Of Family Reunions.

Butch, a nephew from the U.S. recently posted a picture tucked in another U.S-based nephew's (Rog) refrigerator, and this triggered a lively exchange within family, and then Singapore-based nephew Jei blurted out the R word.

The mention of the word "reunion" brought back memories of childhood, of happy times, of yesteryear.

Reunions generally refer to gatherings of family members or classmates from elementary, high school or college years.

In Canada and the U.S., there is a yearly "homecoming" in high schools and universities.  Whole towns or cities where schools are located busily involve themselves in these events.  Why?  Homecomings generate economic activities and of course, income for local businesses.

Hotels and inns are booked, rental cars and restaurants are patronized, and other incidentals get business, too.  Parades and balls are held, and there's a general feeling of "one-ness" again amongst the townsfolk.

This U.S. and Canadian phenom happen because many Canadians and Americans usually move away from their places of birth and childhood and settle into far away states or provinces where they find work, and start their new lives.

This "homecoming" or "grand reunion" feeling has started to take shape among Pinoys (Filipinos). While before, reunions only happen within the school setting, usually commemorating important milestones (silver, golden, or diamond jubilee), nowadays "grand reunions" take place more often because families have been torn apart by migration and overseas working arrangements.

Since the mid-seventies, many Filipinos have worked overseas.  I remember an Uncle who went to Riyadh in the late seventies, and of course my own sister who took post graduate medical training and then work in Maryland in the mid-sixties.

Ask any Pinoy and seldom will you find any who doesn't have a relative working or permanently settled abroad.

Among OFWs, family reunions, although in smaller scale, occur each time the OFW returns for a visit.  Or when someone in the family gets married, or sadly, dies.

With the recent demise of Mang Dolphy, the whole nation saw the "grand reunion" of the Quizon clan on television. One son proclaimed, " we suddenly became complete, but our Daddy was no longer there to see it."

Love of one's family and clan, and also camaraderie among school pals or co-workers, should always be celebrated; it's a way to remind ourselves of our life journey.

A 1997 wacky film about a high school reunion.

During family reunions, there'd be laughter and sometimes, old wounds are opened. In our extended family, a grand reunion where all those living overseas gather at the same time in one place with the locals has not yet happened. We look forward to one.