A love letter (kinda) for my one and only dad. I doubt he reads my blogs haha jk he pays for it XDD

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I always fight with my dad (what a way to start right?😆); but maybe it’s because we are too similar yet too different.

People say I am a mirror of my dad, and sometimes I hate it because he’s hot-headed and annoying (/lovingly/) sometimes. But no matter how many times I try to say that I am not like him, I am indeed my father’s daughter. I might have picked up one or two (or even most) habits and attitude from him that it leads to arguments; to the point that sometimes he’s the one to give up first because he know I won’t stop – because I am his daughter.

I kind of agree now that I am kind of a mirror of him, except that I don’t think I was able to be like him in terms of patience and grit.

I always say this, but if only I have at least 50% of my parents’ grit, I would’ve been unstoppable.

My parents, especially my dad is the most patient man I have ever known. Ikaw ba naman magkaroon ng anak na katulad ko?? Grabeng pasensya talaga ang kakailanganin mo hahaha; and for the grit? No questions asked, dad is the best example.

He strived harder more than anyone else because he wanted the best for our family. He worked endlessly because he wants to give my mom, myself, and my sister the best life we could have.

Nevertheless, even if I feel inadequate at times, they never made me feel that way. Instead, they paved and carved ways for me to walk on, and to take a leap.

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Growing up, my dad got me all sorts of toys. Not the expensive ones like mga PSP ganyan haha (it’s actually one thing that I am so grateful for growing up, it’s that I never grew up in luxury, and it helped me to actually be more matipid (/trying/)), just those toys that could stoke my curiosity and let me enjoy my childhood.

That is why I think it is one of the reasons why I have lots of hobbies right now. My parents keep on buying me toys that has a purpose. I remember having car and airplane toys, bowling sets, badminton, and cooking sets – those plastic toy sets that gives you a glimpse on how a certain skill works. Also, for some reason, one of my earliest memories was when I got my toy car (the one you can ride na de-tulak lang haha I have it in color combi of pink and purple) and my dad pushes me back in forth inside our humble rental home in QC. Oh to be a kid again.

I also remember when I was still in preschool(or around grades 1-2?), we went to his workplace and since di pa uso magcomputer noon ang mga bata, he pulled out some books from his cabinet – it’s a set of books (brain teasers yung isa, another is encyclopedia, then the other two are fun facts I think?) and he bought those for me pala and that was what I was doing while waiting for him sa office while he’s working.

Super grateful din talaga ako sa parents ko na they really bought me books when I was a kid. I think I kind of owe it to the kind of childhood that I had na kahit di man kasing yaman ng iba, my parents really valued knowledge and learning (to the point na nag-aaral pa rin ulit ako ngayon haha jk I learned to love what I am doing now)

I guess my dad spoiled me at some point, but never fails to keep me in check; hence we always almost fight HAHAHA

I am indeed my father’s eldest daughter, and it comes with the consequence of being his sakit ng ulo 😀 Not in a way na pariwara ako sa buhay HAHAHA but in a way na I have my own set of anger issues that clashes with him and thus, puksaan na naman XD

I can also remember when I was in grades 1-2, tapos naiwan ako ng school service (multiple times nangyari to hahaha ang hirap kasi gumising nang maaga T_T), it was dad who will accompany me to school even if it means that he’ll be late for work. Papagalitan ako niyan pero wala naman siyang choice kaya maglalakad kami papunta sa sakayan ng jeep, dala-dala niya yung malaking box na trolley bag ko, tapos I’m just observing him. He’s mad but I’m his kid hehe. Pagkahatid niya sa ‘kin sa school, magco-commute na ulit siya papunta sa work which is a different way from my school.

Looking back, he really did sacrifice a lot for me, even the smallest things.

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My dad (well my parents) have always told me to be frugal, and it’s something that I am thankful for. I don’t think they would have made this far if it weren’t for their frugality and decision making skills. I really hope to be like that. I am trying my best

I learned a lot of things from him, except driving. For some reason, it is a skill that I think I am not inclined to learn (but I might have no choice soon), and dad is always there to drive for me.

