Daddy Day

This father's day was extra special. Number one, it's the first time I got a custom gift from Amanda, a project they created in their first week of school. It's amazing how my 3 year old daughter can trace letters and know the meaning of what they wrote. After her class, as soon as the door of their school opens, the first thing she said to me was "Happy Father's Day Daddy, I love you"

Second, we didn't have a fancy celebration. We just attended a mass in the morning which IMHO was the best way to celebrate the day and a simple gift where Mommy Cali posted a happy dad's day greeting for me.  Truly, simple things give us great joy and happiness.

Third, while walking along the aisle of the Singapore School in Magallanes since I had a client at a nearby restaurant, I came across this signage "Children need LOVE especially when they do not deserve it.". Then I remembered my dad. I realized just now how simple he showed his love for us. Loving us, when we're not lovable. When I was young, he's not always around as he was assigned out of town. My mom even told me that at one point, I didn't even know who he was as he scolded me when I was naughty and told him "bakit mo ko pinapagalitan di naman kita ka-anu ano." (why are you scolding me, who are you anyway?).  I can't imagine Amanda telling me that but I know it's a boom wasak moment for dad to hear that.  And then I remembered, that my dad retired early and during those times from my grade four days even up to well some of my college days, he always took the time to drive me to school.  And even with that sacrifice of waking up early, cooking for our breakfast when both me and my brother still go to the same school, I always noticed how slow he drives... how sometimes our food is not so tasty... how everything seem to be not what I wanted.  But now I realized, that despite me being not so grateful, he still gave what he could...no drama, no words... just simple everyday acts of care and love from a father who may not be articulate but was very consistent in loving.

Amanda may be too far off from acting like how I did when I was young, but may I always bear in mind how my dad loves me and my siblings and our families and Amanda, that no matter how I became so unloving, he persisted on loving us. So to our "veteran dad" in whom I learned a lot I honor you for showing us how fatherhood should be done.  Happy father's day and we love you.