Father’s day is fast approaching and I can’t help but remember my dad. My mom would tell stories that when my dad was courting her, he would fly over FEU with his plane and do all sorts of rolling and tumbling. He was a cadet at the Phil. air force at that time. When they married, he got grounded for life by the commander in chief so to speak.

He then did all sorts of jobs just to raise his family. He became an appliance salesman, a chauffeur in his own limousine service, a distributor of an oil company, etc. etc… Actually his professional career was a big roller coaster. But despite it all, he was able to raise 4 hunks and 2 babes.

When we were growing up, my dad wasn’t the affectionate type. He was more of a provider kind of dad. Maybe it was how he was raised by his parents back in Talavera, Nueva Ecija. My dad was raised in a big family where my grandparents were very strict. I felt the affectionate side of him only after he retired. I felt it through my kids, nieces and nephew. I remember the time when he would walk around the Balara hall carrying baby Alex during a Mason family gathering. How he would make faces to make Sam smile. I remember how he would slip butter between Sam’s lips when Connie wasn’t looking.

My dad wasn’t perfect, and neither are we, but somehow we can say that not one of his children went wrong. We all have a little Ado in us. I’m proud of my dad, for what he was, and what I am now. In your ways dad, you’ve shown me how to be strong in life, and for that I am eternally grateful.

So Tota, as my kids called him, Happy Father’s day wherever you are. We miss you…