An American boy with a heart molded in PH

Keru Jimenez is now living in Sylmar, California. CONTRIBUTED

BANGKOK — At five months old, Keru Jeramy Angelico Beltran Jimenez, now 21, was flown to the Philippines from United States. His twin brother, Kimi Jonel Angelo, had passed away three months earlier. The circumstances of his death remain unclear to Keru.

“But I take it as my family’s way of protecting my feelings, and although I know I have the right to know the plain truth, I’d say I’m quite contented with the very little information I have about his untimely demise. Either way, knowing the story in detail wouldn’t have made the pain of losing a brother any less,” Keru explains.

Keru is American by birth, but his upbringing in the Philippines has equipped him with experiences and values that are helping him find his way in his new life in the United States.

Closeness with Daddy

Keru was left in the custody of his father, Rogelio, because the mother was deemed unfit to raise a child. Having grown up in Taguig, Rizal with his paternal grandparents, Keru has vague memories of his mother. There were occasional long-distance phone calls, some letters and gifts sent in “balikbayan” boxes.

“I grew up with cousins and close friends, that’s why it never felt like I was an only child. I was not that type of unfortunate-little-boy who doesn’t have a mom. My dad did a great job making my childhood as normal as everyone else’s and it was a nurturing stage in my life. Occasionally, I would ask about my mother, but it never felt like a gap that needed to be filled. My dad, my relatives and my friends gave me everything I needed and more,” he states.

Keru was active in the Boy Scouts and a competitive taekwondo athlete. He was also very close to his father and relatives. The reason, according to him, that he was spared the “phase of rebelliousness.”

Keru and his loving father, Rogelio, who passed away in 2013 unable to get his US citizenship. CONTRIBUTED

He has lots of loving memories of his father. Often, his dad knew exactly what to say when he felt doubtful. “He gave me all the encouragement and support I needed to pursue the things I wanted to achieve,” he says. They share the same hobbies, like photography, and active lifestyles.

Visits to the US Embassy

Every five years, Keru and his father would go to the US Embassy in Manila to report their status. His father was applying for US citizenship at the time.

In grade school his US citizenship was a big deal for his teachers and classmates. In college, people were often surprised when they heard the name “Keru” and immediately asked if he was Japanese.

“I’d say, I’m Filipino American,” then they’d say ‘but you don’t look American,’ and I’d respond by saying ‘American by birth,’” Keru says.

Growing up in the Philippines until he graduated in aviation information technology at Philippine State College of Aeronautics, Villamor Air Base Campus, Keru was not able to travel to the US because they were waiting for the approval of his father’s US citizenship. Unfortunately, it did not come. On August 20, 2013, Rogelio succumbed to colon cancer.

“I did not know that he was terminally ill. In spite of all of that, he insisted that his real situation must be kept a secret from me because at the time, I was taking my final examinations for the first semester of my second year in college, and he didn’t want anything to distract me from studies. Even in his last days, he was still trying to protect my feelings and ease my worries even though he himself was uncertain if he’d ever make it through,” Keru says.

Surname change

Keru went to the US on September 6, 2015. He is staying at his uncle’s family in Sylmar, California and working as IT and logistics analyst at Security Paving Construction Inc. On his return to the US discrepancies in his birth certificate were discovered. In his registered birth certificate, his surname was “Beltran” while in his passport it is Jimenez. Keru fixed his Social Security information with ease. He just filled out a form to change his name and his new ID was mailed to him after 10 days

For his birth certificate, he filed a petition in Chatsworth Superior Court House to change his name. It took him two days to complete the form and ask to schedule a court hearing. Before the hearing, he also published his name change from Beltran to Jimenez in Glendale News for four consecutive weeks. He attended the court hearing and had to wait for another 10 days for his official documents for a name change. He did not need a lawyer to do it, nor was there a need for witnesses or executed affidavits.

In the US, he was able to visit his brother’s grave, where some ashes of his father were also brought. He met his mother for the first time, but he knows that reconnecting with her would take a long time since Keru was stranger to her until now.

Still Filipino at heart

“I don’t really feel my ‘American nationality’ until now because I was raised in the Philippines. Both my parents were Filipino, I was taught and I practiced Filipino traditions and values, and grew up the Filipino way. The lifestyle here for me is easier compared with the one I had in the Philippines, but I’ll choose a challenging Philippine lifestyle over an average US lifestyle anytime,” he says.

He is processing his application to join the US Air Force, his dream job, and as a way of serving the US government as a citizen.

For young people who have had experiences similar to his, Keru has this to say: “Always keep an optimistic attitude. I know it’s much easier said than done, but just know that whatever happens, no matter how depressing or traumatizing it may be, it all gets better. Hang tight and everything will eventually fall back into its rightful place again.”

He says further: “Don’t grieve over the people who left, keep their memories close and you’ll realize that they’re never really gone. Take advantage of the time with the people you love, show them you care and that you’re thankful to have them, give them your utmost respect, and make them a priority because they are the reason you are where you are right now. Most of all, don’t always play it safe. Learn to take risks, work hard and pursue a career you’re passionate about.”