Happy Father's day!

Mumble: "But there are plenty of reasons to dance."

Erik: "What's mine pa?"
Mumble: "The only way to find out, is to try it. Come on son. Let's shake this world!"


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That moment when your dad tells you not be shy in parties.
That moment when he kisses you in from of his friends.
That moment when he brings out all of your medals and awards to show his buddies.
That moment when he caught you doing something and gave you an impromptu lessons about the birds and the bees.
That moment when he pushes your bike and releases his hold on your seat while you pedal fast.
That moment when you fall from your bike and he encourages you to get up.
That moment when he tucks you in at night even if you're already in college.
That moment when you dip your bread in his coffee and he doesn't complain.
That moment when he cracks a corny joke in front of your friends.
That moment when at 27, he still bids you to sit on his lap.
That moment when he brings you jolly spaghetti.

That moment when they say you cannot choose who your parents are,
but if given the chance, you'd still scour the whole parent pool just to find that same dad.

Happy father's day to y'all!

Dad's new cirlce

When I was a kid,
my dad would go out with his douche bag businessmen buddies,
and come home drunk.

Then his business went down.

Five years after,
he goes out with with drivers and yayas,
and came home wise.

There's something about the humbling of Naaman that reminds me of my dad. That sometimes, even great men forget to be humble, circumstances teach them things and they find wisdom in the most unlikely places.

Assuring dad

You were giving my car a complete wash the other day. I watched your face as you wiped off the excess water on the windshield with your chamois yellow cloth.

Somehow, at 53, you still managed to look like you’re 40. Maybe it’s your outlook in life. Or maybe it’s your constant smile. There’s not a single strand of white hair on your head, yet I have lots. Undoubtedly you’re one of the gentlest of souls I’ve met in my entire life.

I am able to love simply because you taught me how.


I am able to forgive simply because you reminded me not to let anger cloud my judgement towards someone.


I remember when I was seven. You were trying to teach me a lesson about mom. At 7, people made me understand that mom left us choosing her love for her career over her love for us. But you constantly told me, “do not plant anger in your heart. It will grow a very ugly tree. And it will never bear fruit.”

You understood what happened between the two of you, and admitted that if only someone gave you both sound advise, you would probably still be together. You understood simply because you were able to place yourself in her shoes. You were able to see both sides of the coin.

But amidst your wisdom on loving, I knew that you feared a lot of things: that I’d choose her over you or that I’d run towards her one day and leave you alone to die old. When she came back to bring me to the US, you fought hard not to let me go. You were ready to shed blood just to fight that I may stay. I knew you to be a jealous dad. You’re selfish of attention, as I am towards you.


You feared of losing me.

All these years, you’ve never negated any of my decisions. I can go in and out of the house without a single fuss even as a kid. It was your way of apologizing for feeling quite helpless as I struggle to keep scholarships. And now, it was your way of thanking me for supporting my half brothers’ schooling.

I’ve always wanted to hear you say no when I wanted to do something. But you’d always say that you trust me to be responsible. But I see it in your eyes how you wanted to say no. Your fear of me getting hurt. Your fear of me not being able to go back home to you.


The same look I saw when I told you I was to see my mom this Wednesday at the airport. I was to see her after twenty years.

I saw your facial muscles tense up, helplessly trying not to be transparent.

I knew you were going to be jealous.


Don’t be.


Because a child knows the hand that raised him.


A child will always be thankful for his father’s guiding hand, the hand that fed him, the hand that lovingly disciplined him, the hand that patted him on the back, the hand that pulled him to a warm embrace.


I know your sacrifices, your battles, your hardships and of your ability to love. Nothing would be able to make me forget all those things. No amount in this world would make me ungrateful for all the things that you’ve done for me.

I’m meeting mom, because again, you taught me well. She didn’t have the chance to fill in the stiletto shoes that you’ve tried to wear with much dread. I’m simply giving her the chance to be the mom that she is, and myself for being that child who longed for an iPad a mother’s love.

Do not fear. She will never be able to fill in 28 years of your hard work.

No one shall be able to replace you.


So wipe off that worried look on your weird face.


Just like what the dragon warrior Po learned when he returned to his duck of a dad.


That after all our battles in life, I’d come home.


Still your son.


And you, my dad.

Kuha mo?

