A Special Tribute To My Auntie Auring

                                          A TRIBUTE TO MY AUNTIE AURING                       
                                                 
                                                BY  :  TSURTIDOGNI

                                                          MONDAY
                                                          021808

AUREA ABENIDO-DUPIO
===================
I visited my Auntie Auring four days before Valentines 2008.She is living in the nearby
village about  thirty minutes walk from our home.She used to come to my parents
house last year.Her daughter Thelma came by and told me her mother sents her best
regards for me.That was on February 09th. Very un-usual because we always see
each other everytime she visits my parents who is just a few meters from us.The
following day, I find time to visit her with my husband as well as with some of my
cousins who arrived in the morning from the across island of Negros.

She is now eighty-three years old.Slim and her left eye could not see clearly.She was
sitting in the porch when we arrived.My husband was taking pictures of the very nice
surroundings along with my cousins.I told them, I will go ahead and be the first to greet
my aunt and for them to follow later while they were still eating the guavas my cousin
Thelma told them to pick  up, fresh from the tree.

Aurea Abenido-Dupio is the older sister of my Papa Mauro.Everyone told me I inherited
her slender figure.There is one quality of my Auntie Auring that I really wish I could inherit when God allows me to live longer as she is right now.That is her , VERY GOOD
MEMORY.
"Good Morning Auntie! How are You?"
"Oh!  Naomi ! This is a surprise.I told Thelma yesterday to say hello to you because
you were in my thoughts! "
"That is the reason why I am here .My husband is with Sonnie, Virgie, and Susing.
They are still eating guavas in the back yard."
"Do you still remember Naomi, the Code of Ethics I taught you when you were in high
school?"
"Yes, I do remember that you taught me and I was able to memorize it before, but now?
I cannot remember it all !"
"You forgot ?" She seemed disappointed with my lapse of memory.
I tried to explain to her,"You know Auntie, since I was operated with my goiter last
1992, my memory is not as good as before."
She was smiling."Do not worry I will recite it for you, and all you need is a piece of paper
and a pen."
"Wait a minute Auntie, we need an audience to appreciate and to applause ! "
I called my husband, my cousins, and my aunt's three daughters namely, Thelma,
Helen, Susan and all her ten grandchildren.
All in all we were eighteen , gathered together to listen to her.The only son of Auntie
Auring arrived bringing fresh coconut water and coconut meat for us to eat.That makes
us twenty in all including my dear aunt.A small and noisy crowd.
As usual I did my favorite role, the host of the show.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Aurea Abenido-Dupio ! "
A warm applause !

My auntie Auring smiled.She remained seated .She started with "EHEM"

                                          CODE OF ETHICS
                                          ==============

1.  Have faith in the Divine Providence, that guides the destinies of men and women
    and the nation.
2.  Love your country, for it is the home of your people. the sets of your affection, and
    the source of your happiness and well-being.
3.  Respect the constitution which is the expression of your sovereignty.
    The government is your government, it has been established for your safety and
    welfare.Obey the laws and see that they are observed by all and that public
    officials comply with their duties.
4.  Pay your taxes willingly and promptly.
    Citizenship implies not only right but also obligation.
5.  Safeguard the purity of suffrage and abides by the decision of the majority.
6.  Love and respect your parents, it is your duty to serve them gratefully and well.
7.  Value your honor as you value your life.
8.  Be truthful and honest in thought and in action.Be just and charitable, courteous,
    dignified in your dealing with your fellowmen.
9.  Lead a clean and frugal life.Do not indulged in frivolity or pretense.
10. Live- up to the noble tradition of your people.
      Merit the memory of our heroes.Their lives point the way to duty and honor.
11.  Be industrious, be not  afraid or ashame to do manual labor.
      Productive toil is condusive to economic and adds to the wealth of the nation.
12.  Rely on your own efforts for your progress and happiness.
      Be not easily discouraged.Persevere in the pursuit for your ligitimate vision.
13.  Do your work cheerfully, thoroughly and well.
      Do not wait for tomorrow what you can do for today.
14.  Contribute to the welfare of your community, and promote social justice.
      You are a part of society to which you and everyone's responsibility.
15.  Cultivate the habit of using goods made in the Philippines.
      Patronize the products of our countrymen.
THANK YOU !
A WARM APPLAUSE  for AUNTIE AURING.
She ordered that the snacks of  fresh coconut juice and coconut meat be eaten, so
we ate with delight wondering that this old lady still in full memory.
I asked her,"Who wrote 'The Code of Ethics' Auntie ?
She replied."I memorized that  in the late 30's. Your father cannot attend the
poetry competition "Filipinas My Motherland".Your father was sick, so I volunteered when his name was called ,I went to the stage and announced to the panel of judges,
"My younger brother is sick, I was not given a copy of his poem/piece, so may I just
represent my brother and use my own piece?"
The judges were having a hard time to decide.They had to announce it to the audience
if they would agree.The audience was roaring."Auring! Auring! Auring!" So she was able
to participate the contest with The Code of Ethics as her piece.She was the first to deliver, and she did it with complete emotion and hand actions with a wide smile.
The most applauded piece.The remaining contestants, there were seven of them, after
hearing my Auntie Auring's wonderful delivery, they lost their confidence, some of them
did not finish reciting their poems that made the judges gave a Unanimous Decision.
She won the contest with tears in her eyes as she gave her prize of ONE PESO and
3 pieces of notebooks to my father, her younger brother.She told us she was twelve
years old at that time and my father was 9 years old.This made her consider the piece
with a very sentimental reason.

I am very good with my longhand, so this is the complete piece that I was able to
scribble when my dear Auntie Auring delivered it again in front of us.Knowing how
important this piece to her and for my father, I decided to have this story documented
here in Writing.Com.Now I know why my father is raising responsible children, one
of the reason is this Code of Ethics.I am so proud that my father and his siblings continue their bonding, love and respect to each other even if they are all now in their
sunset years.Myself and the rest of my cousins owe this particular piece of who we
are right now and who will be our children's children in the coming generations.

Before I end this documentation, my Auntie Auring is one of the guest of honor in
the Rural Improvement Club, a group young men and women in the village, and she is
invited to deliver "The Code of Ethics"The affair will be on february 23, 2008, a Saturday.
Surely, I will be there and will give her my bid round of applause.
LONG LIVE MY AUNTIE AURING ! GOD BLESS YOU FOREVER!