My father is the eldest in a brood of six. They lived in a quaint barrio in Penablanca, Cagayan. Their house rest on top of a hill in the modest Brgy. Bugatay community. Lolo was a farmer and Lola tends the house. As years passed, their children settled in different places as they began their own families.

In 2004, I was 17, Buboy and JohnJohn were newly born, and Potpot was not yet around. That year, the Annual Martin Family Reunion was conceived. Since then, we all come home to Bugatay every December 25 and be reunited as a family. It’s the time when we share our stories about the year that has been, catch up and celebrate Christmas together.

Our family was the first hosts of the reunion, my father being the eldest. There are lots of food, parlor games and gift giving. Year after year, the host changes chronologically depending on a sibling’s birth. And we’ve seen our family grow since.

Lola left in 2013 and it’s been such a trying year for us. But with how we managed to keep this tradition, I am confident that we can handle anything that may come our way, as a family.  Today, we celebrated the 10th year of our family reunion and I am sure that because of this,  even my children’s children will not lose touch of their pedigree and will always keep in touch with family.