It’s His 15th Year

Yes, we lost dad on this same day fifteen years ago and I try to write about him every year on his birthday and death anniversary. Memories kept, memories treasured.

We were still in grade school in the province when dad took his yearly Christmas break and he would join us for our simple Noche Buena and Media Noche. There used to be a cooperative inside the university where he worked and every December, the administration give the employees’ share of the earnings of the coop. Coupons were exchanged for groceries and other necessities that the employees could buy. We’ll always look forward to Dad’s Christmas vacation armed with various groceries – canned goods, quezo de bola, Granny Smith apples and sometimes school supplies. Us kids were not used to eating quezo de bola so it usually stays in the basket for a month. Mom’s cousin, our teacher in grade school liked it a lot. Before, hams come in tins unlike now where they cook it fresh.

Every year, there was this fund drive by students of UST High School department where they gather used clothing and give them to the employees when December comes. Dad would bring home a big box of assorted clothes and Mom would distribute them to our neighbors and some relatives. Mom would choose around five then she would alter them for me. She was good at sewing. We had an old Singer machine which is still in the province. Some of my classmates in grade school thought we bought a lot of dresses every December for me but they were just overhauled second hand clothes that Dad used to bring home.

Dad was fond of having his white hair removed, 5 cents for each. I had a piggy bank where I would keep my earnings back then.

Those days that made life wonderful and happy. I miss him…stiĺl. Maybe he is looking down on us with that smiling face. Praying for you dad🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️😘🥰😍

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