Yesterday was Father’s Day here in the Philippines. As many of you read this column it is still Father’s Day where you live. I am actually writing this on Father’s Day here in the Philippines, but it won’t be posted on the site until Monday, the day after Father’s Day.
I have been sitting here doing a little work this morning. Yes, yes… I generally work 7 days per week, but generally for only a few hours per day. And, the work that I do is things that I enjoy doing anyway, like writing on my various websites and such. Anyway, as I have been sitting here taking care of various tasks, I have come to feel that I am truly blessed.
The first thing was when Feyma came in and wished me a “Happy Father’s Day” and offered me a special breakfast. She had made some homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast this morning, something along the lines of a Cinnabon, if you’ve ever had one of those. It is a “name brand” cinnamon roll that is sold in Malls all around the USA, maybe worldwide, but I don’t know for sure. So, anyway, it was a delicious breakfast.
The next thing that happened really surprised me. I got a text message from my niece, Gha Gha. Gha Gha is somebody whom we have written about on this site before. We were sending her to college to study nursing, and basically she threw it all out the window and left the house to start her own life. A terrible waste. I rarely hear from her at all, but this morning she texted me and wished me a Happy Father’s Day. I was pretty shocked to hear from her, and I thanked her for her thoughtful message.
About 15 minutes later I got a text message from another niece, Deding. Deding lives with us and has for about 4 or 5 years now. She goes to college right now, and does so on weekends, so she is away at school today. Here is her message:
Hi uncle, happy father’s day.. I love u.
This really made me feel good to get this text. Saying “I love you” here in the Philippines is not all that common in the culture, and it really does mean something to me that Deding would send such a message to me. Deding and I have developed a close relationship over the years, and I do love her like a daughter.
Just a few minutes later, Jean Jean, my adopted daughter came in and gave me a big kiss and hug and wished me a Happy Father’s Day too. Her hug was so tight that I just knew how sincere she was. Jean is 11 years old, nearly 12 now, and is in the 6th grade. Wow… she will be in high school next year.
I also got a “Happy Father’s Day” from Deo, our Nephew/Driver who also lives with us. So far, my other kids and Nieces have not approached me yet, but I am sure they will. It’s still relatively early for a Sunday morning, so many are probably still asleep, I haven’t gone and checked on them yet today.
You know, when your wife or your kids greet you Happy Father’s day, it’s really nice, and it’s special. However, it’s also kind of the “duty” of your kids to say that to their Father. However, when people like your Nieces and Nephews say it, and you can tell that it is very sincere, it makes you really feel special. That’s because they don’t “have” to say it… they say it out of a true sense of love for you, and a desire and happiness to be close to you. That makes me feel good. I feel very lucky to have all of my family.
I really do feel blessed. Literally.
Happy Father’s Day everybody!
Happy Father's Day Bob.
Hi evelyn – Thank you very much!
hello bob
its fathers day here in usa and i did get one greeting from my son,it does make you feel good to be loved for sure.not even my filipina remembered me on fathers day.ohhhh noooo terrible.hehehehe.
salamat bob happy fathersday to you
Hi Ron W – Hopefully your Filipina will come through still!
Thanks for visiting!
Hi Bob! Happy Father's Day! Yum, cinnabon? There is already a cinnabon in manila.
Hi Cathy – Thanks! I hope that Milper also had a nice Father's Day. I didn't know that there was a cinnabon in Manila. Yep, Feyma has a recipe for cinnamon rolls that are very similar to cinnabon… that is just for special occasions, though, because they are too fattening! 😆
🙂 Hi sir Bob! Happy Father's Day to you. How nice that you have a wonderful one =) I also greeted my father and buy a cake for him. God bless! Regards to your family.
Cidy
Hi Cidy – Thank you! I bet your father was happy also when you surprised him with a cake! I hope he had a wonderful day like I did.
Happy Father's day Bob.
Ellen
Hi Ellen – Thank you! Please give my best to Chartan (is that the right spelling?) too, I hope that he had a great Father's Day.
Thanks. You are very close – it is actually spelled Kjartan. 😀
Ellen
Hi Ellen – I was debating if it was "Chartan" or "Charton" – I didn't realize just how close I was! 😳
Bob
very splendid sentiments here expressed toyou from your immediate and extended family, it's great when your love and efforts are appreciated and returned back to you, this extended family role can bring difficulties, but at times rewards like you outline here.
But Bob, this will only happen to people who deserve it, so, yes you do deserve it, it's nice to feel good and special
Hi rick b – Happy Father's day to you! And, thank you for your kind words!
Hi Bob,
Happy Fathers Day to you sir, you have such a wonderful looking family and extended family..and is nice your nieces and nephews say that too…in a way you are a father figure to them as well.
