Cheers to All Fathers

            For the first time, I have almost my goosebump and    nosebleed pop out when  all fathers were  treated to spiritual bouquet and flowers to the tune of “I’ll Be There” sang by the choir last Sunday at St. Peregrine, Terryhills Subdivision, Bulua, this City capping  the Father’s Day simple rite.

No thanks for the song.  While I like the music and its lyrics, it’s not a good way  promoting the movie. Gabby Concepcion himself like the rest of many artists diametrically opposing  the cause he portrays as an artist he being direct  contrast as role model is a certified philanderer in real life. The producer of the  religious song “All in the Family” did too great favor having Martin Nievera giving justice  interpreting the song with his very resonant voice. The list is long down the line  from the cute heart throb Aga Mulach and John Estrada to Wowowee Willie Revellame sending home all sorts of  entertainment mixing up with the message if at all there is any. But none save the handsome benefits they derive from such antics   driving across to their listeners nothing except for purely entertaining pleasure.

  The gullible public just enjoyed them anyway. As Hayden Khu implored the viewing public from the mess screwing up  Katrina Halili: hate the sin but please not the sinner. Yes sir no problem as it takes two to tango. We are  also descendant of Hercules with that strong libido safely tucked under our belt. But do note as well   that temptation is never considered  a sin unless you give way to it. Thus how could you avoid and abhor sinning if there are no takers.  Ok  no further moralizing here as man’s sin no matter how great is practically peanuts compare to the love of God. That’s why we have seven sacraments to bail us out from our infirmities.

  That’s the problem we have in the world of make-believe. They are dragging the issue to far higher proportion until they practically explain them away. But no way unless you are gullible yourself just playing around with your marital vow.  Their  credibility simply smacks off right on their faces the substance of the point swiftly slipping away the general viewing public..

Certainly so because fatherhood is not an entertainment reason why many marriage ended battered on the rocks. Neither it is temporary state of being. It is  a vocation instituted by God Himself as one of the sacrament you and your wife becoming permanently identified with as one nobody could put asunder  As vocation it is meant to  be lived and  pursued at all cost. Hence, the importance of strengthening the marital bond or fall into the third option as concoted then in Congress and Senate to no avail – Divorce.   Many marriage broke up sending children roaming around the city as streetchildren and vagabonds precisely because of very loose marital bond.  Resulta sa sinumpaang bakak, a priest would qualify the alarming increasing numbers of streetchildren in one homily for the kids at Mother Teresa Streetchildren Foundation.

Those who can afford  avoiding  onerous court proceedings simply did it away through legal separation. That’s what happened to many  celebrities, marrying one after the other Hollywood style just like changing clothes as many as one pleases.

The less mortal ones on the other hand who can’t afford the prohibitive separation cost just  settle the issue through  amicable arrangement tacitly agreeing on terms and conditions stipulated in a contract. No sweat specially if both party have been living their new respective family. The bottom line is the children either left out or suffering collateral damage. Fatherhood is definitely no meat feat. You either go for it or not at all contract marriage.  But you would become a philosopher if you  don’t marry. Why not then be a real  father when you could than none at all.You can for as long as you holding on the identity as father wherever you maybe no matter what  the cost.

 That  I believed the reason why hell broke loose last Sunday when fathers themselves uncontrollably shed their tears as their wives and ordinary church goers holding on their bated breath in the pew witnessing real drama unfolding right in front of them  But I suppose they were more tears of joy having survived this far to their calling.

To those who fall short, just go on. Actually,  I have not seen the face of my own father ever since I saw light in this world. He  was mercilessly murdered by his bosom friend when I was barely innocent two years old because of  an altercation. Nine bullets only felled his body. What could I do? I will meet him anyway comes the final encounter up there when my sunset is due.

As reality check, where do you stand as a model father? My namesake son sent me this relevant  textmessage: A model father is: F-aithful husband, A-ffectionate man,T-ruthful person, H-umble leader, E-xcellent worker and R-esponsible provider. Blessed Father’s Day! Psalm 155:15.  Well, where do I stand? Barely earning passing grade  getting three scores out of five. Not that bad specially with humility counted in never mind excelling in work  and good provider. Working in as many passion I have, music and writing included, is  just not enough. Sorry and no way messing with up government’s money. That’s corruption.  But I’m happy that I’m still making it through thick and thin despite harsh realities of life.  God is definitely good. He’s always there opening windows after closing each door and indicating that sometimes somewhere out there  grass is far greener than in any other pasture.  That for as long as you hold to your sanity and identity as real father.

 Cheers to all fathers –real or make-believe, branded or pirated but most specially the real ones, the toughies with gung-ho personality protecting the vow they covenanted with the Lord when they said “I do!”   to their wives in not so distant past.