My Brother Alex

I'm an only child, but I have had over 14 brothers and sisters. For those of you who've been following me online for a long time, and for those who know our family - you are aware of our commitment as a licensed foster family by the DSWD. We started taking care of abandoned kids (one at a time, no, we don't manage a home for kids) in 1994. Foster families give kids without parents the family care that they need that is so different from center/ orphanage care. We are on a break from foster care right now because we have our hands full with baby Tonyo.

Some of our kids returned to their biological families, while some got adopted abroad. One of our babies, got adopted by an American family, the Rahns. They changed his name to Alexander and they have kept in touch throughout the years. Yes, we got to see him grow.

My mom probably wondered why the correspondence stopped in 2008. Now we know. Alex got hit by a car while riding his bicycle in September 2008. His parents only had the courage to tell us this year through a Christmas card without the usual family photo . But I am so deeply saddened by the news. I surfed the web and found some news articles on his death. He was 13 years old.. so young, so tragic!

I also found this poem by him on the web. Good job, Alex.

WE LIVE IN UNITY

We live in unity
Every single race
Is the human community
No matter what color face
We can all live as one and still have fun.
If we do not, How would our lives run?
This is the plot
We stick together
Forever.
And ever.
And we can never
Think we are better than others
We are equal brothers and sisters
What matters is the inside
Not the color of then outside.
People have died
Because of race hate,
We can't change that because it's to late.
But how can we make a difference now?
By loving everyone on earth
Because we have been given love since birth.
Love is worth much more
Than winning a war.
Because of race or similar cases,
We could have been nothing
But God made us something.
He made us all equal in his eyes.
If people tell you otherwise, then those are lies .
He made us all equal and the same size
To God, our Father, our Creator.
We can't wait until later to make a change
Because peace is within our range

Alex Rahn
December 29 1994 - September 5th 2008