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Oh and BTW, Happy father’s day.

 
 
image from here.

Brat pala si daddy

Libing ng lolo ko nung Tuesday. Pero saka ko na ikukwento ung tungkol sa libing. Ikukwento ko si daddy ko nung libing. As usual, may topak nanaman sya.

Sa magkakapatid, sya ung sweet, sya ung utusan, sya ung laging andyan, sya ung tahimik, sya ung emo, sya ung madrama, sya ung feeling bunso pero nagmamatanda minsan.

Sa lahat ng may kapatid, may nagmamatandang lalake, at may nagmamatandang babae. Sila ung nauunang pumuna, magpagalit, mag organize, at magpameeting.


Nung maghahagis na ng bulaklak sa binabababang kabaong, bawal daw ang bakal kasi kakalawangin.


Nakakuha si daddy ng orchid na may alambre. Ihahagis na sana nya ito sa kabaong nung pinagsabihan sya ng ate nya, “wag mong itapon yan, may metal,” pasungit na sabi ni tita.


At ang tatay ko, sa lahat ng pagkakataong maisipang magpaka defiant, ngayong okasyon pa. Tiningnan ang tita ko, binaling ang titig sa orchid na hawak, sabay tapon sa kabaong.

”Pagka kulet! Sabi nang wag itapon eh,” wika ni tita. Si daddy? Walkout lang.


Pumunta sa ibang kapatid para magsumbong.

Ayan may kampihan nanamang nagaganap. Dahil lang sa isang wire ng orchid na pwede namn sana nyang tanggalin bago ito itapon.


Ngayon alam ko na kung saan ako nagmana ng pagka brat.

Hahaha!

Happy Birthday Dad!

I'll be away next week for a series of meetings so I'm reposting this just to greet my dad a Happy Birthday on the 10th. Happy birthday dad!


--------------------------------------

5 Things I learned From My Dad

1. A smile costs nothing but gives much. When I was young, my dad was the effigy of smile-dom, kinda in between clowning around and flirting about. Every time we’d drive from Manila to Batangas, he makes it a point to at least give a ten second chat with the toll fee lady. He’d usually smile and give out a short but effective compliment (“ganda mo naman, ngiti ka naman dyan,” he’d sometime say). It never fails even a stern looking lady would in the end give out a shy happy smile. (But at times, my dad's killer smile would give himself women problems hehe).

2. Sex is good but that’s not all there is in a relationship. I remember too well how we had our first talk about the birds and the bees. Often when I was young, my dad would stay out late at night on business deals while I am left alone in the house. It was in 4th grade when I first discovered how to put my hands into good use from a classmate. One time, I fell asleep in my naked glory with some evidence of the crime committed. He arrived and saw the scene, which started “the talk.” I won’t elaborate more as ya’ll know already about that. I learned much not just from that talk, but from all of my dad’s experiences, his failed relationships, to those that stayed, and those that he wished never happened.


3. It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice. My dad never competed with any of his siblings for the limelight. You'd probably find him just behind the scenes. He never wanted to be the center of attention, getting satisfaction while silently helping. He never expected anything in return even in times of need. Thus, whatever good deed he made, I was the recipient of the return... good Karma to the fruit of the tree. What the father sowed, the son reaped. Importance comes with mere awe and reverence. Being nice comes with all the blessings.

4. One must learn how to use things and love people, and not how to love things and use people. My dad used to buy all things beautiful when he was still a young businessman. I had Nintendo when it first came out, the first Pacman game, roller blades at its hype, matchbox toys, an airbed... the works, though surprisingly, I was never a brat (except only when he tags me along his dates). Then business went down. From a proud businessman he worked oddjobs just to keep me in private school up until I made my way to a Science highschool then again to UP. That's when he told me that nothing's permanent. All things come and go, specially riches... all things worldly. But people whom you loved dearly, and loves you back, would always be there by your side. Richness or rags. Through those times, he was never alone (though his pride would usually make him feel like one). He then got closer to his family and to God (the one who never really left). He learned that all things are replaceable (same line he uses whenever I break my lolo's china, yeah right dad, try replacing 'em atiques hehe), but those that God strategically placed in your life will be there to do God's purpose. To let you see the more important things in life.

And Lastly... I learned that...

