Sep 23 – Day 13 to 50
The only father I had and ever knew was Alfredo
Pena-Montilla Villaruel, Jr. Through the
years, we’ve called him daddy, dad, dagda, Baghdad, then back to dagda, but his
friends know him as Nonong. From 3, he
was my dad until his passing in 2005.
I’ve written my tribute for him in my blog: https://maryannisms.blogspot.com/2005/10/he-sure-did-it-his-way.html
On my 4th birthday, he got me a robot and some
books. Our love for science fiction and
all things extra-terrestrial springs from him, the avid Asimov and Sagan
fan.
My favorite Dagda trait is when you’d give him a kiss, since
I was little, he’d blow up the side of his cheek you are intending to kiss,
like a puffer fish’s like your kiss is a treat he is savoring to get. Up till Amber, that’s how he got kissed by
us.
Every night from first grade till grade 6th,
whenever I’d hear the car coming in the gate, knowing my parents are home, I’d
run to get his slippers. As soon as he
comes home, he’d sit at his favorite couch and I’ll place his slippers down
next to his feet as he removes his shoes and socks and stretches his legs. It just stopped because we moved to Manila
and by then everyone had different schedules, but that was one of chores but
also my way of being respectful towards my father.
After dinner, I’d be sent out on an errand to a nearby
sari-sari store to get him his 3 bottles of beer. Of course, the fun part was I get to keep the
change! His ice, cold San Miguel beers
would be his relaxation therapy as he listened to his favorite crooners: Frank
Sinatra, Tony Bennet, Tom Jones, Johnny Mathis, Sammy Davis Jr.
He battled the big bad C for 5 years before finally succumbing,
a couple of months after his 65th birthday. Thank you Dagda for your wisdom and
guidance. I will always be grateful and
honor your memory.
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