Day 16 – A picture of someone who inspires you
(picking up where I left off)

There are many facets to this amazing man.

He is a loving father, a devoted husband, a good provider, a just disciplinarian, a wise teacher, a humble servant, a dependable brother, an obedient son, a faithful Christian, a passionate preacher, a gentle healer, a strong man, a brave protector, an inspiring role model.

He is the master of corny jokes, the wielder of both a Bible and a shotgun, the lion among his lionesses, the original afro man, the saint with a painful past, the sinner with a bright future, the political activist, the mentor to many.

As ferocious as a bear and as meek as a lamb. As wise as a guru and as curious as a child.

My father is one of the bravest men I have ever met or heard of. He has lived through experiences so painful that I can’t imagine myself living through them myself. And yet, he has come out on the other side of his life with genuine happiness and no regrets about anything.

He is my hero. Literally. Once when I was two, we were at a beach resort and I had jumped into a swimming pool without saying. With no hesitation, he jumped in right after me fully clothed (shades, cap and all), only to find out at the surface that I was already wearing inflatable arm floaters. He gave the magical Heimlich maneuver when I nearly died choking on a coin at four years old. He came to my rescue every time Roger broke down on me on the road. I can always count on him to be there for me when I need him the most.

My father taught my sisters and I a great number of things and with such variety. From types of bird calls to self-defense tactics to identifying parts of a rifle to billiard tricks. He enjoys the company of his wife and daughters to the point of falling asleep at the dinner table during our late-night talks. He is the standard and benchmark of what it is to be a father and a husband.

He is a generous person – whether it’s with his lunch or his hugs or his pearls of wisdom. He has given so much to others and has touched countless lives. He helps people without asking for anything in return and offers comfort even to strangers. He shows respect to everyone and everything, including people who do not deserve it. His anger may be frightening, but he is quick to forgive.

He doesn’t take himself too seriously and does not boast of anything. He does not care for titles and honors, but puts more importance on the difference he can make in this world. His day job is to help children get well again from their sicknesses. By night, he watches cartoons with his kids and laughs just as hard as the first time he watched them. As a sideline, he stands on a pulpit delivering the Gospel to the people. At the end of it all, his main purpose is to be a servant of God in the form of a father, a husband, a doctor and a brother to all.

I cannot think of a better person to have and call my father. Every time somebody asks me, “Anak ka ni Bebs?”, I always feel a swell of pride whenever I nod to say yes. There are many sides to my dad. To me, he’s my Daddy, and he’s everything I need for him to be.