5. My dad loves me soooo much. Tested through time. All through my childhood he was all together a father, a mother, a yaya and a driver. The cook, the laudry man, the iron man, but of course the dishes were mine. A friend, at times a foe, a basketball buddy (though I think I never really learned the sport), my roller blade/ ice skate watcher. My comic relief, my dramatic actor, my entertainer, my singer, my dancer. My carpinter, my plumber, my architech, my teacher.

When I got into trouble, he was my defender. When he learned I joined a fraternity, he was my silent advisor, but never a nagger. He respected my decisions, and had let me make my mistakes, though you'd see him eternally worried.


And with all these roles he religiously portrayed... I simply call him... DAD.




They say you can never choose your parent, but if given a chance, I'd still decide to choose him in a heart beat.




To you my dad, Happy Birthday!

"Happy to Serve"

The sharing of happiness was translated into different languages, different words, and different gestures. Some hide in simple words such as Hi and Hello. And at times they become a valuable tool for motivation.

For those who know me personally, would notice that I’d sometimes engage in short 15-second conversation with toll gate tellers. I got that from my dad, who’s technically my older tweetums version. I started noticing it with the traffic aid assigned to our school when I was still in 4th grade. From then on, I noticed he’d do the same with cashiers, toll gate tellers and the like. He’d utter a simple greeting (and maybe throw in some pambobola here and there).

Last Saturday morning while seated at the passenger’s side, and me on the wheel…

[SLEX toll gate]
Dad: Good morning! (while leaning over my side to grin at the unsuspecting teller.
Female teller [FT]: *looks at dad and gives out the most nonchalant poker face she could possibly muster*
Dad: *repeats loudly* Good Morning!
FT: *looks at me and gives me my change and went to stare at the next car*
Me: (thinking) she must be going through something, tough times.
Stepmom: HANGSARAP INGUDNGOD SA LUPA!
Dad: Ngudngod agad! Kaw naman, ok na ung sa atin naggaling ung mabuting asal, di namn kelangan mag expect ng kapalit.
Stepmom: Kahit na GMRC un!
Dad: Oo nga, at least ginawa mo na ung part mo, move on (naks si daddy munu-move on).

Indeed, one needs not expect something in return for simple good naturedness and small courtesy/ies.

If it is reciprocated, then it becomes a beautiful exchange of goodness. But the purpose should always try to become a blessing to another. Receiving/ reciprocation only becomes a bonus feat, not a requirement.

Last weekend, my dad once again reminded me to reciprocate, if not be the first source of goodness, starting with the usual “good mornings” that I’ve ignored. How many of you have greeted back or at least reacted to everyday greetings?

“Good morning! See you at the next flight!” - flight attendant 9i noticed foreigners are the only one acknowledging back)
“Thank you for coming!” – McDo crew
“Thank you for coming mam-ser!” – SM sekyu guard
“Windshield ser?... thank you ser! Balik po kayo!” – Petron attendant
“Good morning sir!” – building security guard… with a stick

I scored 3 out of 5. How about you?

Sometimes such greetings become automatic and have lost their meaning. Some establishments have tried going out of the box and making some greetings more fun.

Have you tried mimicking SM supermarket crew members whenever the signal bell gets played?

ding ding ding!

*clap* *clap* *clap* “Happy to serve!” *thumbs up sign*

Customer service is more fun when you have fun customers. Try being those fun ones.

*clap* *clap* *clap* “Happy to serve!” *thumbs up sign*

*wink* *wink*

daddy day care plans

Father's day na pala sa Saturday. At dahil toxic ako, wala akong maisip na gawin sa sabado for him. At kelangan ko din siguro ng ibang pagkakaabalahan na worth it naman maliban sa trabaho dahil natuturete nako. (naks, nagpapaka random post, haha).

Kaya this time, I really need your help in brainstorming. Should I buy a gift? Eh ano? Should I just bring them out for dinner? Eh saan?

Sabaw sabaw.

Any suggestion/s?

Si Forche

Me: Dad, bring the Audi or the BMW later when you pick me up at the airport ha? thanks.
Dad: The BMW is at tha Casa, I'll bring Forche nalang
Me: Sige si Forchia nalang.


just another day pag text mates kami ni daddy.


