#rookiedad

Two nights ago was fire. We went bar hopping, Evan and I. After four unsuccessful trips to find a place, we ended up at Packo's in QC.

Our first stop was Pardon My French in Jupiter Street in Makati. It's a rock and roll night. We made a reservation for two. Got in. Found our seats. It took us less than 10 minutes to get out of there and look for another place. The place is elegant, very classy. Very French. We are simply not keen to be in a place that looks like a wedding reception that night. 😅 That's for another day.

We headed to Saguijo in Makati. It was closed that night. So was Block 123 in Mandala Park in Mandaluyong. Mow's and Motorista were closed too.

We ended up at Packo's. I've been to Packo's several times with my ABS-CBN visual effects friends. We always get a seat at the veranda, outside the closed door bar where everyone watches the live band. My ears like soft sounds now. I like the murmurs and the sound of cars passing by while enjoying Packo's spicy squid and hotdogs with chili beef.

Evan and I got a table inside. The band started playing. The table to my left looked like they had too much to drink already. Banging the bottles on their table. This rarely happens in a wedding reception. We're too far away from Pardon My French now. Besides it's late already to go back there. I am always aware of my surroundings. Those spy and action movies taught me well. 😂 So I befriended the two John Wick-ish guys at the table to my right. It's always nice to have a John Wick ally in a place like this. Two John Wicks are always better than one. Turned out they're cool bros too.

Something funny. This new friend bro keeps asking me if were truly a Filipino. He said I don't look like one. I said I am 100% Filipino.

He sang on stage and egged me to sing too.

Well, what the heck. I'm down bro. 🤣

I went up the stage and sang. Light my fire by Jim Morrison. Evan filmed me. Lol.

When I came down the stage and went back to my seat at our table, we were hilariously laughing. Especially when Evan told me that our cool bro beside the table came up to him and asked him, "Pinoy ba talaga sya?" 🤣😂

I have been writing since 2007 when Evan was one and a half years old. This is my 200th short story rookiedaddyhood. My adventure with Evan. My Rookiedad writings are becoming less and less frequent. He's a young man now. A kind one. He took the good genes after his mom. That's what I have always prayed for.

In june of 2007, I wrote a blog about the songs I wanted to play with Evan when he grows up. It's here. https://rikigarcia.tumblr.com/post/33291718856/top-x-number-of-songs-i-want-to-play-with-evan

We have had a few attempts to play together with this friends. They rehearsed Territorial Pissings but we were not able to play it.

Sums up our father and son love for each other on the mat. :)

2019 school break has been one of the meaningful and enjoyable summers with Evan. We found Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Makati and joined this wonderful family of tough yet gentle “killers” under the leadership and guidance of Sensei Kevin and Iya - two of the most generous, down to earth human beings with mad jiu-jitsu and martial arts skills we’ve had the privilege to meet. Mom, although she doesn’t train with us, seems to be enjoying it from the side too; she giggles and pokes fun at me when she hears I get mauled by our thirteen year old son whenever we get a chance to spar on the mat.

Photo credit: LuckyPhilip Cabrera

I wanted Evan to learn how to fight so that he would never have to fight in the streets like I stupidly did when I was young. In hindsight, getting into a street fight is sometimes due to lack of knowledge, lack of self discipline and lack of self restraint from provocation. The best way to resolve a conflict is winning a war without ever going into a battle. Being ignorant and untrained, I learned those lessons a long time ago the hard way and at one point I ended up seeing stars courtesy of a well-placed uppercut. Yep, the stars you see when someone gets hit in the face in cartoon animations exist in real life.  Jiu-jitsu and martial arts teach you humility, self discipline and self control - like a Jedi. I pray that Evan learns these lessons well.

Photo Credit: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Makati

Sensei Kevin told me Evan is a natural. I do not disagree. When he was four years old, Evan had done submission attacks on me even while we were sleeping.

I was skeptical (of myself being able train) and a bit anxious to join the academy. My knees, ankles, elbows and hips were all telling me to just go home and plant kamote instead. On the first day, I decided to just wing it and see what happens.

Photo credit: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Makati

I was a bit sore on the first day. Just a little bit. No big deal. It have not had any regular physical activity since I stopped playing basketball a very long time ago. I would have given up already and find myself somewhere else on a regular day. But that first day of training with the ‘wolves’ was anything but regular. It was a special day. The pain from sore muscles went away as days and weeks of continuous trainings went by. Suddenly I was able to move a little bit better. We kept coming back and are always looking forward to training for more since then.

Photo credit: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Makati

It was special because Evan and I have found something we both enjoy and get to do together and talk about anytime. I once tried to be a “cool” dad by joining myself into Evan and his friends’ conversations about Minecraft and other video games - it was an epic fail.  Sometimes it’s bordering embarrassment for him. I can’t catch up with his guitar skills neither. Jiu-jitsu was a gift.

