Father's Day 2007

Happy Father's Day sa ating mga ama! I'm sure most of you had the chance to hug your dad today. As for me, I only got to talk to him--on the phone. Unfortunately, no hugs for me; just his voice and his chuckles.

My dad left when I was in grade four. If I were to use some Mathematics, my dad has been away for ten years now. He wasn't able to witness a lot of important events in our lives: elementary graduation, high school graduation, and most probably, college graduation. Things like these really make me sad. But for daddy, he has a lot more reasons to feel alone.

I'd like this entry to be some kind of a "tribute" to my dad. I'd do this by enumerating all the things I remember about him.

• After phone calls, he'd ask us to kiss him. Kami naman, may TSUP at MWAH sound effects palagi. Well, those things make daddy happy, why deprive him of them dba?
• He has this mannerism wherein he distorts his face and pouts.
• He always tells me that when my sister and I were little, he used to sip our sipon because we didn't know how to blow off mucus back then.
• With his scooter, he used to bring me to school. Now, I think that scooter doesn't work at all but I enjoyed driving it before.
• He used to pat our butts so we'd go to sleep right away. He calls that act "pikpek". So everytime we can't sleep, we'd tell him, "daddy, pikpik mo ako." Now it makes me wonder, is "pikpik" a tagalog term?
• Waking up after siesta time was fun because daddy used to surprise us with merienda.
• In Iloilo, he used to fetch my sister and i with his bike. And then, he'd treat us to the ice cream parlor near our school.
• Since he was a seaman, he would tease us that he has another wife somewhere. I get too affected with the joke that I cry hard. Then, he'd approach me and tell me it wasn't true. The best thing was the hug he used to give me right after wiping away my tears.
• One time, he gave me and my sister a five-peso bill. That was all he had in his wallet and since my sister and I were kids, we tore the bill in two. Share kasi kami eh, bakit ba? Unfortunately, our money was not accepted in the sari-sari store.
• He is an avid fan of PBA. He watched games live in Araneta. My mom used to irritate him by siding with Sunkist. Dad's a fan of Alaska back then.
• He would spank us when we don't obey his orders. At times, we thought he was scary because of his disciplining. But over-all, daddy is really kind and sweet. He loves us so much.
• He used to teach us how to swim. Since he was good in it, he would impress us by saying, "oh, ito, one hand lang oh!" Then, he'd swim awkwardly using one hand only.
• When he was a still a seaman, he'd bring home loads of chocolates for me and my sister. Sa sobrang dami, kahit naglalaro lang kami sa kalye, may bitbit pa kaming Cadburry bar.
• Everytime he leaves for work, my sister and I would cry out loud and beg him not to leave.
• He also loves pictures! When we were young, we had a lot of pictures with him in Iloilo.
• Daddy is also a good cook, just like mama.
• He taught me how to ride a bike.
• We watched Free Willy [the movie with a captured whale] with Daddy. Also Pocahontas and Mulan [?].
• He always brings pasalubong when he's from work.
• He wears perfume. I miss his scent.
• Daddy plays tennis well. Every morning, he used to play tennis with his friends in the court in front of the house in Marist.
• He loves singing. When he sings and KTVs, he'd carry me and we'd dance to the tune of Delilah, My Way, or Green, Green Grass of Home.