Note: We don't have a BMW, nor an Audi at lalo nang walang Porche. My dad has a kakarag karag na 1983 toyota box type corolla which we call Pem (plate number nya).


Follow up:
Dad: di nga? Dadalhin ko ba si Pem?
Me: Nope. Ung akin nalang po.
Dad: ahhh akala ko kasi me malaki kang box na pasalubong. Pasalubong ko ha.
Me: asa. hahaha.


Labyu dad!


P.S: Sorry I was uber busy the past few days, I have a lot of posts pending for ya'll, wala lang tlgang time, so daily life events ko muna. hahahaha! Pero buhay pa namn ako. :P

5 Bad Things I Learned/ Got from my Dad

From last year’s 5 Things I learned from my dad, I now bring you 5 bad things I learned/ got from my dad.

1. The Jingle Bomb Technique
He has this look that makes me run for my life. He’d start it with an enclosed hand which he will place in front of my face. The fast movement to open his palm would release toxic gases from his ass.

It didn’t take too long for me to master the art. Before farting, I’d place my hand on my ass, and upon release of the toxic gas, catch it, enclose it with my closed palm, and release it to the unsuspecting victim. That ladies and gentlemen is our signature killer technique.

2. Canon ball

When something small hits my face, and my dad is within vicinity, I’d be very wary, scared even. When I was a kid, we’d put up a contest on who’s booger/ snot we can collect into a larger ball. Then throw at each other like a small canon.

If your lucky stars have aligned, the “ball” will gladly stick to your face.

Eeeeewww.

3. Mana (Inheritance)

I learned how to sing “My Way” from my dad. I learned how to say “you’re pretty” to a toll gate lady.

I think I’ve also inherited his knack for complications, like matter to a black hole. Things have a weird definition of gravity.

Nuff said.

4. Junks galore

If you think I’m piling up junk with my treasures, you should see my dad’s. His don’t even carry any sentiment/ even memories that he’d remember. They’re mostly automotive spare parts, non functional electrical gadgets, old nuts and bolts, and all sorts of mechanic/ carpentry thingies. Things that he “thought” he might find use to, but never really did.

5. The call of Somnus

I sleep a lot. My dad does too. I was raised with an afternoon sleeping habit between 2-5pm.

I was told I’d never grow taller if I didn’t sleep in the afternoon. I slept. I tell you. I slept. ALL AFTERNOON of my childhood. Disappointed, I never believed any of them. Full of crap really.

Liars! Adults! Hmmpf!

Thus I stopped sleeping in the afternoon. But even after so many years, I’d still find my dad checking up on my sleep at night (though not anymore in the afternoon), slowly covering me with a blanket and sealing my sleep with a kiss on the forehead.

Thus, with all these…

I’d still try to catch my fart on my fist and have my brothers smell it.
I’d still make booger balls with my brothers.
I still say hi to toll gate ladies.
My junk still kept piling up but I can never really compete with my dad.
And I still steal some chances of sleep whenever I can.

Old habits are hard to change.

For all the good things, and even the bad funny ones… I love you dad. I think I’ve repeatedly said that here in the blog.

Happy Father’s day!

Other daddy posts:
Iyugyog mo! Iyugyog mo!
Flat tires and Fathers
Another Daddy Moment
Five Things I Learned From My Dad

Iyugyog mo! Iyugyog mo!

“Iyugyog mo! Iyugyog mo! Iyugyog mo! (small voice) Iyugyog mo!”

(trans.: c’mon jiggle it!4x)

- my dad singing to one of Willy Revillame’s song while jogging

I was quietly jogging with my dad around the village with my two little brothers tagging along on their bike when all of a sudden I hear my dad sing that awful awful awful song.

First it was my little brothers singing an Aegis song while I was on my emo mode the other day, now this.

I almost tripped. Face flat on the rough pavement. Seriously.

Ohhhh. I fear for myself. What sort of gene runs through my blood????!!!!!!

Then on our way home, he sees an old lady rummaging through trash. Getting whatever cartons, bottles, or any recyclable junk she can find. And as she goes to one trash bin to another, she was having an obviously hard time carrying her sack of cartons.

My dad then literally ran towards her to help. And after reaching another bin, he gave her a folded paperbill before running back to us. The look on the old lady’s gratified face was enough to get me all teared up, I simply had to look away.