Evan and I found ourselves among awesome human beings in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Makati. Everyone is out there to help you learn and grow not just your jiu-jitsu skills but in life in general. Jiu-jitsu is full of life metaphors about overcoming adversities. There is always hope in every situation. It pushes your limits with serious trainings and fighting yet you find glee getting beat up or surviving because you get a real sense of everyone trying to guide and help you become better every step of the way.

Photo credit: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Makati

The family spirit in this academy is just awe-inspiring. It’s a pack of wolves protecting each other and sharing wisdom with one another. Being here sparks my curiosity, exercises humility and rekindles my spirit and joy of being a beginner again.

11 years later, rookiedad adventures continue. Same, same but different, as the saying goes. Same simple joys, different venues and conversations.

11 years ago, at two years old, Evan dominated everyday conversations from the time we all woke up until he fell asleep. He was the king of our household’s talk show. Forever curious. Everyday, we’d go out and walk in the nearby park. From picking up stones and painting them at home to stumbling upon dog’s poop and jumping over it together.  Or just walking and jumping around enjoying the sunshine and flowers around and a trip to the nearest Subway.

11 years later, I’m back to being the talk show host. Because, well, teenagers. They turn their curiosity on silent mode. Like we all did. But everyday we still go out together. Minus the jumping around or over a dog’s poop, we go out and head to the nearest Jollibee or McDo. We do not walk much anymore. We ride going to and coming from school. There is not many greens and flowers around everyday but there is always the same sunshine - up in the sky and right beside riding along with me.

I spent Father’s Day at home. It was like any other day. Any other day is absolutely a special day when I get to spend it with Evan and Emi. Everyday is a freaking awesome father’s day with these two. 

Emi had a lechon belly delivered at home. What better way to spend father’s day than spending it at home with Evan and his friends in the neighborhood who came over after their own celebration of father’s day? These boys love to play video games. They spend some weekends playing video games at each other’s homes. 

They were alternately playing games and playing piano. I invited myself to their group. I sometimes hear them say “Hey bruh, how’s school?” so I thought it was only proper that I do what the Romans do when in Rome so I introduced myself to their conversation and greeted them “Hey bruhs, how are you?”. I got surprised and amused looks and a “hello” from all of them. They quickly turned around and went back to their serious video game business and conversation. Evolution is really amazing. The word brother has evolved over the years from bro to brod to brad to brader and now bruh. Could bruhd be next?

I’m not a big video game fan. The only game I played and finished was Metal Gear Solid on Playstation1. Joining a video game conversation with these young men will be be awkward. The “Hey bruhs, how are you?” earlier gave away my struggle trying hard to be cool. Then I got to play the piano. I’m neither a piano player nor a gamer but I thought playing the piano will be less disastrous for me instead of jumping in their geeky game discussion without knowing a thing about it at all. I know a few chords and played.  I was entirely enjoying my time playing and singing terribly Pompeii by Bastille while these boys mind their video games. They eventually played the piano along with me. One by one, they came forward and showed off their mad piano skills. It’s freakin’ awesome. I recorded my singing and piano playing and accidentally some of the audio in the background.

Evan is turning 13 this year. He will soon become a teenager. His voice has started changing from a kid’s vocal pitch to a deep voice. I will miss his tiny pitchy baby voice and I look forward to seeing him grow and mature. He’s a better version of me. Way better. :) He took after his mom’s better character. That’s what I have always prayed for.  I cannot be more happy and grateful.

Happy Father’s Day, Bruh! :))

I got so used to eating Evan’s leftover food that even those that are not leftovers (food that he reserves for later), I unconsciously eat them too.

Last night he intended to put a stop to it.  He made sure that the next time I open the fridge, everything is crystal clear. :)

Happy New Year everyone! :)

I haven’t been writing my rookiedad’s adventures the past months since Evan has become really good at avoiding my camera and and telling me not to post some of our adventures online.  I get it.  He’s a big boy now.  He’s 11.  I started writing my rookiedad blog when he was one and a half years old; almost ten years ago.  Whew. Time flies really fast. And I’m only on my 188th episode. If you want to read the rest see here http://rikigarcia.tumblr.com/archive

Yesterday was the second day Evan and his new friend Matthew from Adelaide, Australia played Xbox360 together at our home.  They really get along since they first met on the basketball court one week ago. They have the the same age, 11.

Matthew came over with soda, ice cream and chips ready for hours of playing NBA, Diablo III, Borderlands and the rest of the Xbox games.  When the food, chips and drinks were ready, I will leave them up to it in the living room.

They would play video game for hours. 

(Evan told me and his mom about the story at the dinner table while we were having our family’s New Year’s eve dinner )

Amidst the chaos, sound effects and noise of playing games, Matthew paused and stopped everything.  They paused in silence. They heard something. Matthew looked puzzled trying to figure out where the sound was coming from.

He asked Evan (in his Aussie accent), 

“Do you have a cat?”

Evan knew in his heart the answer was a no-brainer.

“That’s my dad.  He’s sleeping.”

Evan had me at “Do you have a cat?” when he was telling the story.  It cracked me up so hard I almost spit water out of my nose. Lols.