What I learned from Papa
Taking a cue from Daphe Osena and Chuvaness. I am making a list of things that I learned from Papa. This post may be a day late but I think Father's day and Mother's day should be celebrated everyday. Fr. Truc asked in his homily yesterday "how do you see your dad?" Is he the dad that taught you to ride the bike, to do sports, etc? or he was something else. Fr. Truc also mentioned that sure, some people may not have a positive vision of their dad but it cannot be denied that without him, none of us will be here in this planet as well.
Ever since I can remember, Papa has treated me like an adult. For our grade four class field trip to our airport, I asked his permission and he asked me if I wanted to go. I said yes and he said okay. When I was in college, every new appliance he bought and every new renovations he planned on doing to our house, he asked for my opinion. When I asked for a walk-in closet for the girls bedroom at our house, he obliged. It surprised me why he would do that since after all he is my dad and I am his daughter. I will follow and respect every decision he makes because I put my trust in him that he is making the decision with us in mind. He doesn't have to ask for my opinion or permission.
I was 10 when he asked if I would be okay with him running for politics. I asked him why was he running and he said, "because I want to be of service to people". I said "you can still be of service without having to run for office." I thought that was the end of it but years later he indeed ran for office and was in politics for 12 years. I still don't understand why he is involved in politics the way that he is but I respect it and accept it because it is the road that he has chosen. I saw on Oprah once that "fathers have dreams too which they put to the side for their children to achieve their dreams." Since then I just keep on telling myself that this is Papa's dream. Its his time to follow his dream when he has allowed us to follow ours. Papa and Mama sacrificed their dreams so my siblings and I can follow and achieve ours. It wouldn't hurt to be supportive in the same way that they have been for our dreams.
I learned from Papa..
* Social awareness and service. Every since I was young he was involved in socio-civic organizations and he brought us along. May it have been Rotary or Pintados Foundation and now politics, he made us see how fortunate we are for having the life that we have and we should share it with those who are not as fortunate. Yes, we are thankful for the life that we live and still live but my parents made sure that we see it not as an entitlement but a privilege and gift. Something that we should never ever abuse or take advantage of.
* To be thankful that we grew up in the countryside. I still remember so vividly the day he told me this. We were driving along Kankabato Bay and the sun was up, the water was still and he said that statement. Tacloban may be small. It may lack the amenities that big cities offer but it will always be home. Life in Tacloban may move in a slower pace but it doesn't have the complexities that bigger cities bring. Its as simple as simple can be.
* To be a voracious reader. Papa would go early in the morning to the airport to get his daily fix of 5 newspapers. Newspapers would arrive in Tacloban in the earliest flight in so before it lands, he is already there to get his 5 newspapers. He reads each and every newspaper from cover to cover. He told us to read the newspaper every day so we know whats going on outside our "bubble". He also said that it pays to know something so that we wont get lost in any conversation or so that we can start one. He also told us to read aloud so that we will know how to speak better. If we encounter a word we didn't know the meaning of, go to a dictionary to check it out. Up to this day, he still reads the newspaper and has to have his weekly dose of TIME and Newsweek. People think I know so much when I can be part of any conversation. Truth is, I just read a lot.
* That if we wanted to maintain the same lifestyle that we have been accustomed to that we should prioritize our education. Ever since I can remember, my parents never failed to remind us that education is the only inheritance they can leave us. My parents made sure that we will be able to get the best possible education we can get. Its not easy sending 3 kids to college at the same time. Sure, our college education was already covered by our educational plans but living expenses was all entirely on their shoulders. I know it hasn't been easy but they carried us through and now all four of us siblings have college degrees and even post college degrees that my parents can be proud of.
* To enjoy and find happiness in the simpleness of life. We find joy in going around our city late at night when we would crave for fruits or chicken barbeque. We would sit in our porch sharing stories when there would be a blackout which happened a lot. We played the memory card game or Word Factory even when Papa would cheat, in his defense he wasn't too aware of the rules. Growing up, we would eat dinner outside. Literally. We would have dinners in our garage or in our porch or other places in the house other than the dining room. Its almost like dining out when in reality we are dining in. Growing up we only had one television set and we had to learn to share and take turns and respect that when someone is already watching we either watch along or do something else. We also only had one telephone line. Long phone conversations were not allowed because for one it is the only line the entire family uses. This was before the days of cellphones and pagers. I think that's why I am still not too much of a fan of talking too long on the phone and I only maintain one cellphone.
* Value friendships. Papa and Mama have had the same friends since high school. They have maintained long and enduring friendships with people who have been a big part of our lives. We see that and they foster that which is why I too have kept friendships dating back to first grade. We also value the new friendships that we have created and nurtured as we journey through life.
* Generosity. Our house was the "tambayan" of all our friends. Our friends are always welcome. If we needed a place for our parties, our parents would gladly offer our house and would fix every thing. They would be in the house but would keep a safe enough distance so that my friends wont feel shy or limited in their actions. Be generous even if you have little because the rewards far outweigh the "loss". Papa is so proud that my siblings and I are generous with each other. It may seem like its all material things but little as it is, the thought really do counts more.
* I personally learned from Papa that a slap is a bigger insult than a punch. I was really very young then and I lightly slapped my brother after he said something which Papa reprimanded me about. Since then it has stuck in my mind to never slap another person ever.
