Reese Barcelon
- A female Facebook user named Lucy Pascual Paloma shared the story of her family on her personal account.
- She shared how from being a strict father, he dad suddenly supported her in everything he wanted to do until the day of his death.
- Unfortunately, her father died of Chronic Kidney Disease last year, few days before Christmas.
Parents are the ones who build the character of their children.
What they do or say greatly influences their kids as it is what children think is right since it came from their role models. Although not all dads are able to closely watch how their children grow due to their jobs, there are still a lot of fathers who make sure to make time to see what kind of person their kid grows into.
One of the luckiest children who were able to be supervised by their parent is Lucy Pascual Paloma.
At first, her father didn’t approve her decision whenever she tries to join some sort of a contest. In layman’s terms, she was often discouraged.
Read her full post below:
“”Sige wag ka nang pumasok, Wag ka nang mag-aral”
Elementary pa lang naririnig ko na to sa’yo Daddy sa twing tamad ako bumangon dahil ang aga aga ng pasok ko. Sasabihin mo “Sige matulog ka na lang! Wag ka nang mag aral”.
At pag naririnig ko na yan, alam kong kailangan ko nang bumangon kasi pag di pa ko kumilos aalis ka na para mamasada at di na ko bibigyan ng baon. Kaya magmamadali ako, gagayak na para makapasok.
Bago ako makapagtapos ng Elementary napakarami kong narinig na salitang kung sa iba talaga namang nakaka-discourage. “Wag ka ng sumali sa contest na yan, pang may pera lang yan”, “Wag ka na sumali sa ganyan napipili lang dyan yung mga anak na yung nanay ka-close ng teacher”, “Sali ka pa ng sali sa ganyan wala ka namang talent”, “Tigilan mo na yang ganyang tula tula, laban laban gastos lang yan”, at napakarami pang iba. “Wag ka ng sumama sa fieldtrip, delikado lang yon ang mahal pa ng babayaran”, “Wag ka ng sumama sa mga pupuntahan, palagi lang naman don”. Kaya never ko naranasan makarating sa Star City, Luneta Park (that time), Enchanted Kingdom at kung saan saan pang pasyalan pag fieldtrip. Kaya pag nagkekwentuhan na yung mga kaklase ko lagi akong ‘out of place’. Simula mag-grade 4 ako nadagdagan na yung linya mo. “Tapon mo na mga gamit nyan kung di papasok”. Lagi mo sinasabi kay nanay, kaya magmamadali akong tumayo. At araw araw kahit gustong gusto kong sumali sa mga competition alam ko di mo ko papasalihin kasi nga ‘gastos lang’. Pero makulit ako, determinado at aminado ka naman ‘matalino ko?‘.”
Paloma shared that her father had been very strict ever since she was in elementary. He would always threaten him to quit school whenever she finds it hard to get up in the morning, and she was saddened after hearing from her own parent that she had no chance of winning.
However, it didn’t discourage her even the tiniest bit. Instead of moping in the corner, she was even more determined to join and win every contest.
And surprisingly, her father began supporting her proudly in everything she does.
“Kaya sinalihan ko lahat ng gusto ko at ang epic don, sinuportahan mo ko sa lahat. Nanalo ako sa mga contest, competition, sumali ako, nakihalubilo. At nung magtapos ako ng elementary nakita ko kung gaano ka ka-proud. Na sa labing-isang award ko (Top student & competitions) sana man lang kahit isa pinaakyat mo si Nanay. At kahit di man ako naging honor ng Last year ko sa high school mas nadevelop ko ung skills and knowledge ko. Pero kahit high school na di ako sumasama sa fieldtrip kasi nga Gastos lang yon.
Nagtrabaho ako kasi wala naman tayong pera para makapag-college ako. May libre daw vocational kaya nag-go ako.”
Paloma made sure that her parents wouldn’t have a hard time with her so she decided to get a job, and took a vocational course instead.
“2013, blessing talaga dumating si tito galing ibang bansa. Nakiusap ka na pag aralin nya ko kasi sayang medyo may utak naman. Kaya sa awa ng Ama, Nakapag enroll na ko kahit 2yrs late na (Sa relasyon nga age doesn’t matter, sa Edukasyon pa kaya). At imagine, sa isang kilalang university pa satin. “Bulacan State University”.
Sobrang saya ko balik kayod ka na naman sa pagta-tricycle kasi yun ang pambaon ko at kapag walang kita at mahina byahe andyan si ate para tulungan ka sa pagpapabaon sakin. Mabilis na lumipas ang taon.”
She even strived harder after seeing how his father went extra mile for her. He asked a relative to be a sponsor for her studies as it is such a shame to put her abilities to waste.
Things were going well until their family faced a life-changing setback.
