My Best Memories of Dad

Most of us already know that fathers play very important roles in their children’s lives. The sad reality though is that many children grow up without their fathers, for varied reasons. Whatever the case, many of us probably have favorite memories or two of our fathers.

We asked a few young dads what theirs are . Perhaps, this Father’s Day and beyond, you’ll be inspired to do the same thing, i.e. recall what you treasure most about your moments with your own father.

Dad spent time with me
Bo Sanchez, 46, is a preacher, leader, entrepreneur, bestselling author and publisher of eight periodicals. He is also the founder of many organizations and a powerful financial literacy advocate and speaker. He is also a homeschool dad to his sons, Benedict, 12; and Francis, 7.

Bo shares what he remembers most about his dad, who has already left this earth but left a powerful legacy through his family:

“Everyday, my father would come home and look for me. He'd say, ‘Let's jog.’ But he wasn't much of a jogger. He had an old car parked in the garage — and we jogged around that car. I guess it wasn't jogging that was important to him, but the fact that he spent time with me. After the jog, we'd sit down together — usually I’d be on his lap. We would then read comic strips together.”

Today, I try to spend time with my kids in the same way. Every morning, I invite my boys to walk around our village to talk about their worlds. I'll always treasure these times with my sons, and I thank God my Dad showed me the way.”

Photo from http://brilliantsays.blogspot.com/2008/08/bo-sanchez.html

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Dad taught me to stand up for what I believe in

John Carlos “JC” Gordon de los Reyes, 42, is a politician, businessman and proprietor of Legobrick Systems and Designs. He says his best memory of his late father was when he would call him to discuss the social teachings of the Church over coffee during Sundays. “Our discussions were intense and we did this religiously until he died in May of 2006. Neither of us knew then that I would run for president in the 2010 elections with a platform that asserted - guess what? - the social teachings of the Church.”

“When I deal with my own children (Gabriel, 14; Santiago, 12; Barbara, 10; and Juliana, 1) I often make an effort to remember how he dealt with me under similar circumstances,” JC shares. “Even now that he is gone, he is alive in the values and virtues I try to teach my children. I love him so much.”

Photo from http://new.philstar.com/entertainment/funfare/body-talk/572096/body-talk-with-jc-delos-reyes

 

 

Dad is always there for me
Anton Diaz, 37, is the founder of Our Awesome Planet, the no. 1 food and drink blog in the Philippines (according to TopBlogs.com.ph), and is father to Aidan, 7; Joshua, 4; and Raphael, 2. As an involved father and a passionate blogger, Anton shares that he actually started Our Awesome Planet mostly as a “written dedication” to his sons. Being “there” for his boys is something he got from his own father.

“My father has been always there for us. I remember how he would bring my siblings and I to and from school every day, up until we graduated from college. In the same way, I want to be there for my boys whenever they need me. This is actually what influenced my decision to go fulltime in blogging - I can control my own time and experience every moment of my boys’ growing up years — just like what my father did with us.”

Photo from http://www.ourawesomeplanet.com/awesome/about.html

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Dad is 100% supportive of all I do

Rene 'RJ' Ledesma, Jr. is a “dad-of-all-trades” of sorts. At 38, RJ is a real estate executive, entrepreneur, writer/columnist/editor/book author, TV and events host, affiliated with the Ledesco Development Corporation, Mercato Centrale Philippines, Inc., Philippine Star, UNO Magazine and GMA News TV. Above all these though, RJ considers being a dad to Fortune, 3; and Rene III, 2 months; as one of his highest callings.

RJ says he learned a lot about being an involved father from his own dad. When he was around 8 or 9 years old, he remembers joining an elocution contest in school, and while waiting for his turn to speak, he could see his dad at the very back of the room, pacing back and forth. “He was more nervous than I was!” RJ shares. “I have a lot of memories of my dad but I recall this one especially because it underscored how he was very involved and supportive of all I did.”

Currently, among his many “hats,” RJ works together with his father in their family-owned real estate corporation and cites his dad as his inspiration to become an entrepreneur. “I did my Masters in Real Estate Development in MIT because of my dad. He also inspired me to put up Mercato Centrale.”

Because RJ’s dad gave a lot of importance to spending time with the family and making sure that the family is his first priority — including honoring one’s wife — RJ also strives to do the same thing in his own family life. “When push comes to shove, I try to make sure that family comes first in all the decisions that I make,” he says.

“I want to set a good example for my son. When he becomes a husband and father, I want him to honor his wife and put family first. As for my daughter, I want to give her an example of the right type of man for a husband, i.e. one who is family-centered, God-fearing and who will also honor her, like I honor my wife.”

Photo by Pia Puno

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Dad taught me to love what I do and do what I love
Another dad we love, Francis Kong, 57, the man behind Funworks Inc. and Inspire Leadership Consultancy Inc., also recalls his fondest memories with his father who has already passed on.

“Dad used to bring me along with him to his client meetings. He wanted me to be an accountant like him. He’d have me meet his clients and make me hold his files and we would walk along Escolta Street together,” Francis shares. “After those meetings, I always looked forward to his bringing me to the small cafes in the area to have a little snack or meal. I’ll never forget the papaya slices with a little sugar and calamansi he’d buy for me. They would be a wonderful treat!”

Francis says such experiences with his dad taught him that bringing his own kids along with him while he works or does business is a good way of exposing them to the business world. “They were able to understand what it is I do and how I do it,” he adds. “Today, all of my kids (Bryan, 29; Hannah, 25; and Rachel, 21) wish to be entrepreneurs and this is largely because of the exposure they had while spending time with me. I made them see that I have fun doing business.”

Photo by Ben Lim

For those of us still blessed with our dads, Father’s Day is the perfect time to reach out to them and tell them how much we treasure them. On the other hand, those of us whose dads are no longer around can honor their memories by remembering what we love most about them and honoring their legacy by being good parents to our own children.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there! We honor and salute you guys!