August 4, 2005: Trini already filed her 3 months maternity leave, she was expecting a C-Section, thus the additional 1 month off against the 2 months vacation for a normal delivery. She was already due on the 21st and we thought that she spend the remaining weeks at Tayabas so that someone can take care of her while waiting for D day.

August 5, 2005: Trini woke me up at 4:00am so we can pack her things and get ready for her early morning trip. She asked if I can travel with her, she feels safer this way plus she felt something funny with her tummy, the baby is more malikot than the usual. So, after we've readied ourselves and after I've defrosted our ref (yes, I had the time to do that. If only I knew what was coming!) we went to the bus terminal at Buendia. There, I left her momentarily at Goldilocks as I grunted my way towards the ATM machine. I only had a few hundreds in my wallet since the plan was that we travel by bus, but on our way to the terminal Trini insisted that we rent a van since it's a lot safer for her condition. If only I knew that my son's and possibly my wife's lives are on the line I wouldn't have thought twice about spending more. Wrong timing for my frugality I thought.

Right before Alabang, Trini kept complaining about an intermittent pain in her tummy. She told me it was fine and that she can make it until Tayabas whenever I ask her if she was alright. Approaching Calamba, the last exit of SLEX, the pain became frequent. She was cursing now and I kept my cool, at least I tried to.  Thank God I wore dark shorts, she couldn't see I peed my pants already! So, I asked the driver to take us to the nearest hospital immediately because I am about to collapse, and oh yeah, my wife's about to give birth too. We were doing a thousand miles per hour now and thank God the van's suspension was in great condition. We finally arrived at St. Cabrini Hospital, which was just a few minutes away from Calamba exit, but that was the longest 10 minutes of my life!  And oh yeah, probably of trini's too.  I thought we'd get a discount from the van since we only traveled less than half way, but…I can't believe I'm still thinking about money in this situation!  When we were finally ushered by a male nurse to the emergency room, Trini calmed down a bit and I was still holding all my emotions, I want to project to my wife that everything is under control.  After a few, a young doctora attended to us and calmly checked on Trini.  She's seen this situation too many times, I thought.  She confirmed that Trini was already due because when she checked way down, she felt a foot kick her fingers!

Moments later, the same male nurse led us to the elevator going to the operating room. Trini was crying now. She has every reason to be scared.  First baby, almost gave birth on a bus, unfamiliar hospital.  I tried to make her feel that things are okay.  I told her I am excited to see our boy in a few hours and for a moment she smiled.  We arrive at 3rd floor, and the elevator door opened.  As we were going towards the OR, Trini and I held hands like never before.  I can see now that she is in so much pain.  I tried to project that I was calm and under control, but in reality there's a million things running on my mind: 'can this hospital take care of my wife and baby?', 'are the doctors here as competitive with manila's and lucena's?' and '…is there a possibility that I might lose my baby…or my wife?'  After they went inside the operating room and closed tha door - there was silence.  Our hands parted and I didn't even had the chance to tell Trini that I love her.  I tried to calm myself down and take hold of all my emotions but suddenly, out of nowhere, I cried.  Hard.  I didn't even care that there were a couple of people behind me.  And it seems like they thought nothing of it.  I was standing in front of the operating room and it was like they understood already.

After a while, I sat down.  Slowly, I took control of my emotions.  Nevermind the tears, I just let it flow.  I needed it anyways, it felt good.  From afar I heard the elevator open.  Another male nurse was now ushering another couple towards the operating room.  Just like earlier, they parted ways minus the husband crying afterwards.  And then, with nowhere else to go, he seated a few seats away from me.  He was trying to avoid making eye contact.  I should be the shy one since I was the one crying, so I initiated conversation.  I told him I was nervous and that my wife was also giving birth.  His name is Jun, he told me.  (I still have this cellphone number on my contacts list).  It was his second baby now, he chuckled, and he was crying like me too with his first.  He said that I can calm down now because the doctors here are very good and everything is going to be okay.  I smiled.  God sends us angels whenever we need them.  I felt way better now.  We talked about his line of work, my line of work, that their hospital bills are fully paid for with his HMO, and that mine was just HMO assistance and not even near half payment, etc etc.  After a few moments of yada yadas, Jun and I saw a nurse carry a baby to the viewing section just beside the operating room.  In that moment, I realized that this unique filipino expression was true all along: "Lukso ng dugo".  I knew that baby was mine.  The same nurse carrying the baby asked if I was Mr. Paragas and that I can now look at my baby from the viewing section.  She asked me for feeding bottles and baby clothes.  I explained to her our situation and that we were not expecting the baby until the 21st.  From behind, my angel came handing out the things the nurse was asking for.  Jun told me to keep them, that it was his pleasure he added.  I never thought that angels wore inter-barangay jersey shorts. 

