I just came back from my "emergency leave" this March 5. I flew straight to Philippines during Valentine's day where at the same time my father died of heart attack, it was his second and he didn't survive.

As the plane landed in Ninoy Aquino International Airport, i couldn't help myself but to shed tears, this is it i'm gonna see him again, but this time he won't be able to throw jokes on me. He'll gonna be in an eternal silence. Inside the taxi, my brother started crying, I did understand why. My father used to be a taxi driver who always return things which were left on his cab.

The cab stopped infront of our house, I stepped outside, I've seen lots of people surprised upon seeing us, streets were blocked by tables and chairs, and a huge tent were set up to protect the people from rain and sun. I saw my brother rushed inside while my knees prevented me from walking, I froze for an instance as if courage has left me that time. I heared my mother crying, calling me to come inside, that was the last thing i remember, and they told me i fainted.

Stress, hunger and lack of sleep were the factors why i fainted, now seeing my father face to face in that metal casket made me wonder about life. He was only 54 when he died and he made most of his life helping a lot of people, at the age of 14 his mother died giving birth to the 8th child, he was too young to shoulder the responsibility where in fact considering that the youngest was only 7 days old. Yes, they have a father who turned his back from them, cursing the youngest; if he weren't born his wife would be still alive. My father didn't finish highschool. He went to the city and landed a job in a kerosene company at the age of 15 and the rest was history, He took all his brothers and sisters from the province and send them to school.

I met different people during the mourn, friends, relatives, co-workers, neighbors; some i knew, others were not. Now i understand what kind of man my father was. During the burial, almost 25 jeepneys were used, excluding the vans and cars of my relatives, others were left behind because of the sudden change in time.

Again, my father had taught me another lesson in life, we should not be burden by our looks so much, by the amount of money we were earning and saving. These were the major things where our life is concerned of. The most important thing is the way of life we live. I asked myself if atleast in a day i had helped somebody even in my smallest ways, if not maybe i should start now.

To my father, We will never forget u and we will always love u, where ever u are just enjoy there and wait for us.