Vague Recollections

To a great father I know I would never outgrow.

I may outgrow all my clothes, the sometimes silly books I'm reading, from Korny movies to my shoes... but not You.

I remember the time when I was in grade school and I forgot to mention early that I have to collect 5 different flowers as an assignment for our science class. I remember how you woke up as early before 6am to collect flowers down the street for me, wearing your old blue jacket. I remember, it was my first time to see "Baby's Breath" and that's one flower I won't forget. I remember seeing the pink and white Kalachuchi's that grew beside Water District before. Maybe, that's why I like pink and white.

I remember the time when you picked me up from school and we would ride the bus home. [ We used to have buses as a means to go around the city, but now you only get to ride buses out-of-town ]

I remember how you would tag me along during Christmas parties of the Davao Navy and giving me all the loot with fruits and candies.

I just knew that you were the one who cleared away the wood during the morning before I met an accident in the afternoon when I was younger. Falling 10 feet from the roof down to the cemented ground of our furniture-shop slash house. If the wood was still there... I don't know what could have happened. I don't remember any pain, all I remember was me staring at the plastic roof I went through.... My head and brains were intact. Maybe, that's why I believe in miracles and that I have a purpose to fulfill.

It was your van I saw and I told mom's secretary to drop me there when we were in the jeepney before we met another accident a minute after which killed two of the passengers, but it left me with no bruises or anything. It was then, I knew that it's true how they show accidents in movies how everything stands still during accidents. Where, you can't hear anything but the loud shrill of the brakes when we collided into a bus. It's still fresh and I can still remember the scene. I was so small, the people around who stopped to help pulled me out first crying "Bata! Naay bata! Unahi ang bata!" *A kid! there's a kid! get the kid first* I was so small, they pulled me out from the window and I left TWO of my new shoes which were kind of loose at that time. It was then, that I avoided staying at the front seat for a couple of years because of the impact the seats were pushed forward and they can't move because they were stuck.

Recently, you gave up some of your ballpens and accompanied me to buy the Biggest Ballpen to add to my collection.

A lot more recollections...... that are just to numerous for one post. A lot more to say but words are not enough.

Thank you for the pictures you took. I guess, it's where I have come to love "photography" or maybe just taking pictures for memories.

You may not be that affectionate before(maybe it's the military training) but you are. I see it in your eyes. We see it when you smile and crack jokes. Oh, what with your sense of humor that only a precious few would hear? Your navy jokes.... what you've done during the past.... will stay with us.

Thank you for showing us the path. We are your legacy... and we will live up to it. I know the efforts you've done for building the next generation. We'll see to it we do so with the next.

LOVE YOU Pa!

For all the Father's.... I know who have done soooo much to raise US "kids" UP. I am honoring you too. Happy Father's Day!