By: Aimee V. Mendoza
Everyone of us have different kind of dads. Some dad might be fun-loving who always crack jokes whenever you are together. Some might be strict and have a you-need-to-follow the rule attitude. Some dads just love breaking some rules just for fun.
But whatever type of dad we have, we all knew that our dad wants all the best for us.
When we were still small and our father saw us crying, they love to lift us on their shoulder and tell us fairy tale stories like a flying a chicken that will fetch us and bring us up there. Then we will stop crying and will believe in happy ending.
The memories when I was young and father had been carrying me in his arms, the teachings he taught and the love he shows until I grew up as an adult are all still clear in my mind.
Who’s my daddy?
A loving husband to our mother.
My mama loves him so much because daddy makes her feel so special because he loves her so much and show it in every way he could. My mama says that daddy hadn’t even laid his hands against her. Even they have misunderstandings; daddy will settle it calmly.
A loving father.
The memory is still clear to me when I was about three or four, that one night when we are going to sleep, I’ve been crying because mama is very mad at me. My daddy came and he carries me on his shoulder and we went outside to watch the moon. He tells a story that we are waiting for a sarimanok to fetch us to fly up there in the sky. And it is one of my unforgettable moments with daddy.
He was very thoughtful dad. He never forgets our birthday. I’ll be waking up in the morning of my birthday that a cassette tape plays birthday songs. We might not have extravagant birthday parties, but having one or two dishes and eating with family is a wonderful blessing.
He might be quiet most of the time, but daddy cares for us a lot. He also could jive with us, his children in cracking some humorous jokes when we have family talks.
Disciplinarian.
If there’s one most important lesson I learned from daddy, it was cleanliness and orderliness. At a young age, he taught me to organize my toys and put it in the box he gave me after I had played with it.
He taught me the “clean first, before pleasure” policy. I often at the store when I was in vacation when I was in high school, and I usually watch movie or play PlayStation. Before I play, I make sure that the surrounding is clean and organized first. Until now, I practice that policy which follows “cleanliness is next to godliness”.
I also learned from Daddy the ways of healthy living. He told me to eat onions because it could cure and prevent cough and garlic, as it has detoxing capabilities. If he hadn’t told me and if I haven’t believed in him, I might never been eating onions and garlic today.
To discipline us siblings whenever we become hammer head, mama and daddy had a discipline stick prepared as the traditional punishment when we did something wrong. And that kind of discipline taught us to be a better human.
A great playmate and challenger.
Daddy taught me how to play chess when I was five or six. We play and have a win-lose deal.
One time, the deal is: if I won, we will be going to Manila, which is one of my favorite things to do, because he often buy me toy when we go to Farmers Plaza. It is also because daddy has some business in Manila, like buying supplies for his radiator shop or paying for our Metro Gate lot. That time, father has no business to attend to that’s why mama got angry that we are only wasting time and money. But daddy had promised me and he don’t want to break the promise.
Most of the time, the reason why I won in the chess is because daddy let me take back my move and give me number of chances to change my move. He showed me the wrong moves I had made, taught me the right moves to make, and trained me until I get better and better.
I played chess with daddy and kuya. We also had played dominoes. Anyhow, I had loved traditional chess but I haven’t pursued the sport. Console game became my sport and hobby. I also had played Super Mario with daddy during the Nintendo Family Computer era when you cannot shutdown the console or you can lose your save games. We play for longer time and take a break just to eat.
Daddy also created his own military board game (c.1997) by drawing blocks on a one whole manila paper, supporting it with steel. It’s a game wherein 2 players are battling to base. The concept has similarity to ladders and snakes game, but here we use 2 dice to determine the steps we should be taking. I really enjoy playing this unique game with daddy.
My guide and companion.
We often visit Recto and Divisoria if daddy is going to buy some supplies for his small radiator shop. Sometimes, kuya accompanies us too. We usually go to National bookstore to see some art supplies. We also go to Recto to buy some electrical supplies.
Daddy was also my companion during my first meet-up deal in Manila. It is when I was 4th year College when I ask my parents to buy me a 2nd hand madden blue PSP 1001 or the fat version, to lessen my study stress during thesis days.
The craftsman.
Daddy, being an Electrical Engineer, assembles and improvises electrical stuffs in our home. He built an improvised home theatre sound system in our rooftop; installed an intercom in the 3rd floor so it will be easy for us to call in the first floor and vice versa; repair electronics that are out of tune. If you will go to our house, you could see the electrical wirings that wrapped the house from first floor to third floor.
