Galing ni Daddy! This Public School Teacher Makes Gorgeous Gowns for His Daughters

They say moms will do anything for their children, but dads, too, are more than willing to go the extra mile for their kids, especially for their daughters. This much is true for Gregorio “Greg” Masil, a 44-year-old public school teacher who recently went viral after his 18-year-old daughter, Toni, showed off the gorgeous gowns he has been creating for his daughters for the past three years.

Yes, you read that right. Greg taught himself to sew, and he personally designs the gowns he creates for his two daughters, Toni and Maegan.

In an interview with SmartParenting.com.ph via Facebook Messenger, Toni, who is currently in Grade 12, explains that her dad learned how to sew about seven years ago with the help of his mother (Toni’s lola). He started with bed covers and curtains for their house and eventually learned dressmaking when he was assigned to teach home economics at Francisco G. Nepomuceno Memorial High School in Angeles, Pampanga. Thanks to YouTube videos, Greg taught himself how to make sleeping garments and children’s wear.

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Dad designs gowns for his daughters

The first piece Greg made for Toni was a yellow gown inspired by Belle of Beauty and the Beast. “I needed a gown like Belle’s for a school activity, but when we went to look for a gown we could rent, we couldn’t find any [that I liked],” Toni tells Smart Parenting. “Knowing my dad’s skills, I asked him to try and make a dress like Belle’s and he agreed. When he finished that dress, it sparked his interest in making more gowns for my sister and me."

Greg shares that it has always been difficult for him to refuse his daughters whenever they make requests. “Ayaw mo madisappoint [sila] kasi nakikita mo sa mga nila na nandun ‘yung tiwala na kaya mo,” he tells Smart Parenting. “Challenge na rin sa sarili ko kung kaya ko nga ba talaga.”

Greg’s girls are involved in the design process — they tell their dad the look they want, and he will draw it for them. He has now made five other gowns: “My dad made a gown for my sister’s college night and a dress for her graduation. My dad also made a gown for my JS prom, where I ended up winning prom queen, and another one for a pageant where I won 'Best Costume'. There was also the blue dress that went viral on Twitter, which I wore for my friend’s debut,” Toni shares.

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Toni admits that at first, she was hesitant to share her dad’s creations online. “Ayaw po niya pinipicturan siya kasi madalas wala siyang shirt [kapag nagtatahi] hahaha,” she says. “Pero naisip ko, saying naman kung hahayaan ko lang ‘yung pictures sa gallery ko. So I posted them po on Twitter kasi my dad won’t see kasi wala naman siyang Twitter. Kaso po nag-viral, [kaya] nakita rin niya.”

As of this writing, Toni’s post on her Twitter has received over 61,000 likes and 6,300 retweets.

lemme just flex my dad and show y'all how talented he is hehe ????????yess sya gumawa ng dress ko ???????? pic.twitter.com/lFCnIdwAJ1

— Tonez (@ToniJPM) September 7, 2019

 “Happy po ako and siyempre proud,” Toni says when asked how she feels now that her dad has been praised online for his dedication and love for his kids. “Medyo mayabang na rin po kasi naipagmamalaki ko po na daddy ko ang gumawa non. And seeing people’s reaction po when I say my dad made my gown boosts my confidence.”

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Hands-on daddy

In a way, the post was another way for Toni to thank her dad, who has been been taking care of Toni and her two siblings since their mom Rizaliza left to work in the United Arab Emirates 11 years ago. Her older brother, Jeroin, is 20, and her sister, Maegan is 22. Both are working already, and Maegan has joined their mom overseas.

“Lahat po ng ginagawa ni mommy para sa’min, pinag-aralan niya para ‘di naming masyado mafeel na wala si mommy." 

"Nung pong umalis si mommy, dun po naming na-feel ‘yung presence ni Daddy,” Toni tells Smart Parenting. “Lahat po ng ginagawa ni mommy para sa’min, pinag-aralan niya para di naming masyado mafeel na wala si mommy. Pati po pag-iipit ng buhok pinag-aralan niya.”

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Of course, since sewing is traditionally seen as a “woman’s job” in this country, there were those who snickered at Greg and his gown-making skills. “Dami po nagtatanong kung bakla siya at kami po ni ate, naiinis kasi parang ang irrational po nung way of thinking ng mga tao,” Toni shares. “Pero si daddy po ang sinasabi lang, pabayaan lang namin. Kung bakla raw po sa paningin at batayan ng tao ‘yung mag-alaga’t magpalaki ng anak ng maayos, e di baka nga raw po bakla siya kasi napalaki niya po kami ng maayos.”

In an interview with GMA News, Greg shares his reason for being a hands-on dad to his kids. “Hindi ko naranasan ‘yung naibigay ko sa kanila kasi wala akong tatay,” he says. “I never met my biological father though I’m lucky to have a stepfather.”

When he met his wife and had kids, Greg vowed to be a present and involved dad. “I’ll try to be the best Tatay. I may not be perfect, but I’ll try,” he shares.

Dads are true superheroes, right? Click here to see another dad create a wooden slide and swing for his toddler son.

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