Celebrating Father's Day online

CEBU, Philippines - Seeing his children and wife only once every two years is indeed a great sacrifice for Guillermo Lebumfacil who is working in Saudi Arabia as an automotive sign painter for many years now.

He flew to Saudi in the early 90’s and has since been with different companies every year until 10 years later or in the year 2000 when he became a regular employee of the United Motors Association (UMA).

UMA gives him about two months of vacation leave every two years. He said he could not do anything but endure the pain of not seeing his loved ones for years.

“Dili gyud lalim ang kamingaw nga layo ka sa imong pamilya. Pero ako ra gyud ning gi-agwanta kay kung wala pod ko nganhi, dili pud ko makapakaon og tarong sa akong pamilya,” he said. (The thought of missing my family was unthinkable. But I knew I had to endure this otherwise, my family would also have nothing to eat.)

“Maong kada bakas-yon nako, ako gyud ning i-spend sa akong pamilya. Less than two months ra gyud tawn ang puli sa duha ka tuig nakong panarbaho. Para nako, kadiyot ra gyud kaayo nang usa ka buwan, kulang gyud kaayo,” he added. (That is why I try to make up for our lost time together everytime I go home for vacation because it’s only less than two months.

 His wife, Maribeth, for her part, also said she misses her husband all the time. To ease her husband’s burden of being away, Maribeth sends him photos of her and their children.

Lebumfacil has three sons and a daughter, who is the eldest. He feels lucky that his hardships are all worth it after seeing that her wife and children have a sense of responsibility.

According to his sons, Nathaniel, Guilmar and Keith, their father is not only hardworking and loving, he also acts like a brother to them.

 “We’re lucky to have Papa Guilly as our father because he never failed to give us whatever we want. But sad to say, he could not be with us most of the time,” said Nathaniel, who is now on his fifth year as an electrical engineering student.

 “That’s why I am excited to graduate, kay gana-han nako mopahuway si Papa og trabaho sa gawas para maka-enjoy pa sila ni Mama together. Instead, ako na lang ang manarbaho para sa akong pamilya,” he added. (I want to graduate and get a job so my father can come home and spend time with my mother. I want to be the one working for the family.)

Every time he hears the word “Papa” uttered by his children, he could not help but feel the pain of missing them.

That is why he is glad of the new technology now, as he could see his family via Skype in every special occasion just like today’s Father’s Day.

 With his sons studying in Cebu and his wife at home in Toledo, his family will be together during weekend, his favorite days of the week because that’s the time he could see his whole family in Skype.

 “May na lang naay Skype kay miski dili gyud personal mahikap nako akong pamilya, ang importante makita ug makastorya gyud nako sila. At least, makuhakuhaan akong kamingaw nila,” he said. (I am happy with Skype, it eases my longing to be with them. Although I could not touch them, I can hear and see all of them.)

And during Father’s Day, he always looks forward to seeing his whole family via Skype, because for him, seeing them while he’s from the other side of the world is the greatest gift he would ever receive during this special day. — /JPM