ON this day dedicated to all fathers in the world, I wanted to share how blessed you are. You have a father who is willing to do everything for you; just to give the life he always wanted you to have. He may have experienced the worst in this world, still he always wanted you to experience convenience.
You may not have the richest father but know that you have the best. No one can question the love of a father to his children.
I’m the daughter of a father who tried all kinds of jobs. Of course, I haven’t seen all but I got information from friends and relatives. When I was a little kid, I have seen him work as a construction worker, a farmer, a rice mill operator, etc. There are times when he would prepare and sell made-to-order puto cakes.
During my 15 years in school, he was not given an opportunity to drape a medal around my neck. Every year of recognition, and in my graduations in elementary, secondary and college, he didn’t have time to attend due to his work assignment. Most of the time, he is out of the country, especially when he started working as a seaman. I was about nine years old at that time.
Yes, he worked as an ordinary seaman. He cooked food for all crewmembers of the ship, and sometimes for the passengers. That was his source of income to support his five children who, like me, are all studying. The salary is not that good enough to send us to school, but he did everything he could for us to get a decent education. My mother helped a lot in budgeting what was available.
His being absent in the important stages of my life, however, did not make me a rebellious daughter. Sometimes we fight, because I failed to understand why he was being so strict and “hard-headed.” There are times that I felt like he did not trust me, even though I knew that he just wanted to protect me. I felt that I needed to express what I felt and what I thought was right. Or, maybe, I am also hard-headed, because all I wanted was to be on my own and for him to trust me in everything I do.
Now I realize, life is not so simple. There should be a clear understanding between a daughter and a father. An understanding of what the father’s rules are and what the daughter’s wishes are. Yes. The father has rules but the daughter has wishes on how to live with these rules.
Years after, we are now grown-ups and have our own jobs, but my father still works to help other people. He continues to share with others the modest means he has, although he is not wealthy, as some people presume a seaman should be. We may have misunderstandings before, but now I completely understand his ways and actions. I realized that somehow, his methods are right. What I am now, I owe it to him. You are the best, father!
Razzel Ann Vergara is a graduate of BSA at Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Lopez, Quezon and a Certified Public Accountant. She is currently working as internal auditor at the Provincial Government of Camarines Norte.