When I think of my father , I think of Nyoka , The Jungle Girl , Tarzan , Superman , Count of Monte Cristo , Moby Dick and other Classic Comic books ; chestnuts and walnuts and imported candies and mushrooms . These are the things my father gave me and my brother Frank when we were still young and were still home . Kuya Frank and I were the ones left at home when our older siblings were in Manila studying . My father did not say much when we were growing up but he sensed what we needed .
Christmas celebrations during my childhood was always a simple family get together . However , my father always managed to surprise Kuya Frank and me on Christmas day when we opened the socks we hanged on Christmas eve . He always managed to sneak in a few pieces of castanas and walnuts and imported candies inside those socks . He must have enjoyed watching our surprise and joy when we took out those extra special things during those days . In fact those items were not always available during those early years . I discovered later that before Christmas , he would go on a business trip to Manila and would shop for those items . His shopping lists would also include Illustrated Classic comic books which he would give us one at a time . Kuya Frank and I grew up with Nyoka , Tarzan and Superman . Our kasoy ( maloko ) and guava trees were the witnesses in our quest for actions .
Why mushrooms ? When I was teaching in Mangaldan High School ( now MNHS ) , one of the students' ( boys ) pilot projects was growing button mushrooms . My father was also working in MNHS then and we would be home for lunch . One time , he brought some mushrooms which our helper broiled with ginger in banana leaves . I enjoyed it so much so that my father made it a daily chore to bring mushrooms for me to eat at lunch time .
Funny , my father never said ," I love you " to any of us eight children but he was always there when we needed him or when we needed something . My mother would give me five centavos for my " balon" or " Baon" to ( elementary ) school . No questions asked but I would just go to my father and would show him my loot ( micol ) and he would automatically add another five centavos for my soft drink .
I could go on and on but it would just make me cry . I should not cry .. I need to smile because I remember my father fondly .. However , he is no longer in this world . When I got the news of his untimely death in July 4th , 1984 while he and my mother were vacationing in Mangaldan , my world crumbled . I was not able to tell him how much I loved him .
Today , Father's day , express your love to your father ( and mother ) . Don't postpone your loving words to them .
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY ! ! ! ENJOY YOUR DAY WITH YOUR LOVED ONES ! ! ! GOD BLESS YOU ALL ! ! !
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