Daddy also crafted an improvised table for my first computer set.
I learned from him how to bind a book without going to a printing press;
to create a mask helmet from paper; he also crafted the wooden house coin bank we still use until today.
Creating wooden crafts is one of his hobbies, as he made shelves for his electronic system, book shelves, improvised stands, etc.
As an engineer, daddy was keen in measuring. I learned from him the use of measuring tools when doing letterings or compositions. That way, it would look nice to balance everything as if I was doing an engineer plate.
I remember when I was 8 or 9 , I wanted a wooden car, the expensive children’s toy car I saw from my cousins, he told me that he could do that for me but it’s if he is no longer taking medications from his heart disease. As a child that time, I believe he is speaking impossible because I knew his medication is for lifetime, and it’s a heartbreaking fact.
If mama has the practical approach to things, daddy has the craftsmanship in simple or complicated things and they inspire me to become more creative in everything I do. I could use practicality and resourcefulness in many things and it shows in many of my school projects.
The mathematician.
I could still remember that if mama had taught me the language subjects, daddy is the one who taught and helped me in logic, especially in mathematics, from easy to complicated math. He helps me solve my math assignments. And even I get sleepy, I could see him solving my assignment even it’s so late at night.
Music lover.
I remember when I was still a child, especially when it’s Sunday morning, I would wake up in the tune of oldies songs that daddy plays while preparing to attend in our church congregation.
He loves the songs of Elvis Presley, Everly Brothers, Tom Jones, etc. He also loves instrumental songs. He has tons of collection since the era of records, the bulky black discs.
I come to favorite the instrumental Where have all the Flowers Gone, Terms of Endearment, Arthur’s Theme, and Song for Anna as they lighten my mood and somewhat gives hope. Hearing these songs often, make me love these songs and music too.
Photographer and photos lover.
Daddy loves photos. He has a collection of his pictures since he was adolescent. He had preserved and taken care of these photographs, that’s why we could take a glimpse some of his past. He never stops capturing even in not special occasion, he took pictures of us, allowing me to see the memories that is vague in my memory like my picture while I riveting upside down in a pole
With his love for photography, we have captured so many treasured memories that we could look at whenever we want to revive the memories of the past. And it keeps our family bonding stronger.
These and more other photos are well-kept in our well-taken care photo albums that father had organized himself.
New Tech enthusiast.
Daddy loves gadgets and he also adheres to new technology by having his own Facebook account. He used facebook to find and reconnect with his old batch mates, friends and family. He also tried Yahoo! Messenger, Google searching and YouTube. Though, daddy at 70 might experience difficulty to learn those things quickly.
My trainor.
Daddy not only taught me how to play chess, but he taught me how to drive. Krus sa Wawa Memorial park, the place, where his body rest, becomes my training ground.
Daddy told me that I should become a career woman so I could become more successful than the others. I should study well and should prioritize career and goals. I took it by heart and do what daddy had told me.
Spiritual family leader.
I could still remember the time that daddy and mama came home from pulong, I will greet them and will ask, “ano po uwi ko?”, he will hug me tight and say “Biyaya..”
We always have a family hour every Saturday, we bend our knees and pray to God for all His blessings and guidance. We also have rotation in praying so in our young age, we will be trained in praying.
And everytime the new year comes, he lead us to say thanks to God for the year of blessings and to ask guidance for the year to come.
Daddy also helps in church activities as he gladly uses his car in numerous evangelical missions and other church activities.
He taught us faith in our young ages in every way and in every thing we do, just like what the Bible say,
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.
Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
–Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Today’s Father’s day, June 21, 2015, marked our daddy’s 137th death day.
These are his beloved memories that were still clear on my mind, on how he became a good father to us through the years.
Daddy, if only you could see me now, I know you’ll be proud of me. I had achieved many of my dreams and you see, I become what you wanted me to be and what I, myself wanted too. It’s just sad that you are no longer here to see most of it. And I cried as you can no longer walk with me in the aisle when the time comes that I met my future husband-to-be.
I knew daddy had already fulfilled his mission in the world. He had finished his race. His earthly body had rest, his soul too, while his spirit returned to Father above. His love, teachings and presence will remain in our heart and will always be remembered.
Happy Father’s day Daddy! We miss you so much…