and about myself as well, challenges to overcome, moments to cherish and bridges to cross.

I am still trying to learn to play my role as a sister, but I canít wait to experience whatever is in store for us both, and for us as a family, because there is an excitement and satisfaction that comes with a blessing like this.