This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Coming to the Philippines was hard on Pom. Of all of us, he is the only one who can’t say he’s coming back. He was never born here. He’s Liberian. Born during the civil war in Africa. The only home he knows is Holland. He grew up there, became a young man there, has a girlfriend there. He could take his bike to his girlfriend. Biked to school. Took the metro to the city. Holland was a place he knew.
But Holland was never a true home. He was limited there. The law did not allow him to work. He never had the choice of schooling – unlike Jing and me – shipping and transport college was what my parents could afford. Here, his wings got clipped even further. There are not a lot of jobs to apply for. Its a lot harder to move around. Places are farther away. Public transport is different. No money either.
For a young man with the heart of an adventurer, this is a bitter pill to swallow. As long as we with some cash could take him along, we took him along. He didn’t mind the steep climb at Taal Lake Volcano. He practically took the lead. In Mindanao, we hiked up and down a mountain to see an installed hydraulic ram pump, and he was the first to say in the end:
“Lets do it again?!”
Pom has a true talent for music. Jing’s is for leading worship and writing congretational music. But Pom. Pom has the producer’s ear. His work is for records, world tours and intimate concerts in cozy cafes. I look at him and keep asking God: Will you? When will you let him?
At home he is my mother’s trusty errand boy. He massages Nanay His sponsor called yesterday. After months of no response, we’re finally moving again to get Pom back to Holland to finish his college degree.
If all goes well, he’d be back in Holland before September. And time is ticking fast. If he misses the September start, he’d have to wait for another year. Like he did last year, and the year before that. So I’m kinda of nervous. He has nothing to do here in the Philippines.when she has a hyperventilation attack. She sends him to the market to get food whether in Rotterdam, Manila or Laguna. She sends him out to pay bills and buy medicine. No matter if his Tagalog is limited or not. He doesn’t get conned like Jing. Jing would get conned buying a packet of chewing gum.
I asked God about Pom, and he reminded me of all the times Pom was there to take care of Papa, Nanay, Jing, me and everyone else. And God spoke about Joseph. Joseph was sent to a place he never wanted to go to. He was stuck there as a slave for what, 10 years?! In the end, he needed all the experiences he had as a slave. God used the time everyone thought was wasted away for more than just good. If God is the same as he was then, then he won’t let Pom out on his own until he sees him ready to do so. Then the world meets a talented young man who also happens to be highly capable of taking care of others, takes calculated initiative, is stable, strong, and extremely patient. The breed of guy this world desperately needs.
—
POM’S PORTFOLIO ~ Facebook ~ More music ~ GT
