By Telly Gonzaga Ocampo
Our Father’s Day Celebration during this Covid Crisis
(Editor’s Note: This letter was sent by a daughter named Irene Ocampo-Alaan, to her dad on Father’s Day. The daughter could not be with her dad during the celebration because she is based in Cebu and her dad, Roger Ocampo, is in Bohol and due to the “no sail policy” the daughter could not visit Bohol for the occasion. Irene is the daughter of Telly Gonzaga Ocampo, the columnist for Cultural Heritage. The Bohol Tribune is purposely publishing this letter on this page because the paper sees how the love of a daughter to a father is beautifull expressed in simple words; and the simplicity of her expression is trying to truly rekindle one of the greatest values of all – Family Ties through the Love of a Daughter to her Father.)
Dear Dad:
Father’s Day is the time that I really cherish most. This is the time that I want to go back to the past and enjoy every moment of it.
You are a busy dad but thank you, daddy, nga wala ka magkuwang sa imong time namo.
I miss going to the beach with you and with friends and, of course, eating those famous crabs with bagoong that mommy cooks.
I miss the pa burger adtong atbang bitaw sa BPI. Dili gyud naho to malimtan oi. Tinuod bitaw, Dad. Ug diha pa’y mga pa ice cream sa Magnolia House.
I miss watching wrestling with you from Betamax inig mata bitaw nato sa Sabado sa buntag? Nahihumdum ka? Saturday mornings were very cherished mornings. Pero maka stress baya pud, Dad, no inig pangasaba ni Mommy kay wala pa ta ka bangon ug nagtinapulan kuno ta? And you would never tell Mommy that you were the one who switched on the Betamax. Ha ha ha ha . Gimingaw na baya pud ko sa sweet yawyaw ni Mommy nga ug mamatikdan pud niya nga nabungol ta mukatawa lang pud siya ug kalit. What joyful days we had, Dad! Right? Do you still remember? If you don’t miss those days, we do! We miss celebrating Father’s Day with you, Dad! I am misty-eyed writing this note. I miss you like crazy. But it’s Covid that’s hampering our celebration.
Even sa nag college na ko, ingon adto gihapon atong kinabuhi ug kalipay, Dad. Di ba? Kahilakon ka gasuwat ani, dad, no. Galisud na ko ug tan-aw sa letters. Laina no? . . . . I miss Max’s. Kadto bitawng Max’s Fried Chicken nga restaurant.. and the staff there na morag tag-iya ko na ingnan nalang ko ug: “Wala pa kaabot imong Daddy huwat nalang sa sulod, dai ha?”
I miss going out to movies with you like we could watch two movies in one day and we never got tired at all. And do you remember how you would enjoy seeing me relate the scenes in the movie as if you didn’t see the movie at all? Dili lagi ka pul-an sa pagpaminaw nako, dad, no bisan ug gabalik balik atong estorya. Unya kana bitawng imong smile of appreciation kay dili gyud na ma-awat ni bisan kinsa. Dili man gyud peke. Your smile has always been genuine and real. Thank you for that smile, dad.
Do you still remember that we would have lunch, then, and we would watch a movie with snacks . . . . . then take a break for snacks . . . . . then watch a movie again with snacks . . . . then we’d have dinner . . . . and then you would buy me fruits before I would go back to my boarding house. You just didn’t realize dad how my heart would break as I’d say, bye when I would go to the boarding house. I hated my boarding house then, because , it was there where I would burst into tears as I’d miss you after our going around.
Na miss gyud naho kadtong mga panahon nga gikan ka sa Bohol unya muhapit ka naho sa Cebu unya dalhon nimo tanang sobra nga stock nimo sa ako Daddy even coke… and … banana. And you would even bring me Nang Desa’s Crispy Pata. Promise, dad, maka miss gyud. Gahilak na pud ko oi. Samoka man ning mga luha oi nga dili man mo-undang. Gimingaw lang gyud ko nimo dad, PROMISE. Mauwaw ko mohilak ug kusog kay naay mga tawo makakita naho. Ngano man diay? Naibog lang sila nga wala silay daddy nga mopangga nila.
You are simply the handsomest Dad.. .the coolest and loving Dad. And you could laugh at any of my jokes. Unya inig review naho sa akong jokes, akong ma amguhan nga dili man diay palamuot. But you were entertained by all of those. Thank you, dad!
I couldn’t simply find words to thank you for everything. And today, I am very sad to realize that we can’t be with you and mommy because of this Covid thingy.
But both of you should remember that you are always in our thoughts and in our hearts.
Happy, Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!!!
Sincerely,
from “your daddy’s girl”
