Dear Mr. Martinez

Today we applaud the memory of a man who loved me more than any man could.
Today we honour the man who raised such independent children that it felt like I moved on, the moment I heard that you have slept the eternal sleep.
But I think, my siblings could not really blame me. After all, for the last decade, you have constantly reminded me of what may or may not happen to you and the responsibilities that will fall on my shoulders the moment it will. I have taken the role now, and I hope that I am not failing your expectations.

But today is for your memory, and my role in that is as a daughter who remembers her father as someone to look up to.

My father is a person who had held responsibilities in many private and public institutions. The last of which is as president of the senior citizens association. That one he held with pride because even in his old age it felt good bringing a very disorganized group into something that the whole city organizations models in their own associations now.

My father has faced a lot of battles, in court and outside of it. I hope that it will come to an end soon as it has deprived my father of the privileges that he should have enjoyed after all the hard work that he has done in his employed life. It almost also deprived us of our education if not of luck and sheer perseverance.

My father is a very proud man, who felt that he has wronged his children by not being able to provide them with a good life. But I do not feel that I am unlucky that I cannot afford what others can because I know that I can live without them. This has been one of his regrets, though time and time again we have assured him that it was fine.

My father has raised us to follow our own morals, to own up our mistakes, and to choose our battles well. He has always reminded us that character is better than intelligence. But at the same time, preach that without intelligence you cannot get anywhere.
He always says that we can follow whatever path we want in life as long as we do not regret it. But after that, give suggestions on what are the best options to choose from. In time, I have learned to nudge him into my own direction. And that is an accomplishment in itself.

My father is very strict, but he has always allowed me to do things outside of the house as long as I inform mama about it. I am proud to say that amongst my siblings, I never experienced the 'paha' only the tongue-lashing. Though that is harsher,at least you can argue your way out.
The only quarrel with papa that I cannot really forget is the one from college when I finally confronted him on the reasons why 'technically I am a bastard child'. That was a sad argument that left me in tears for hours and I think hurt papa more than it did me. The parents' mistakes should never be blamed on the children, he quipped. But I cannot understand that, and society is not really a forgiving enemy. But I have made peace and he knows that I no longer blame him for it.

My father tried to raise independent children that I was sent out of the house when I was eleven. My brother when he was fourteen, and PJ when she was sixteen. But whenever I had problems, it was always a comfort to know that you and mama are just a phone call away. Thank you for the technology.
This year, I missed hearing your voice over the phone even if it was just you scolding me that you cannot hear whatever is being said.

But I do not have regrets, I know that you are at peace. You had live a good life. You outlived some of your siblings even if you are the eldest of them all. You had held your apos and great-apos. you had doled out advice to lots of people both asked and un-asked for.

This is for you. And I will always remember you.

Daghang salamat sa pagbasa!!!