I was five years old, and it was our town fiesta,  I asked my father if we could go to the perya. I was excited to ride the ferriswheel , it was my first time. I remembered clinging to my father’s arms with my eyes closed during the whole ride. It was my first adventure. With my father.

Then after the ride, we tried the 25 cents boardgame. I can’t shoot the 25 cent in the boxes. So my father exchanged his 10 peso-bill to 25 cents and threw them all to the board. We won. We had 1 plate and Pee Wee. It was so fun. And it was my first time to witness my father’s extravagant generosity.

Growing up on my teen years, I used to sleep on our sala either because of doing my homework or watching TV. I remembered my father, carrying me every night to my room. I was actually awake all the time he was carrying me. But I liked being carried by my father, kahit teenager na ko. I was still 80-pounder that time, so magaan pa ko.

It’s father’s day so I collected some of my favorite moments with Tatay.

Yesterday, I hosted our father’s day celebration in the church and I couldn’t share that because my father chose to stay at home to take care of his grandchildren. He told me to go home early so we could eat Jollibee.

He was sitting beside my sleeping nephew when I got home. I ordered his favorite meal, chicken joy and spaghetti. We ate. He was happy. I was happy too. And he asked me to take his photo (with the chicken joy bucket) so I could send it to Nanay. He was adorable.

My father is now 65 years old. He can no longer carry me or even dare to ride the ferris wheel. His handsome face now have wrinkles and some age spots. His hair is having more gray and white hairs. But I thank the Lord because tatay’s love and care are still the same. He still waits for me until I get home from work. He cooks my favorite ginisang pechay with tokwa. And just his mere presence in the house is enough to make me happy and secure.

He asked me if we could celebrate father’s day monthly, because he wants chicken joy and spaghetti.

Haha. Thankful to be the 26 year old daughter of the cutest loving father in the whole wide world.