Even though I don't have any children of my own, I live here in South Florida with my ex-girlfriend Nereida…Yes that is right, my ex-girlfriend and her three children Rachel(8), Jhuan(10), and Bryant(11). Even though she is my ex…we are still the best of friends and her three children I treat just as if they were mine. So today, I was wished my first fathers day wishes from them and given a present, plus a lot hugs and kisses…which I cherished the most.
Now they are all from Puerto Rico, and have been here for two years now, and I have helped them in many ways…learning english and so on, and housing, feeding, clothing them. But mainly be a father figure to them as well, there real father is still in Puerto Rico, and is a great father and great guy, and supports them financially as well, and he visits when he can. But he tried living in America but just didn't like it. Plus his english is worst than my spanish…lol
Now I spoke to Rose today in Maasin City, and she wished me happy fathers day too. She told her little girl Chesca(6), that in America, it is Fathers Day, so she told her mom to tell me "Happy Fathers Day" for her..and I thought that was so sweet of her.
So is very weird in my house sometimes…cause Nereida will get on video cam with Rose, and they will just sit there and chat forever..and Rose loves to see Nereida's kids on webcam as well. The kids here love to see little Chesca on the webcam…when she is able to come with Rose to internet cafe..so is one big happy family here….and that is my first "Fathers Day" for me….wow I wrote too much here…but wanted to share with you all…
Happy Fathers Day to all of you,
Danny 😉
Hi Danny – Congratulations on your extended family with your ex and her kids, as well as your family here in the Philippines. That sure is an interesting situation you have there.
It sounds like you had a wonderful Father's Day.
You had a real treat on that cinnamon roll — hmmppp i can smell the aroma of that cinnamon!! 🙂
Yes its true, in Phils, saying "i love you" is not common to ordinary families…you are truly blessed, you are showing your nephews/nieces that you truly cared for them and now, you are loved in return!
Happy Father's day!
Hi Maryg – Yes that cinnamon roll was a treat! A sinful treat! 😆
Yes, i do feel lucky and happy with my family here.
Thank you for your comment!
Nobody wished me "Happy fathers day" Yesterday!!!!!! 😯
I suppose the fact that we celebrate fathers day in September in Australia has something to do with it.
I hope my fathers day is going to be as happy as yours. 🙂
Best wishes to you and all your family.
Hi Anthony – I am sure that come September you will have a wonderful Father's Day! You'll be surprised by this, but I already knew that you guys down under celebrated in September! How did I know? Because my favorite Aussie Blogger, Darren Rowse's wife had their second baby yesterday, and he mentioned in his announcement that it was not Father's Day there in Oz, although he wished to claim it as it was the day his baby arrived. Nice story there!
Happy Father's Day for yesterday Bob. It sounds like you had a good day. Hope you enjoy many more special days in the future. Best wishes to your family.
Hi Bob,
Happy Father's Day greetings to a special Dad on this special day!
Karen
Happy Father's day to you Bob!
Hi Peter Mystakas – Thank you! I hope that you also had a wonderful Father's Day.
Hi Karen – Thank you very much!
Hi Amor – Thanks to you also!
Hi Bob, you have a wonderful family there. You deserve it.
My son is 7 months old now and I still have a long way to go to show him what kind of a father I am and will be. I lost my father since I was 8 yrs old and was gun down by NPA during Marcos time. My mom got married again but we were not that close coz he always argue with my Mom.
I got a text and request for money on Fathers day from my wifes parents in PI the other day even though I just send them $200 a couple weeks ago. I never got a greeting except for my wife but its good enough for me.
I visit your site almost everyday and also enjoy watching pictures at mindanao.com.
Hi jeff – Thank you for visiting my site, and for doing so regularly. I appreciate it.
I am sorry to hear what happened to your father, and the resulting things with your step-father. But, it would seem that you became a responsible individual, and you can be thankful for that, no doubt.
Good luck, jeff!
Bob,
First a belated Happy Fathers Day.
For me it was a nice day. I have never had any kids of my own but Elena's sister's children treat Elena as a mother. 3 girls live with us as they go to nursing school. They have 2 brothers, one who lives in Davao and the other a marine engineer out on the open seas.
Well saturday night at midnight while out with friends I got a text message wishing me a "Happy Fathers Day". Then next morning as the girls woke up they wished me a Happy Fathers Day too. Later that day they brought home for me a Happy Fathers Day cake from the bakery. The most warm message came from a text from our Nephew here in Davao. He thanked me for being here and how they all think of me as a father and how they love me.
That was a wonderful message from a 26 yr old man who I have only been in his life for a short time.
Hi Bruce – I understand your feelings about getting such treatment on Father's Day, it really is special, and it makes me feel good too. Congratulations on becoming "part of the family" – I wish you the best of luck. 😀