It is my late dad's birthday today (July 7th) and I can't help but think about him. He was a strict disciplinarian in his younger years, one mistake and we would get a beating. His sermons were longer than the priests'. At the office where he worked as a manager he scolds his employees for hours, just like at home. At least he was consistent. He's a chain-smoker but oddly enough he avoids drinking alcohol.
There are two things he was most passionate about - education and sports, for which i am very thankful. Me and my siblings would usually joke about memorizing 5 new words each day, this being a favorite command of his. He would go to our schools and check on our teachers, get acquainted with the guards ... and once, he even flashed my picture to the students at PLM while looking for me, lol! What a man! In spite of these "faults," we love and respect him, and we'll never be where we are today if not for him. Of course, we have the best mom too but that's another story.
Our father mellowed down over the years as we grew up and those are my best memories of him - playing bowling, watching sports live or on TV - basketball, boxing, baseball, tennis etc.
Wherever he is right now, i am sure he is very happy with whats happening to his off-springs. My older sister manages her own convenience store right now, my older brother now starting to work independently in spite of his illnesses, my younger sister recently passed the Bar exam and moved to an office where she can practice the profession and my younger brother, well, he's got a doctorate degree and doing well in his post in a Dubai college.
As for me, when i passed the board exam for civil engineers, my dad said to me that "you have accomplished more things than i have". That time, i don't really get its meaning and two years ago, i wouldn't have agreed but today, i would say, in all honesty, that i am on the right track.
We miss you dad.
There are two things he was most passionate about - education and sports, for which i am very thankful. Me and my siblings would usually joke about memorizing 5 new words each day, this being a favorite command of his. He would go to our schools and check on our teachers, get acquainted with the guards ... and once, he even flashed my picture to the students at PLM while looking for me, lol! What a man! In spite of these "faults," we love and respect him, and we'll never be where we are today if not for him. Of course, we have the best mom too but that's another story.
Our father mellowed down over the years as we grew up and those are my best memories of him - playing bowling, watching sports live or on TV - basketball, boxing, baseball, tennis etc.
Wherever he is right now, i am sure he is very happy with whats happening to his off-springs. My older sister manages her own convenience store right now, my older brother now starting to work independently in spite of his illnesses, my younger sister recently passed the Bar exam and moved to an office where she can practice the profession and my younger brother, well, he's got a doctorate degree and doing well in his post in a Dubai college.
As for me, when i passed the board exam for civil engineers, my dad said to me that "you have accomplished more things than i have". That time, i don't really get its meaning and two years ago, i wouldn't have agreed but today, i would say, in all honesty, that i am on the right track.
We miss you dad.
