I miss my father who was with the Philippine Army. More so now that Father’s Day is approaching. I remember he always tried to come home for special family occasions like birthdays (especially mine), but his “visits” became very rare after he was assigned to Magpet, Cotabato. A gunner in their battalion, he was always on important, sensitive missions.
Helping protect and secure our land and people. This is the noble work of soldiers. Thus, it is often said that a soldier’s family plays only second fiddle in his life. As his son I very well know the sacrifices and commitment he made. But even then, my mother and I always felt his warmth and love even though he was in faraway Mindanao, where his first family (fellow soldiers) needed him the most. He died by a sniper’s bullet three years ago.
Since then I have made it a point that Father’s Day will always be a celebration of his heroism, not a day of anger and sadness. He died in the line of duty and that’s what makes me, an only child of his, prouder to be his son, the son of a hero.
—JAYVEE G. GARCIA,
garcia.jayvee11@yahoo.com