Dad, you may be the most jologs/ uncool dad there is, but hey, I am proud to have you as my dad.

Crazy gene pool or not, I love you dad.

Flat tires and Fathers

I’m back! I apologize for the lack of posts… as they say, absence means I’ve been busy, being busy means more posts. So the following posts are a series of events that transpired from last week, plus some debts that I owe some bloggers, tags that I haven’t answered etc.

(source)

I’ve been driving (without supervision) for more than a year now. But my knowledge stopped with just that… driving. Not once have I been concerned with maintenance and all that crap (though later I’d realise that I need all these things I called crap).

A couple of weeks ago, I went to St. Lukes early in the morning to get things started early. Midday, I had to return to the parking floor to get some stuff before lunch. And like those comic movies, when they would zoom in to the highlighted scene, once they come to the punch line, my vision suddenly zoomed in to my tires… 10 meters away from me (talk about superman zoom in features, talo pa ang inaasam asam kong dSLR).

I got one flat tire. Right one. The one near the driver’s.

Good thing about tubeless tires, they won’t go flat on the road, they’d have all the air out of them one you go immobile, parked.

With my usual calm state, first thing that came to my mind, like in all cases of emergency… ask dad.

Ok ok. I’ve eternally established in gargantuan proportions how much of a daddy’s boy I am. So stop the smirking and the endless condemnation already.

“Daddy, where’s that thingy that can lift the car up, I’m going to change tires,” I texted.

“The jack (oh that’s what it’s called!) is in that compartment at the back,” my dad replied.

“So where exactly shall I place it on the car?” I asked again.

“There’s that slot near the tire where you could fit the Jack in,” my dad patiently replied.

“Ok. But would the tire need a different knob? Are they the same?”

“Yes. It has a concave edge so it would fit the spare one,” my dad with all patience.

Then I looked at all my props for all these shenanigans. Then realised, the spare tire is flat as well.

“Dad, the spare is kinnnndddaaa flat too,” wishing some miracle would happen…

Then poof!

“Haaaay. Wait I’ll be there in a couple of hours.” Tadan! Miracles do happen. My dad will make an appearing act!

“Ok. Love you dad!” --- me with a big big grin.

I can almost hear his exasperated sigh. But oh well, I’m such a spoiled kid.

He went to change the tire as I watched, I mean helped. Helped, so as for me, of course, to learn the art of changing tires so that I may do it by myself once the need would arise.

But as I'd always say… I maybe spoiled, but I’m never a brat. Ayt?

Oh, did I say I love my dad so much? Hehe. I can’t imagine life without him. But yes, yes, I do have to learn how to do some stuff by myself. Learn the art of doing all sort of crap, like changing tires, taking the car sheets off the seats, checking the oil, and well... crap.

Don’t get me wrong… I may lack the knowledge on such simple tasks, but I still do know a lot. Like the pathophysiology and treatment of diabetes, the usual oncology treatments and the new treatments that are not out yet in the market, wash dishes, new porn sites… ooops… erase that last bit. Point is, I compensate on some things.

Other than that....

hehehe… I so love my dad.

Another Daddy Moment

(Its not yet my bday, sa thursday pa po, July 10)

Its my birthday month, I tell you. And its not helping much on my diet. darn. Last night my dad texted me telling me, bidding me not to stay out late. Reminded me that i have a flight to Cebu. I deliberately ignored the reminder thinking that my flight is not yet till in the afternoon. so, it didn't really matter if i stay up too late. Thus, the pasaway me heeded not my father's advise and stayed out late with friends.

Apparently, my dad still loves to surprise me. When I woke up this morning, my first destination was the fridge. And lo! What did i find? A birthday cake from one specialty bakeshop that my dad likes. He was supposed to surprise me last night. hmmmmmm.... bad kid...

hehe. But this morning was equally special. My dad had my stepmom cook me spaghetti (which i ate heartily with the cake). My sumptuous brunch before my 1pm flight. hmmm yummmm!

But of course, my dad woldn't fail to ruin my day. After finishing my meal, while standing somewhere overlooking the nice (I'm being sarcastic) view of our askal dog, I felt my dad go behind me and hold my waist... then as if on cue, muttered... "Ang taba taba na!" With that, I looked and digged deep for all the love i had for my dad, deep down in the recesses of my heart... but all was gone. Taba ha! Taba ha! Sino kaya mas mataba satin?

