Father’s Day

Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, story-tellers, and singers of song.
Pam Brown

And on this special day I’m giving a shout out to my dad, who’s always been my role model on living humbly and virtuously.

When I was a child I would only see him at nights when he comes home from work, and I would look forward to snacks or treats that he brought home for me and my siblings. He taught us to say grace, and to treat the elders with respect. Like greeting them with a mano (taking their hand, bowing and putting it on my forehead), and to say po and opo (words of respect).

Paps always wanted to have a farm. Being the determined person that he is, he turned half of our yard to a mini-farm where he raised free roaming chicken, geese, ducks. Later on as we got older he maintained his mini-farm and added a tilapia pond. So I’d say my love for animals and urban gardening was influenced by paps. I’m sure this influence is stronger for my sister.

In the community, Paps stands out as a leader. When I was a teenager I followed his footsteps and also served in the youth ministry where speaking in public was a usual activity, hence building my confidence and ease when when talking in front of a crowd.

Lastly I think I got my live for art from my dad. He paints with watercolor really well, and when I was starting his moral support meant a lot. He even gave me his art materials. Here are some of his works.