I have more lessons from my father but I consider these the best ones. These are the ones that I learned through life and I carry along wherever I go. Papa and I may not always agree on everything but bottom line is I am who I am today because of the lessons that Papa and Mama have imparted to me and my siblings. For that I will be eternally grateful.
Ever since I can remember, Papa has treated me like an adult. For our grade four class field trip to our airport, I asked his permission and he asked me if I wanted to go. I said yes and he said okay. When I was in college, every new appliance he bought and every new renovations he planned on doing to our house, he asked for my opinion. When I asked for a walk-in closet for the girls bedroom at our house, he obliged. It surprised me why he would do that since after all he is my dad and I am his daughter. I will follow and respect every decision he makes because I put my trust in him that he is making the decision with us in mind. He doesn't have to ask for my opinion or permission.
I was 10 when he asked if I would be okay with him running for politics. I asked him why was he running and he said, "because I want to be of service to people". I said "you can still be of service without having to run for office." I thought that was the end of it but years later he indeed ran for office and was in politics for 12 years. I still don't understand why he is involved in politics the way that he is but I respect it and accept it because it is the road that he has chosen. I saw on Oprah once that "fathers have dreams too which they put to the side for their children to achieve their dreams." Since then I just keep on telling myself that this is Papa's dream. Its his time to follow his dream when he has allowed us to follow ours. Papa and Mama sacrificed their dreams so my siblings and I can follow and achieve ours. It wouldn't hurt to be supportive in the same way that they have been for our dreams.
I learned from Papa..
* Social awareness and service. Every since I was young he was involved in socio-civic organizations and he brought us along. May it have been Rotary or Pintados Foundation and now politics, he made us see how fortunate we are for having the life that we have and we should share it with those who are not as fortunate. Yes, we are thankful for the life that we live and still live but my parents made sure that we see it not as an entitlement but a privilege and gift. Something that we should never ever abuse or take advantage of.
* To be thankful that we grew up in the countryside. I still remember so vividly the day he told me this. We were driving along Kankabato Bay and the sun was up, the water was still and he said that statement. Tacloban may be small. It may lack the amenities that big cities offer but it will always be home. Life in Tacloban may move in a slower pace but it doesn't have the complexities that bigger cities bring. Its as simple as simple can be.
* To be a voracious reader. Papa would go early in the morning to the airport to get his daily fix of 5 newspapers. Newspapers would arrive in Tacloban in the earliest flight in so before it lands, he is already there to get his 5 newspapers. He reads each and every newspaper from cover to cover. He told us to read the newspaper every day so we know whats going on outside our "bubble". He also said that it pays to know something so that we wont get lost in any conversation or so that we can start one. He also told us to read aloud so that we will know how to speak better. If we encounter a word we didn't know the meaning of, go to a dictionary to check it out. Up to this day, he still reads the newspaper and has to have his weekly dose of TIME and Newsweek. People think I know so much when I can be part of any conversation. Truth is, I just read a lot.
* That if we wanted to maintain the same lifestyle that we have been accustomed to that we should prioritize our education. Ever since I can remember, my parents never failed to remind us that education is the only inheritance they can leave us. My parents made sure that we will be able to get the best possible education we can get. Its not easy sending 3 kids to college at the same time. Sure, our college education was already covered by our educational plans but living expenses was all entirely on their shoulders. I know it hasn't been easy but they carried us through and now all four of us siblings have college degrees and even post college degrees that my parents can be proud of.
* To enjoy and find happiness in the simpleness of life. We find joy in going around our city late at night when we would crave for fruits or chicken barbeque. We would sit in our porch sharing stories when there would be a blackout which happened a lot. We played the memory card game or Word Factory even when Papa would cheat, in his defense he wasn't too aware of the rules. Growing up, we would eat dinner outside. Literally. We would have dinners in our garage or in our porch or other places in the house other than the dining room. Its almost like dining out when in reality we are dining in. Growing up we only had one television set and we had to learn to share and take turns and respect that when someone is already watching we either watch along or do something else. We also only had one telephone line. Long phone conversations were not allowed because for one it is the only line the entire family uses. This was before the days of cellphones and pagers. I think that's why I am still not too much of a fan of talking too long on the phone and I only maintain one cellphone.
* Value friendships. Papa and Mama have had the same friends since high school. They have maintained long and enduring friendships with people who have been a big part of our lives. We see that and they foster that which is why I too have kept friendships dating back to first grade. We also value the new friendships that we have created and nurtured as we journey through life.
* Generosity. Our house was the "tambayan" of all our friends. Our friends are always welcome. If we needed a place for our parties, our parents would gladly offer our house and would fix every thing. They would be in the house but would keep a safe enough distance so that my friends wont feel shy or limited in their actions. Be generous even if you have little because the rewards far outweigh the "loss". Papa is so proud that my siblings and I are generous with each other. It may seem like its all material things but little as it is, the thought really do counts more.
* I personally learned from Papa that a slap is a bigger insult than a punch. I was really very young then and I lightly slapped my brother after he said something which Papa reprimanded me about. Since then it has stuck in my mind to never slap another person ever.
I have more lessons from my father but I consider these the best ones. These are the ones that I learned through life and I carry along wherever I go. Papa and I may not always agree on everything but bottom line is I am who I am today because of the lessons that Papa and Mama have imparted to me and my siblings. For that I will be eternally grateful.