From the viewing section, I stared in amazement at the baby in front of me.  He was so beautiful.  He was so perfect.  I hurriedly took the camera from my bag and the nurse was laughing, she said I forgot everything else but the camera.  I'd rather forget everything else than preserving this moment I thought.  After a few shots and video clips taken they closed the curtains at the viewing section.   Moments later Trini was ushered out of the operating room lying on a hospital bed.  I totally forgot about this but Trini reminded me: The first thing that came out my mouth when I saw her was was, "Ang gwapo nya!" ("He's so handsome!").

At the room, while Trini was sleeping (or still sedated), I informed everyone of the good news.  Our parents and loved ones are now traveling to Sto. Tomas to see their Batangueno grandson.  While waiting for them, and for our son to be "delivered" to our room, I felt like I was forgetting something.  Oh yeah, the baby's name!  I decided right then and there when the nurse needed me to fill up a hospital form.

LEAN - was from Leandro which was number 1 name from our short list.  Trini and I were not really that satisfied with it.  But our parents already had a nickname for Leandro, which was Lean.  Although we still call him that whenever we're angry when he's malikot. LEANDROOOOO!!!

PATRICK - was from a song playing over and over again on my head that day.  John Mayer's "St. Patrick's" day.  I also thought - Irish luck!

I felt so blessed that day.  Everything fell into place.  It was written in the stars.  And I have evidence to prove it: 

• Lean wasn't expected to be born until a few weeks later but the doctor insisted that since this was a first born, delivery might come 2 weeks before or after expected date.  I didn't back out with my plan to attend my cousin's wedding at Melbourne Australia.  It was on August 21, 2005, exactly my son's expected birth date.  I pursued applying for the visa because I was sure I can attend their wedding. 

• One day, Trini and I were talking about her Ate and her pregnancy.  She mentioned that she was already on leave 3 weeks before she gave birth to Bea, my god daughter.  Trini wished that she don't get to waste 3 weeks of her leave so she can maximize the time to rest and take care of our soon to be baby.  Trini filed her leave 1 day before Lean was born. 

• Lean was born on a Friday.  which I filed as Emergency Leave.  I got to rest 2 days after that since it was a weekend and I still have my full 7 days paternity leave!  The first 5 days I used the following week and 2 days the next week, August 15 & 16.  I filed a vacation leave going to my cousins wedding from August 17-26, 2005.  I was on vacation for almost a month! Sweet!

• By the looks of it, the van we rented was almost brand new, so the suspension was in great condition.  We swiftly passed through the bumpy highway with ease and comfortably for my laboring wife.

• If we didn't travel that day and Lean was born in Manila, we shouldn't have had the chance to renovate our apartment in Pasay.  We would still be sleeping in a single bed and the cabinets wouldn't fit all baby clothes and baby other stuff. 

• Why Sto. Tomas, Batangas?  Of many things, Batangas is known for their delicacy Bulalo.  Everytime we travel from Lucena to Manila vice versa, The then pregnant Trini and the matakaw Rex drool over Rose & Grace's Bulalo.  We kept on asking ourselves, when will we able to eat at that bulalohan? That restaurant was only a few feet away from St. Cabrini Hospital.  Bulalo was that nights dinner.

So, that's the story.  We wuv you vewy vewy much Lean!  If I can change anything on how you were born I wouldn't want it to go any other way.  It's an awesome story I'd love to tell your son someday.