Haligi

My colleagues call me kuya or manong, older brother in Tagalog and Ilocano, respectively. The words would always affect me, whenever it's directed at me. It makes me want to cry. It's almost like a part of me doesn't feel deserving to have such respect. I feel unworthy of the honorifics.

I hope that I don't let anyone down. I hope that I can always be careful of other people's feelings. I hope that people can feel safe around me. I hope that I can always support and be a cheerleader for other people. I hope that I can muster up the courage to initiate tough conversations. I hope that I can listen in humility when people initiate tough conversations with me. We made promises to each other for mutual support and care.

I hope that I can forgive, and always find the good within. I hope that I can listen, and be a haligi, a strong pillar, on which anyone can rest their weary selves on. Because, this system is unforgiving. I hope that I can be kind, even to those trapped in the system, or agents of it, or defenders of it.

We are Treaty Peoples, all of us here on Turtle Island.

We are People of the Covenants.