The Spring in his Step....




Norman and Kibs - the first 2 apos of Nanay and Lolo Jose

 My then 19 year old son Anton asked me  a few years back" Ma why does Uncle Kibs walk like that?" I asked him what he meant and what kind of walk was he pertaining to about his uncle. Anton said "he walks like he has a skip and spring on one side while walking." And indeed my older and only brother does indeed have a skip and spring in his step when walking. You could see the happy spring and joyful skip when he walks and it shows oh so naturally.


My brother who is fondly called "Kibs" in the family and is "Marlon" to cousins, friends and colleagues was born 55 years ago to loving parents Franklin "Frank" Osmena Murillo and Fe Asuncion "Ciony" Muana-Murillo. Kibs held the distinction of being the first Murillo grandchild and rightfully named Marlon Raymond Murillo.  He was however 2nd apo for Nanay and Lolo Jose Muana after Norman who was only 5 months older than him.


Daddy, Marlon, Mommy and me

 There was a minor name debate from my paternal grandparents and parents before Kibs was born as my grandfather wanted to name him "Mustafa".  He would have been named "Mustafa Murillo"....how could he have survived the teasing then, I wonder, if my insistent Lolo won the name battle???? LOL....

I do not recall the reason behind his nickname which was "Ekieboy" but as he grew up , the little boyish name Ekieboy evolved to being Kiboy and eventually just Kibs....yep, my brother Kibs who has a spring in his step.

He is two years older than I am and has always been the intellectual so-called genius in the family. His brain is a powerhouse of knowledge and I still get amazed at how much he knows and can comprehend. He was already a precocious boy even at such an early age as 2 years old and already was constantly curious and inquisitive about everything. He also would not stop asking over and over a question till he gets satisfied with the answer. That was why he was such an irritating nuisance at times not only for the adults but also to us sisters and the other cousins. I marveled at how he reveled in the company of not only the kids in the neighborhood but also felt so at home in the company of adults like he was also an adult. My mother was so proud of how bright and precocious and delightful he was when presented to the adults. He was always like a shining star in social occassions when my mother had the opportunity to show him off. For Kibs, it all came naturally for him to be a social creature. He could fit in anywhere he was and always had something to say to a new acquaintance, whether a child or an adult. But I am sure the other children like me thought of him as a weirdo. I grew up from babyhood to be the total opposite of Kibs as I was so grumpy and anti-social and was so shy and suplada in new social settings. In a way, Kibs cornered the "wonder-child" market for all of us then as he stood out as the delightful kid who was so "smart and witty" and cute and guapo at that. 

And so now, all those childhood memories of growing up with my brother evades and dances through my head like a collage of pictures - which produces both a smile and some tears...the bittersweet heart wrenching pain sets in more now with the realization that Ekieboy/Kibs/ Marlon is now facing what might be the last battle of his life.

Marlon and Daddy - May 3, 2012

Kibs was shockingly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer stage 4 last April 22! He was having intense stomach pains mid April and after all tests were done, the devastating bomb of a diagnosis shook Marlon and me and my sisters to the core....pancreatic cancer stage 4 - meaning the cancer has spread to his liver and even lungs. Just like that, our family's world did a 180 degree flip to the world of the big C! It came like a thief in the night and up to now I am still reeling from the shock. Of course it was pure denial and refusal to accept my brother's diagnosis at first....anguished questions came unbidden "how could it be?, why is this happening to us?, how could God give Kibs this fatal disease?, why is it incurable?, why is it so painful to accept?...etc etc etc....

My sister Jojing who is bravely , lovingly and selflessly taking care of Kibs in Cebu  posted this....

Key words: miracles/prayers/broken hearts/faith

Kibs needs a miracle and prayers and our broken hearts need faith to go on.... God's will be done.