A Father's day tribute

CEBU, Philippines – The noble idea of celebrating Father’s Day was conceptualized by Sonora Smart Dodd, a devoted daughter of William Smart, a civil war veteran who single-handedly raised her along with her five siblings after the death of her mother.

Father’s Day in most countries is celebrated on the third Sunday of June with great enthusiasm and lots of fanfare.

So what is a father?

 Unlike mothers who are nurturing and gentle, fathers have been entrusted with a different task.

Theirs is the responsibility to help us make something of ourselves, to teach us by word and example on how to be trustworthy, strong, hardworking and responsible men and women of character. Even for those who succeed only in part, the results can be astonishing.

Though fathers traditionally are seen more as providers, the scenario in the past decade has changed. Today most fathers take part in the task of changing nappy or taking the difficult challenge of putting the baby to sleep. These changes help in strengthening father-child relationship and consequently in the emotional development of a child.

Let us remember our fathers as beautifully captured in the poem by Kirk Loadman.

Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice..

Let us praise those fathers who by their own accounts were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. Let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children.

Let us praise those fathers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children’s lives. Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing.

Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children’s love and respect. Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death and continue to hold the child in their heart.

Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own. Let us praise those men who have “fathered” us in their role as mentors and guides.

Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers, may they openly delight in their children.

And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us.

“Papa Celing was the parent who gave me wings to fly. He encouraged my dreams and guided my faith life through example. He was a lover of the beautiful , especially music and women.”

Marlinda Angbetic Tan

Lifestyle Executive Editor

The Freeman

On a personal note here is my tribute to my beloved father Eduardo.

Pappy as we fondly called him was a devoted husband and a good provider. And as a father he was first and foremost a disciplinarian. Yet he never pushed us in one direction. He gave me, as well as my siblings, every opportunity to succeed at whatever it was I chose.

One of his greatest qualities was reliability. He was a man of great character and I could always count on his reasoning, on his moral compass.

He was our protector, teacher, role model and mentor. My father passed away on Christmas Eve in 2004 at age 85. He was laid to rest Christmas morning.  

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY.