MY FATHER

MY FATHER

My father is Domingo de Guzman, he will be 84 years old this year. He was born here and brought to China before the age of 2, and together with his older brother, they came back at the age of 18. Not belonging to a rich clan, he was not able to pursue his studies here in the Philippines, and unable to speak the language, he was forced to take on odd jobs. He was a cook, a waiter, a janitor...he then took extra-effort to learn Pilipino, then he took on more odd jobs, married my mother and went to live in Metro Manila, and then they had me. He became a salesman of an obscure alcoholic drink, they called it "Shoktong". He was given the option to be assigned in the province, but both he and my mother declined, because they did not want to be apart, and my father wanted to have an active hand in my growing up.

My father was the salesman of an alcoholic beverage, but her never drank liquor, he never smoked, he never gambled, and as far as I know, he never womanized. I remember seeing him at home every night, watching tv with the whole family. He took me to all the old James Bond Films. He was not a snub, he embraced the Filipino culture, so we also saw some FPJ, Erap and Dolphy films.

He was not a Catholic, but he sent me to a Catholic-Chinese School, the best they know, Saint Jude Catholic School. Then when choosing which college to go to, he supported my desire to go to UP (University of the Philippines) and eventually my ultimate desire to become a doctor.

When my sister Adeline was born, almost 15 years after me, there was a different twinkle in his eyes, he so dreamed of having a daughter, that he really took care of her. He brought her to and from school until she graduated from Saint Jude and from De La Salle University.

We were never rich, but as a testament to his hard work and sacrifice, I went to Saint Jude, then to UP, then to UERM College of Medicine....and my sister, graduated from De La Salle and is now working at SGV and married to a partner of SGV.

My livelihood, what I feed my family with...I owe it all to him.

The fact, that I never learned to drink alcoholic beverages, smoke cigarettes and gamble....I owe it all to him.

That I believe that my wife should be my most trusted friend, and my children my best buddies or barkadas...I owe it all to him.

I could never go abroad, or even to the province and have a great time without my kids....I got that from him too.

The way I try to treat everyone with respect, esp. the maintenance people, the guards, the food servers, the janitors....I got that from him too.

Today he is 84, and continues to help in the household chores, esp. with the absence of household help. He never wants to be a burden, he never complains of illnesses. When he was admitted a few years back, his first hospital admission I believe....the attending physician said....you have fantastic genes, and then looking at me, she said, you may inherit these genes of strength and longevity.....but those are not the only genes I'd like to inherit....I'd like to be as hardworking and as loving as he was and continues to be to his family!

Happy Father's Day to my Father - in - law.
Happy Father's Day to my Uncle Edgar!
Happy Father's Day to my Uncle Henry!
Happy Father's day to all my uncles and my cousins.
God bless all of us!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO MY FATHER - DOMINGO DE GUZMAN
GOD BLESS HIM AND KEEP HIM HEALTHY AND HAPPY, SO THAT HE CAN KEEP ON LOVING HIS GRANDCHILDREN AND TEACHING THEM TO BE THE KIND OF DECENT AND RESPECTABLE MAN THAT HE IS.

He remains to be in my eyes, and in my heart....the best father ever.....BAR NONE!