He was my hero. He was my best friend. He was my kakampi. He was my inspiration, especially because of his unwavering optimism in life. He was always there for me, particularly during my adventurous years of motorcycles and racing. Never once did he let me down. To me, he was the best father in the world.
My father did not want me to enter the seminary. When I passed the entrance examination for the Minor Seminary in Tabaco City, Saint Gregory the Great Seminary, he openly expressed his opposition. He wanted me to choose another profession, get married, raise a family, and continue our family name. At that time, I did not fully understand why it mattered so much to him, but I knew he spoke from the heart.
I still remember the day I entered the seminary. He cried. In silent protest, I spent almost three months away from home during my vacation, avoiding what I feared would be endless sermons and discouraging words about my vocation. Yet I can never forget the moment when I finally returned home. He embraced me tightly, as though he never wanted to let me go again. It was one of the very few times I ever saw my father cry. He had missed his firstborn son deeply. He cried even more when I sang one of my favorite songs, I’m Coming Home by Birtles and Goble.
My father lived a simple life. He worked hard to provide for his family and never sought recognition. Yet when he passed away in 1996, I was overwhelmed by the number of people who came to pay their respects. Friends from all over the province joined his final journey home. The long procession of mourners remains etched in my memory. That day taught me that a person’s greatness is not measured by wealth, titles, or achievements, but by the lives he has touched.
Many times I ask myself, “Kisay daw ako nag-lubos?” Perhaps I ask this because my life and temperament seem to be the exact opposite of my father’s. He loved simplicity, while I often find myself drawn to complexity. He was naturally kind, while kindness does not always come easily to me. He possessed extraordinary patience toward people who mistreated him, while I seem to have inherited only a small fraction of that virtue.
One of my greatest regrets is that I never told him directly how much I loved him. I know he felt it. I know he knew it. Yet I never said the words. Perhaps I grew up believing the foolish notion that real men do not say “I love you” to another man. Today, that omission remains one of the small sorrows that occasionally visit me during sleepless nights. Papa, I loved you very much. I still do.
As a father, you loved your children beyond measure. Together with Mama, you sacrificed so much for us. Like all children, we were not always obedient. We were not always grateful. Yet your love remained constant. Today I remember with gratitude my beloved parents, +RODULFO and +MURITA, whose memories continue to guide and inspire me.
This Father’s Day, I especially remember my Papa in heaven. At the same time, I would like to thank those who became fathers to me after his passing. In a special way, I remember the Most Rev. Luisito A. Occiano, my brother priests in the Diocese of Virac, and the many people who offered guidance, encouragement, and support throughout my life. You helped fill the void left by my father’s early departure. For all of you, I offer my prayers and gratitude.
To those who are blessed to still have their fathers with them, cherish every moment. Tell them you love them while you still can. Time passes more quickly than we realize, and some words become difficult to say once the opportunity is gone.
To all fathers throughout the world, Happy Father’s Day. Continue what God has entrusted to you. Love your wife. Love your children. Protect them. Guide them. Stand beside them during difficult times. Be courageous enough to defend your family against the many dangers that threaten their faith, values, and future.
The world needs good fathers. The world needs men who are willing to sacrifice, to work hard, to remain faithful, and to love without counting the cost. Be the kind of father your children will remember with gratitude long after you are gone. Be a reflection of God the Father, whose love never fails and whose mercy never ends.
Finally, to my fellow priests, whom the faithful lovingly call “Father,” Happy Father’s Day as well. Through our vocation, we have been called to a unique and beautiful form of fatherhood. May we continue to guide souls, nurture faith, and lead God’s people closer to Christ.
Happy Father’s Day, Papa. I still miss you. I still love you. And I look forward to the day when, by God’s grace, I can embrace you once again in our Father’s house.