Happy Father's Day

I'd tell these things to my dad, but I can't and I won't. he'll get mad. Let me start on the bad news.

I'm not really proud of him per se. He's everything a dad in books is not. But he made me realize certain realities in life that gave me a lot of wisdom.

Though my mom is fully capable of providing us the quality lifestyle we deserve, my dad brings out the negative things in life and constantly reminds us that money is not everything, so he gives away my mom's money to the poor, as a Barangay Chairman.

As a politician, he's a failure. He sees a P3,500 monthly salary as a good business. Of course, he was referring to the *additional budget allocations of the government for their projects. But after a term, nothing much has changed in our barangay, and he still asks money from my mom. For every three people he meets, two become his enemies, and the latter either neutral or if he's lucky, a friend. I don't know what hope he sees in our government today, more-so in our barangay. He works as a political prostitute by switching to the stronger party from time to time. For almost 6 years in politics, he only grew worse.

As an entrepreneur, he is a failure as well. After retiring from being a policeman, he got his retirement fee. It was big enough to get us a car, or a house. But my dad chose to invest in lechon. He bought a huge lot and built his small piggery, ihawan for 14 pigs simultaneously, a house for his employees-to-be, a grand welcome party, and of course, pigs. After six months into the business, it died a natural death. After some time, he loaned from my mom and started a "kambingan" with a friend.

After three weeks, the business closed for good. His business partner didn't like the way he ran the restaurant, so he left. After some time, my dad loaned again and started this ice drop business. His brother's (my uncle) ice cream business in Laguna was a riot he thought it would work the same in Lucena. It didn't.

He opened a bakery, loaned money for the huge machines for baking, and opened. After a week, his employees left. They weren't happy, and so was my dad.

I'd be counting millions if we talk about the losses my dad has made as a businessman. But as he says, "pera lang yan". I hope I could say the same thing to my mom who works really hard on the money my dad wastes away.

As a husband, he's a failure. he fights with my mom a lot for valuing money. But if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have finished college. We wouldn't have a car, a house, a condo in the Fort etc. But my dad sees "beyond" these things. And they argue about this a lot. Until now, my mom pays for everything in the house.

It surprised me though that my dad wanted to become part of my first salary by taking him to the Engelbert Humpwhatever concert. Sure he remembered his concert, but forgotten that it lands on my birthday. Lucky me. Wohoo.

As a father, if it wasn't for my other siblings, and if it wasn't for his incapacity to provide for the family, he'd be an okay one.

He'd wake up in the middle of the night to prepare breakfast for us before we go to school. He'd take us to school or anywhere for that matter even if he lacks sleep. He'd attend parent-teacher conferences and retreats when my mom is too busy working. He'd make sure that the house is secured before we go to sleep. he'd stay up late if I or any of my siblings are not home yet. He'd always kiss me hello and goodbye.

He's a sweet dad, a consolation for all of his shortcomings. And I love him just like that. happy father's day, dad! I love you!