What it was like to be an Ate for a day.

by Trisha Ann Frances Balan

They say you never forget your first time and thanks to my own little miracle named Milagros, I will never forget my first time in Enchanted Kingdom. Since I'm the youngest in my family, I'm not used to taking care of another living, breathing human being. I'm always the one being taken care of. As you might imagine, that makes me a little self-centered and quite inconsiderate. On June 6, 2015, however, I was given the serious responsibility of ensuring Milagros' safety and making sure she has good time. I've been with 2KK for quite a while and I've taught the kids countless times, so I thought this would be relatively easy. 

It was not. 

​I had to follow her wherever she went and trust me that girl can run. There were rides I wanted to go on, but she didn't want to, so I had to stay with her. I had to make sure she was always hydrated. I always asked her hold my hand so she wouldn't get lost. It was the definition of stressful. I actually had war flashbacks to all of the times when I gave the same kind of stress to my older siblings. It made me appreciate them so much more. Even if I was frantic and frazzled half of the time, Milagros and I still had an amazing day together. We played games while waiting in line. We chased the Wizard around the park for a picture. We made each other laugh with our corny jokes. We tried to get soaking wet on the Rio Grande Rapids (she was drenched, I was not). We rode all the rides she loved again and again until we both got dizzy and slightly nauseous. 

Come 8 pm, we were tired out of our minds, but when the fireworks began she ran all the way to the end of the parking lot and, of course, I ran after her. We stood side by side as the sparks flew across the sky. I glanced to my right and I saw her bright eyes shining in wonder and fascination at the golden lights. And, in that simple moment, I had forgotten all my stress and fatigue. I felt happy because I was able to give this sweet little girl the best time of her life. After the fireworks show, Milagros had me crouch down and she said to me, "Parang Pasko lang yun! Salamat po talaga, Ate Trisha!" Then Milagros hugged me like I was really her older sister and I tried so hard not to cry.

This event changed me on a level I cannot even begin to explain. When I first walked through those EK gates, I was a self-obsessed "bunso" in charge of a little girl. When I walked out, however, I was truly an Ate, constantly nagging and fiercely protective of her younger sister.
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I believe that God sends us miracles not to save us, but to change us into better people. Safe to say Milagros was my miracle. She changed me from a Bunso to an Ate and for that I will always be grateful.