Then flashback... (twighlight zone sound nuni nuni nuni nuni nuni)... I remembered the crispy pata I ate at Abe's. The Pocher/ bulalao + lechon kawali in Cebu. The all you can eat rice. The cake. All the pastries and chocolates. The fried suman chocolate fondue.

And I now remember why I hate my birthday. I'm bound to really get all plumped up for market sale per kilo. Technically, Its my birthday month. All the inflow of good food just wouldn't stop. And now, i'm in Cebu. I can now feel all the future calories packing in my tummy.

Oh well, that's life. And i take that back. I love my dad. Though I'm thinking hard how will I get back at him for revenge. bwahahaha!

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Pahabol moment:
As usual with all my flights, I get to make another scene. I sorta slept at the mabuhay lounge and forgot the time. Suddenly as if God took over the speakers... he said, "Announcing the last call for passenger Jeffrey Gonzales, please board at gate S1. This is your last call."

Sosyal.

Five Things I Learned From My Dad

1. A smile costs nothing but gives much. When I was young, my dad was the effigy of smile-dom, kinda in between clowning around and flirting about. Every time we’d drive from Manila to Batangas, he makes it a point to at least give a ten second chat with the toll fee lady. He’d usually smile and give out a short but effective compliment (“ganda mo naman, ngiti ka naman dyan,” he’d sometime say). It never fails even a stern looking lady would in the end give out a shy happy smile. (But at times, my dad's killer smile would give himself women problems hehe).

2. Sex is good but that’s not all there is in a relationship. I remember too well how we had our first talk about the birds and the bees. Often when I was young, my dad would stay out late at night on business deals while I am left alone in the house. It was in 4th grade when I first discovered how to put my hands into good use from a classmate. One time, I fell asleep in my naked glory with some evidence of the crime committed. He arrived and saw the scene, which started “the talk.” I won’t elaborate more as ya’ll know already about that. I learned much not just from that talk, but from all of my dad’s experiences, his failed relationships, to those that stayed, and those that he wished never happened.

3. It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice. My dad never competed with any of his siblings for the limelight. You'd probably find him just behind the scenes. He never wanted to be the center of attention, getting satisfaction while silently helping. He never expected anything in return even in times of need. Thus, whatever good deed he made, I was the recipient of the return... good Karma to the fruit of the tree. What the father sowed, the son reaped. Importance comes with mere awe and reverence. Being nice comes with all the blessings.

4. One must learn how to use things and love people, and not how to love things and use people. My dad used to buy all things beautiful when he was still a young businessman. I had Nintendo when it first came out, the first Pacman game, roller blades at its hype, matchbox toys, an airbed... the works, though surprisingly, I was never a brat (except only when he tags me along his dates). Then business went down. From a proud businessman he worked oddjobs just to keep me in private school up until I made my way to a Science highschool then again to UP. That's when he told me that nothing's permanent. All things come and go, specially riches... all things worldly. But people whom you loved dearly, and loves you back, would always be there by your side. Richness or rags. Through those times, he was never alone (though his pride would usually make him feel like one). He then got closer to his family and to God (the one who never really left). He learned that all things are replaceable (same line he uses whenever I break my lolo's china, yeah right dad, try replacing 'em atiques hehe), but those that God strategically placed in your life will be there to do God's purpose. To let you see the more important things in life.

And Lastly... I learned that...

5. My dad loves me soooo much. Tested through time. All through my childhood he was all together a father, a mother, a yaya and a driver. The cook, the laudry man, the iron man, but of course the dishes were mine. A friend, at times a foe, a basketball buddy (though I think I never really learned the sport), my roller blade/ ice skate watcher. My comic relief, my dramatic actor, my entertainer, my singer, my dancer. My carpinter, my plumber, my architech, my teacher.


When I got into trouble, he was my defender. When he learned I joined a fraternity, he was my silent advisor, but never a nagger. He respected my decisions, and had let me make my mistakes, though you'd see him eternally worried.


And with all these roles he religiously portrayed... I simply call him... DAD.


They say you can never choose your parent, but if given a chance, I'd still decide to choose him in a heart beat.

To you my dad, Happy Father's Day!