BY RHENJIE MARIE CALANTAS
TATAY, erpat, daddy, papa. A father is a son’s first hero and a daughter’s first love. They bring so much impact and joy to our lives.
This Father’s Day on Sunday, June 18, we celebrate the extraordinary people who have embraced the role of caregiver and provider, regardless of their status in life.
Their unwavering love and commitment have shaped the lives of their children and grandchildren.
Strolling around Iloilo City, Panay News encountered dedicated and responsible fathers doing demanding jobs to provide for their family’s needs.
The 28-year-old junk shop worker Mel Johnrey Obrigar of Barangay Caingin, La Paz, Iloilo City braves the sun’s scorching heat while segregating scrap materials.
Obrigar earns P250 daily from this and strives to stretch it. He is a junk shop worker for almost a year now.
“Duha akon bata, ang isa manog-lima ka tuig, ang manghod manog isa ka tuig. Sa mga kinanglanon namon, akon income gid ang ginasaligan. Ang P250 makabakal naman bugas kag sud-an,” said Obrigar.
As a dedicated father to his two children, Obrigar said he works hard to support his son’s education, currently at the nursery level.
“Isa ka adlaw makakaon lang kami kaduha ukon katatlo okay na kami. Mabuhi ko lang sila sang insakto, kag sa insakto nga paagi sa pagpangita sang kwarta,” Obrigar expressed.
Another hardworking dad Panay News interviewed was 60-year-old Eduardo Rico, a fruit vendor/laborer at the Iloilo Terminal Market. He has 10 children dependent on his earnings.
“Diri na ko nanigulang, diri na ko natawo sa pagbolante. Subong may pwesto kami bisan gamay lang kag amo ini nasaligan namon sang amon pangabuhian,” said Rico, a resident of Barangay Rizal Pala-Pala II, City Proper.
He, with his wife, wished for their children to finish their studies and achieve their dreams.
“Ang kabataan ko palangga ko sila tanan, mga mabuot ni sila. May ara man mga tunto pero sa disiplina mo na lang na kay ikaw ang amay. Ang handum ko lang ya mapatapos ko sila kay indi man kami magdugay sa kalibutan ni nanay nila. Nakita man na nila ang pagsakripisyo ko pulaw-bugtaw,” Rico said.
Panay News also chanced upon an 81-one-year-old pedicab driver from Barangay Monica-Blumentrit, City Proper.
Leonardo Linguste has been pedaling pedicabs for 50 years to provide food for his wife, children and grandchildren.
“Kung mag-eskwela ni mga apo ko sa akon pa ini gapangayo balon. Daw mahina na gani ako, ginasilingan ko gani mga bata ko nga magtrabaho man kamo. Kabatyag man ako kapoy pero anhon ta abi kay wala man kami saligan,” he said.
Linguste is beyond his retirement age but opts to work for his family.
These three dedicated and responsible men deserve to be showered with honor and blessings. Their sacrifices make them superheroes to their loved ones. Happy Father’s Day!/PN
