RN 2024

 What's in a name?

We are known for many of them—the ones we were born with, the ones our mothers call us, depending on whether they are in a loving mood or if they can't find the pair of scissors. The ones our friends call us, some nice, many loathsome. The ones reserved for family and sweethearts, and of course, ones that dignify us. 

Our brother is born Sheen Michael Centina Mañego. 

Tisoy when he was a toddler, for he had astonishingly fair skin. 

Opaw a little later when he sported that adorable buzzcut evident in most of his childhood photos. 

Kuya Sheen to both younger sister and nephew. 

Idol, Bossing, Pare, and a lot of other cool ones in his many circles I couldn't bother to find out. 

Kiel... oh am I so eager for you all to know more about Kiel!

BUT, today he earned one more name-- a leaf to his laurel. 

RN. 

Scanning his birth name amongst the thousand others who now share this honor was an emotional and stressful task, because what if he wouldn't be on it? A more undesirable tag would be spoken by hateful people. And it is a big sister's job to worry about these things among others. Oh but when we did, it was right there, next to number 18326... 

MAÑEGO, SHEEN MICHAEL C.

All the things he had to overcome to achieve this, even all the things he didn't, they now look so small in comparison. Praise the Lord. 

Now people would identify you with this shiny new name, but my favorite would always be, Dong. Dong Sheen.