Remembering the "One Legged Man in my Life" A Father's Day Tribute

He is clothe with strength, he always has something to say about the things I'm asking, 

he is one of the wisest person I've known in my life, despite his disability he never fails to

 provide for the welfare of his family. 

I was not yet born when my father got sick that caused his one leg to be cut off,  

according to the story he suffered infections while serving as a town councilor in late 60's  

because there was a time that he walked many miles to reach those far flung areas of  our 

hometown.

I grew up in a family where my parents struggle to meet the ends met and yet from day 

that I became aware of the realities around me, I've seen how my Papa did his best to 

provide for us.  In the midst of challenges in life, he always remind us that God is good

 and He will always provide. 

My father is a wide reader, he always has  something to read everyday and encouraged us 

also to make  it a hobby to read books.  He likes playing card games, he loves listening
to old music and one of his most prized possession is a cassette tape of  his favorite classic 
singer Nat King Cole so literally I grew up listening to the oldies music that probably has a great
influence why I prefer music of that genre.  He loves talking to people, he loves talking about 
many things from his personal experiences and from the things he also learned from 
others, when he says something it always make sense.  He wrote speeches for other people 
and they paid him a little amount  in exchange to that favor,he laugh so hard, I can recognize him
just by the sound of his footsteps. Meal time at home should be done together not ahead or
after everyone in the house has eaten, that's a strict rule imposed by him.

 My Papa is known for his being opinionated and straight forward, 
sometimes those character made my heart hate him then, I cannot argue when he spoke 
especially when he is mad at me. But now that I am older, I've realized how those words that
he spoke mold me to strive to be the best person that I can possibly be. My father is the 
very first person who taught me about God, he introduce me to the belief that
there is always a God who is constantly with us, everyday I always hear him say "salamat ke 
AmangDios" (thank you Father God) no matter how hard or easy the day becomes.

These are just some of vivid memories I had with my father.

I know that one of the most heartbreaking experience my father has is when he cannot 

send me to college because of financial difficulties, I've saw how he tried to find ways in order 

for me to study but for some reasons it became really hard during those times.  

So since I was not able to continue studying I just decided to leaved at an early age 

to work away from home.  Leaving home and be separated from my family for the first time
is something that really breaks my parents heart.  When I'm away from them, almost every week
he wrote letters and send it to me reminding me to always pray, always take care of myself, 

don't go home late and telling me that they are constantly praying for me.

It was my birthday in 1999 when I received the sad news that Papa is in comatose, I

traveled 10 hours from Manila to our place in Bikol to see my father in the hospital and 

praying hard that he will be well soon but since then he never woke up again, 10 days 

after, he passed away.  When he died, I think that's the longest cry I've done my whole 

life. Losing a loving, supportive, protective father is really a heartbreak for me.

I'm still going after my dreams, our dreams Papa, It's never easy but I'm carrying on and no 
matter how long it will take me, I'll strive hard to go after the realities of what you hope me to 

become.  God our great Father is my ultimate guide.

This is one of the song my father and I constantly listen to back then, I remember this song playing in a radio while saying goodbye to my parents for work away from them.