Sunday Miracles: Dear Dad

Dear Dad,

I hope you had a blast up there in heaven when you celebrated your 90th birthday! You waited a long time for Mom to join you up there. The best miracle for the week though was finally reuniting with Ate and Kuya. We haven't been complete since December 2010. That was also the last Christmas we were all together. 

It finally happened, I was finally feeling better and asked if Ate and Kuya wanted to get together to celebrate your birthday. I used Mom's magical cooking skills and prepared (err ordered) a Lucban feast from Buddy's. I thought it appropriate to have pansit habhab, hardinera and Lucban longganisa, since that's where you were born. I wanted to cook your famous mustasa dish, but I didn't have the ingredients. Kuya said he missed it so I just gave the recipe to him. 

And we had a feast reminiscent of how we celebrate birthdays at home. Kuya also brought lechon manok, liempo and ice cream. I was so happy to see them together Dad and I know that was one of your bilins. Mom made sure it would happen at the right time and right place.

Kuya and I decided to move back to our home. I hope it's okay with you and Mom, we'll rebuild a new house since the current one is really too big for us. This way we can watch out for each other (moreso since my sibs are almost senior citizens already hrhr). Well, they also want to keep an eye on me. I also super missed having them around since Ate left when I was just 10 and they both soon married a couple of years after that. 

Well, you and Mom took good care of me. It was probably hard for you since you were both in your 40s already when you had me. I realized though that despite that you and Mom brought me up the best way you can. I miss you and I keep forgetting Mom is gone. We will be okay, but please continue to watch over us. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

Kitchen Re-opening!

Alas! It's rainy season again according to PAGASA. Yaaaaas! It's been raining everyday for a week now. I am happy because it's not so hot anymore. More importantly, my plants are very happy because they're getting properly hydrated and getting vitamins from the rain. Our drum is also almost full now since we've been collecting rainwater. 

I haven't cooked for two months now. It was too hot for me to stay in the kitchen for long periods of time. We've also been eating in the craft room to avoid the heat. I had heat exhaustion in March and I realized that's how fragile I am. The only time I go out is when I water the plants late in the afternoon. Well, since the weather is cooler now I was finally able to cook again last night!

It was Daddy's birthday yesterday, so I made some of his beef mustasa dish. I made it with liver spread this time and it brought back happy memories of Dad teaching me how to make it. It's the only dish I learned from him because he would cook so fast and never measured anything. I prepare food like it's a science experiment by measuring everything haha. Daddy learned to cook from the original cooks of Casa Moderna in Naga (used to be called Moderna Bakery). He said that's where he hung out after school and they taught him how to cook. 

Here's how to make my Dad's beef mustasa dish.

My next target is to make adobo. I'll start with easy dishes since I'm still re-building my stamina. The booster shot did a number on me and I'm still reeling from its effects. Hibernating from the heat is done and now I need to get moving to regain the strength I lost. If the rain continues maybe I can bake some cheese cupcakes soon. 

#BeKind #StaySafe

The Treehouse

One of the treehouses Daddy built.

My Dad would have been 88 years old today. He's been gone for ten years now, but I think of him everyday. Whenever I'm in a bind I ask myself, "What would Daddy do?" A lot of people know my Dad lived his life full of integrity. There was no gray area for him. That's why many feared him when their cases ended up in his sala. 

That was the serious side of my Dad. A lot of neighbors would come over to seek his counsel. Not only for legal matters, but they also went to him for marriage/family counselling. Daddy was a true family man and he spent a lot of time with me when I was growing up. I remember the weekly dates at Lingnam in Glorietta. He really loved their beef noodles. Movie dates. And he indulged my interest in music. He bought my first Michael Jackson tape. 

When Daddy started to have grandchildren, he had a treehouse built at the back of our house. We had a huge, sturdy mango tree back then. He was at his happiest when the kids were all home. He'd bring them swimming and would start water gun fights. He told them wartime stories and how he grew up in the province. He wanted them to experience many different things, much like how I grew up. The treehouse served as a symbol of all those happy memories. 

The grandkids having fun. They're all grown up now.

The treehouse eventually had to be taken down. The mango tree also died because of a typhoon. When Daddy got sick I asked permission from work to be with him everyday. I'd walk over at 3 in the afternoon and stay with him until Sweetie picked me up. I usually brought my laptop and show him photos and videos to keep his mind away from the pain. I remembered the treehouse today because a friend is planning to build one. Daddy used his knowledge and intelligence to help many people, but to me he made sure I'd grow up with a good foundation to experience life to the fullest. 

Love you Dad, please continue watching over us. 

CB///*Yr2/39  #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/66 #StayHome #BeKind

Happy Birthday Daddy!

My Dad would have been 87 today. It's been ten years since we celebrated his birthday with him. 

My Dad was the funny one between my parents. I take after my being makulit after him. He was the one who was malambing. What I miss most about my Dad is his presence. He was my rock and I never thought anything bad could happen to me as long as he was there. 

Growing up my Dad would regularly bring me out on dates. We'd go to his favorite place "Luk Yuen" in what is now called Glorietta. Or we'd go to Dayrit's. He'd buy me ice cream every Sunday after hearing mass. I'd hang out with him and his friends at the tennis court or I'd bike alongside them while they would walk around the park. I remember hanging out at lot at his law office too. 