“3rd year college na ko.
October 2014, naadmit ka dahil sa panlalata at kulang sa dugo. Pagkalipas ng ilang araw na-diagnosed na meron kang Chronic Kidney Disease 5 at kailangan kang i-dialysis. Sabi mo mag iipon ka kasi gustong gusto mo magpa-transplant. Positive tayong lahat kasi nakikita namin na talagang lumalaban ka. Dumadalas na yung pagka beastmode mo kasi epekto ng sakit mo yon. Hanggang sa lumipas panahon na pumapayat ka na. (Nababawasan na ang kapogian at kamacho-han) Pero tuloy lang, sabi mo nga malakas ka.
October 2015, a year after mo madiagnosed masaya kasi naka one year kana. Ibig sabihin kahit pabago bago kondisyon ng katawan mo kinakaya. Kaya tuloy lang.”
Unfortunately, her father was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease – which requires an organ transplant. But since it was a hard time for their family back then, they could only afford to give him dialysis as a treatment.
On the other hand, Paloma’s dad fought as much as he can to win over his illness.
“4th year na ko (2016)
Ibig sabihin konting konti na lang mahahatid mo na ulit ako sa stage o masasamahan akong maglakad sa processional, sabi mo Sana maganda kondisyon mo non para ikaw sasama sakin. At hindi mo alam na sa twing sasamba tayo pinapanalangin ko na sana umabot ka sa graduation ko kasi alam ko nanghihina at hirap na hirap ka na.
Kinailangan ng mangibang bansa ni kuya na syang full time kasama mo at umaalalay sayo katulong ni nanay. Kasabay ng pagkakaroon ng mabibigat na problema ng pamilya. Nakita ko na bawat araw na dumadaan unti unti ka nang nanghihina na halos di ka na makatayo at kumakain. Nung panahon na yon Daddy tanggap ko na anumang oras iiwan mo na kami pero sabi ko pa rin sayo “Daddy antayin mo yung graduation ko” diba sabi mo Oo.
Hanggang sa na-admit ka na dahil naghahabol ka na ng hininga. Kami lang ni nanay ang nakakapag asikaso sayo at kasabay pa ng thesis defense namin. Nagpaalam ako sayo na papasok lang ako para sa defense pagbalik ko naluha ka pa sa saya kasi sabi ko nakapasa kami. After almost 2 weeks nag-aya ka nang umuwi sabi mo okay ka na. Joke mo lang pala yon. Kasi paglipas ng isang linggo pa sa bahay iniwan mo na kami. (December 17,2016)
Walang luha na pumatak galing sa mata ko kasi tanggap na ng isip ko, pero sa huling pagyakap ko sayo pinangako ko na lahat ng pangarap mo para sakin, para samin tutuparin ko. Tanggap lang pala Daddy ng isip ko pero hindi ng puso ko. Umiiyak pa rin ako, kapag naaalala ko yung sinabi mong babalik ka at nandyan ka lang palagi sa tabi namin.”
He tried to survive because he also wanted to see his precious daughter on stage, receiving her diploma as a symbol of her success. Unfortunately, he passed away a few months before her graduation.
“Kaya sana sa Tuesday (June 13,2017) samahan mo pa rin ako sa paglalakad ko. Ikaw pa rin ang pinakapoging Guardian don. Literal na Guardian Angel kita.
Daddy para sayo to, Ga-graduate na yung bunso mo.
I love you at miss na miss na kita. I hope you’re proud of me.
Lesson Learned: Sa bawat pagsabi mo ng “Sige wag ka nang pumasok, Wag ka nang mag-aral”. Naging inspirasyon ko yon para mas mag-pursige ako at alam kong ang ibig sabihin non ay wala akong mararating kung di ako magsisikap mag-aral.
Kaya thank you daddy, salamat sa lahat ng aral at sakripisyo mo para samin. Alam ko na masaya ka para sakin at di mo ko pababayaan sa lahat ng oras. Mahal na mahal kita!
Mahal na mahal ka namin. Para sa’yo to!”
“PALOMA, LUCY Pascual
BSBA major in Marketing Management
Bulacan State University
Batch 2017
Even though Paloma’s father had passed away, she knew that he’s still around, protecting their family at all times.
She thanked him for all the sacrifices that he had done for their family and for the life lessons he gave her that motivated her to do well in school.
Meanwhile, the netizens who had read her post were teary-eyed because of how she showed her gratitude to her ever-supportive father.
As parents would always say, education is the most precious thing that they can give to their children. Therefore, children should strive harder in everything that they do to make their parents feel that their efforts are not being put to waste.
Moreover, they should never forget to show our appreciation and gratitude for all the sacrifices they had done for them.
What are your thoughts on this matter? How do you show your appreciation to your father?
