I have the coolest Pops!

Yes, you heard me right. And I could not be bragging any less.

Papa and I were both born in August. Maybe that's why I find it easiest to relate with him. Being the first born, I'd like to believe I was lucky having been given first hand attention. Well, they say the perks are always fun, yes? And my childhood was quite memorable. Being given all the best there is although Sai and I were born only a year apart.

I fondly remember his proud face when I bagged the Best in Math award in kindergarten, he was spilling the good news like wild fire. And out of a small girl's building ego, it was a bombastic way to fuel things out.

My love for sport was heavily influenced by his being a sportsman. Just a couple of weeks ago, imagine Papa, at 51, running the floor of the Mecca of SCH Basketball, Phase 5 court. It was quite a sight to see looking back to his younger days as a very effective cager.

He would bring us to his games to nearby subdivisions. And we would gladly cheer for him and the whole team. He was into tennis too. And mind you, he plays well too. Maybe that's why it was a lot of disappointment when Kevin declined to continue his tennis training, for free.

He plays exemplary billiards too. Hahaha. The adjectives I'm using, yesss, to the superlative degree of all superlative degrees! I would recall looking at his pictures playing billiards in his rugged maong ang patented sando, 80's style yow! Hahaha! Nonetheless, he is really bigger than his body. Bigger than his thin, unassuming body.

Growing up, we used to argue a lot. Well, because of the choice of friends I had by then maybe. He's just being protective from all the hazards of teenage life that were threatening my way. Well, gladly, he was kind of triumphant having seen me graduate from high school with, uhm, kind of borderline petiks and achiever kind of range. Hahaha! Not bad, Pa!

He would check out my volleyball games in highschool but later at home would always go nostalgic like.. Pinabayaan niyo kasi ang mga buhok niyo. Nung bata kayo ke gaganda niyan. Palagi ko sinusuklay. Ngayon, 'ta nyo.. Yan ang masasabi niya sa dry hair namin dulot ng volleyball practices. He was there on the gallery when I was cheerleader in second year. And some other activities he would make himself available.

And I just really have to say, how I appreciate his efforts in sending me to collage. I recall how happy he was munching on the idea the I was actually going to college to take Accountancy. I can tell, he was proud of me, even that early in this stage.

He wasn't playing KJ also when I had introduced Jef, February of 2006. He was just in constant reminder of the limitations we had to set, so as the priorities. That fateful day of November 11, 2007, I was marching on this mini theater in Insular Building in Alabang, he couldn't miss out telling me that I looked just fine in my pink satin graduation dress.He was also supportive in my first job stint at Air 21.

He was modestly remiding about my then active weekend drinking sprees but was understanding enough to see that I was having a bad headache the morning after. Terrible hang over that was. He was that type, letting you experience what's there to experience. But of course, always maagap to draw the line on what's tolerable or not. Cool? Yes!

He was accommodating to my friends too. Be it the girls from high school, them guys from high school too, from the youth org sa Church. We was always ready to let fly a good old joke to keep everyone at bay. 

To date, he still drives me to the bus station for work. Niloloko na nga siya ni Mommy Aids one time, Ano, hatid pa din? Bata?

And when Jef and I had to reveal our plans of getting married, it landed to him like, what? Nabingi ata. But he was a busy hand on the wedding day planning for the biggest day of my life. Hmm, I can tell, he was a little sad for a while but he got over it, lalo na when Zachary came along. Silang dalawa are like partners in crime. They would always have new antiques to brag about. Like the fact that there's nobody else I would like to take care of my son with exception to me & Jef, he would be one of the very few.

So just in time for Father's Day, thank you Papa for being the coolest papa there is! Like wala talagang papantay sa'yo! Ikaw na talaga!

Stay jeproks and watch what you eat! It's not like you're 25! But your swag feels like it!

I LOVE YOU PAPA! :)