Makulit vs. Mas makulit.

It's been 9 years since I lost my Dad. I was beside him when his pulse slowly ebbed away. It was the most painful thing I went through in my life. A friend recently asked me how I coped and I told her I threw myself at work. Looking back I realized I kept myself so busy so that it won't hurt as much. It's not been good for me because I ended up not taking care of myself properly. It was Daddy who always watched out for me especially when I was sick. 

After 9 long years of salving the pain with work I've learned to slow down (a little) and I'm taking care of myself better. I'm grateful that I have a friend who reached out to lean on me at this time. This helped me resolve the pain of losing my Dad. I'd like to think that he's relieved that I've finally realized this and he's smiling up there in heaven. 

I love you Daddy and happy birthday!

#CB43  #WFH37 #StuckAtHomeDay74 #StayHome #BeKind

Happy Birthday Dad!

A year ago today my Dad was still around and we celebrated his 77th birthday by having lunch at North Park. He ordered his favorite noodles and we were happy then that he finished his order. We didn't expect that it would be his last birthday here on earth.

The past few months have been hard. I know my Dad's happy where he is, but it has been really hard not having him around. I've always been "Daddy's little girl" even though we disagreed sometimes. It was my Dad who got me in my line of work now even though he never learned how to turn on a PC. It was my Dad who kept motivating me to write (although my Mom was the one who made me start writing). And my Dad read everything I wrote (even my diary when he got his hands on it!). My Dad also managed to teach me a couple of his signature dishes when I finally managed to follow his fast-cooking moves. My Dad also taught me how to properly shoot a basketball.

And I have been mopping the past week because I've been missing him terribly. Buying myself some Angry Birds toys helped for about 5 minutes.I guess I'll just go on and focus on work because my Dad would really hate seeing me idle.

I miss you Dad. I really wish you didn't have to leave us so soon.

Dad at 76

Happy, happy birthday to the best Dad in the whole wide world!

I cannot help but admire my Dad. He has definitely lived his life to the fullest and has served so many people! The other day on the way to Lucban my Mom told a story about how they used to visit the high-security section of the Muntinlupa City jail. 

I was a kid back then and all I remember about it are the frames and decor that they would bring home whenever they visited. I didn't know that Dad helped out some to go free because they were innocent. And that's just one of the many services that Dad has done, I know because we used to get a lot of fruit, pastries and even chickens as gratitude payment for his help (we still do actually).

And that's what my Dad has instilled in all of us. I just hope I measure up someday!

**Photo by Miguel. So now you guys know where I got my nose :)

Happy 75th Birthday Dad

I thought May 19 was still a week away. It was my brother-in-law (who's visiting from the US) who reminded me about it when he greeted Dad in advance last Saturday night. This sent me into a panic because: (1) I'm the only child who's here in Manila; and (2) I have not planned anything to celebrate such a special day!

Both my parents prefer simple and practical gifts. They don't like big celebrations and just want to do things privately. I remember the time when we (my Ate, Kuya and me) connived to get them married again on their 35th wedding anniversary (they're celebrating their golden anniversary in 2 years). My Ate was tasked to whisk them away from the house while I had to oversee the physical arrangements and do the inviting and my Kuya did the legwork and took care of the caterer. We had about over 70 guests (relatives and neighbors) in the house surprise them. It was a great night and one of the rare times that we were complete.

I only had 24 hours to think of something. I had wanted to go and find the Flyworld pentop computer that I think would be very useful for Dad, but I was unfortunately confined to stay in after hearing mass because of a horrendous tummy ache. So, I had to be creative. Famous videographer Buddy Gancenia seconded my thoughts on Twitter the night before - do an AVP! Huwwhaaattt?!?

Since I had no other choice that's what I did the whole day. Scanned a gazillion photos and bugged my Ate and Kuya to contribute whatever they could send through email. So I finished the preso just now (and my tummy still hurts!) and I realized a lot of things while doing it.

1. I love my Dad very, very much. Now I understand why at some point he didn't want me to have a boyfriend. Because after all the disappointments I've been through fact is it's going to be really hard to measure up to all the love he's been giving me.

2. I would not be me if not for him (and Mom, of course). I wouldn't be who and where I am today if my parents did not give me all the love and care. I am very lucky to have been smothered with love.

3. 75 years... IS a long time to live. I'm just less than half-way the number of years my Dad has been in this world. I wonder if I'll be able to do so many wonderful things as he has done. (And I wonder if I would reach that age).

Oh well... Dad, you're staff will probably get to read this first before you do hehe.

Anyway, HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I love you very much and thank you for being the greatest Dad in the whole, wide world.

*Photos
(1) Dad in his basketball jersey. His shooting record is still unbeaten to this day.
(2) Dad's James Dean look.
(3) Dad carrying me at the rooftop of the ancestral house in Naga.
(4) Me and Dad in Bali. That's my Kuya who made singit while we were having our photo taken. That's my proof that he's more makulit than me (that's for his grad-school professor).