REMEMBERING FATHER
By Rudy A. Arizala
21 June 2009
On 21 June is “Father's Day” - a special day to remember and pay
homage to our father. Instead of writing a long essay on the subject,
methinks, the best tribute one could give to one's father is a short
one but full of love, respect, admiration and significance. I refer
to what Mr. Walter Isaacson, the biographer of Albert Einstein wrote
in his book: “Einstein His Life and Universe”, as dedicatory to his
father:
“To my father, the nicest, smartest, and most moral man I know.”
I would like to say or write the same tribute to my late father on
this “Father's Day”.
Father has great moral courage and strength of character. I saw him
quietly shed tears of joy only on three occasions: 1). when he pinned
the silver medal on my breast because of my having graduated
salutatorian of our graduating class in high school; 2). when he
learned that I passed the bar exams becoming a lawyer; and 3). when
he was already a retired government functionary and I visited him at
our home in Infanta and gave him funds for his medicine.
He was a simple, modest, humble and honest person with a sense of
pride for having raised a family and despite poverty, was able to
sent all his four children to college or university. He said, he
could not leave any wealth to us except a good name and education.
In his simplicity, there is beauty, purity, love and strength.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL FATHERS