When I was younger, I was not allowed to go out if my dad wouldn’t drive for me or accompany me (kahit commute lang) to where I will go, so it became a habit that I got until now even after I finished the university.

“’Ddy pahatid sa [place] on [date] hehe” something like that and we’ll just align our schedules and voila~ may tagahatid na ako hehe. He also drives for us whenever we are going to concerts kahit na sabi niya sayang lang pera don (sorry huhuhu di kasi kumakanta ng aju nice yung pera jk) :>>

I also remember one time na galing akong elbi, and I’m going back to QC so sa office ako dumiretso; and when I got to the car, may 24chicken na binigay si daddy, alam daw niya kasing gutom ako T_T I might’ve been teary eyed during that time.

Almost all the time that I have to go to elbi, dad drives for me; and it just makes me a little bit emotional how he always have to drive home on his own.

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My dad is often home ever since I started college; when he did a big leap for his career, it came with no assurance, but I understood it later on. We had conversations at that time, and it was when I felt sorry the most (for how I acted); but let’s just say na, it brought me to where I am as well right now.

I am beyond grateful that he is my father.

He’s really not like any other father at all. He really sets the bar high because of how he treats my mother, and even us, his daughters.

Even if he has work, he does household chores and mostly cooks for us. He’s the one who wakes up the earliest. I sometimes feel bad when I even get mad at him for not washing his own dishes T-T I’m so sorry ang dami kasi na nakatambak tapos ako naiiwan sa bahay T_T

[ Right now that I am living on my own, super namimiss ko luto ni daddy T_T Na pagka-gising ko may almusal na ganon T_T ]

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I know dad still has a lot of things that he want to do, partly because he still wants to strive more for us (in dad’s words, ang dami mo kasing hinihingi haha). At the same time, I feel bad whenever I think about how my parents are still supporting me when they can just comfortably look only after themselves.

[ Thinking about it now, the sophomore version of myself, telling my parents that I might want to study abroad for master’s studies after graduation, felt selfish. The way I told them that it’s one of my options really made me realize the gravity of the situation and how expensive it’s going to be; but then, I am beyond grateful that they supported me with this decision in all ways possible ]

Most of the time, I look at them and notice how different they are right now compared to the image I have of them when I was a kid; and it hits me that as I grow up, they also do the same – they are growing up too. Sometimes, I wish time would stop and let me just be the kid who was once just hoping for her parents to come home a little early; but now, it was me who was often away and even farther from them.

But I think this serves as a reminder that I can never settle for less when my parents have given me almost everything that they can.

When I know he tried to give everything for us.

Dad barely stopped working. When he rests? It’s just him watching some stuff online (that could help his work – his words not mine) and then falling asleep T_T

He really is an amazing person, and I truly hope that one day, I’d be able to give back to them the kind of life they (mom and dad) deserve; though they always told me they never expected anything from me because it’s their responsibility as parents, still, hopefully, even just a little, I hope I can make them proud 😊

There will always be things that we might not be able to see eye-to-eye, but I know that he genuinely wants what’s the best for me

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The harshest words I’ve ever said was towards my father, and it is those words that I can never take back that makes it a hundred times painful; but then his heart has always been magnanimous, that deep in my heart, I know that dad’s love for me is greater than those words I have told him.

I am so blessed to have him as my father, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Happy Birthday, daddy.

I’ll keep it as one of my life’s passion and purpose to make you proud of me.

I love you so much and I am grateful to be your eldest daughter.

Your kamukha, Nicole ♡

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I’ve had multiple attempts to finish this writing, first was when dad turned 50; next was during Father’s Day; another was before my flight to Milan; but now I decided to upload it on his golden plus one (51st)~

I can’t put this on hold anymore; I want to share how amazing of a person you are, and how grateful I am for my father.