A tribute to my father on Father’s Day

when she gave birth to me, the Virgin Mary image of Manaoag passed by in our town that late afternoon.

ALTHOUGH Mother’s Day is more hyped in terms of celebration because of our mothers’ heroic role in raising their children, fathers’ roles should not be taken for granted for their pivotal role in our lives. They’re more often than not the breadwinner of the family. Parents should equally be honored. Remember, when two are united in holy matrimony they become one flesh. This pronouncements were substantiated in the bible’s old and new testaments. In this piece, I’d also like to honor my dad, Bonifacio Dizon Nino. My dad who was born on July 5, 1920. was a self-made man who rose from humble beginnings due to his persistence to improve himself. He became a lawyer, college instructor in Taxation. He saw the light of day in Alaminos, Pangasinan where his mother Eugenia Raborar Dizon comes from. My grandpa, Don Tomas Fran Nino, a scion of a landed gentry in his native town of Agno moved to Mabini in the same province where he became councilor. He then moved his residence to Alaminos. Then the family finally settled in Bani where my grandpa was also a councilor. In those days, once you become an alderman, you are addressed as a “Don.” So too with my dad who also became a councilor in my mom’s native town of Mangatarem. It was a title for a nobleman or gentleman in those days.

Before my dad’s father went to Hawaii before the war to work at a water authority, he instructed his 10 children to pursue higher education and he will finance them while making a living abroad. However, it was only my dad, the fifth child and his youngest sister who became a teacher, graduated from college.

While practicing as a trial lawyer, my dad ran and won as councilor of his adopted town. After four years, he ran for vice mayor but lost. There were two

Liberal Party candidates and he ran as independent Liberal. The issue against him then was, he was not a true son of Mangatarem.

I remember him campaigning and he was requested to sing but his voice was de-sentonado or off key. During his Miting de Avance in our barangay, his voice was emotionally choking and I also cried with him. I believe, I got my natural singing gift from my mom who was a church choir member during her heydays. Lol…

He used to tell me that he named me Dan, a short name because according to him, in case I wanted to run someday for an elected office, the voters would easily remember my name. However, my mom affixed a second name, Virgil, because

I was prepping myself to run after my graduation from Centro Escolar University but martial law was declared in 1972. My plan was scuttled. There were no elections for many years. I went back to school and took post graduate studies in Comparative Literature and Political Science at Ateneo de Manila University in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.

It was obvious that my dad was grooming me to be a politician someday. He tagged me along when to meet political giants from our town and province. He even brought me to attend the inauguration of then newlyelected President Diosdado Macapagal in Luneta and in Malacanang Palace in 1962 when I was 11 years old to greet and shake the hand of the new president and First Lady Eva Macaraeg Macapagal during their reception. My dad and First Lady briefly spoke in our Pangasinan dialect. As a former Boy Scout Master from his native Bani, my dad also encouraged me and my younger siblings in scouting. Our elementary Boy Scout troop, always won the town’s contest in producing “fire by friction.” I also joined provincial scouting jamborees. Because of scouting, I also joined Alpha Phi Omega International Fraternity which is based in scouting. On the side, my dad was also shared his fear of whether he’d be capable of being the best father to his daughter.

“[R]eality sets in, nakakatakot (it’s scary) in the sense na there’s always that aspect na ‘Will I be able to provide the life that I want? Will I be able to be the best father I can be for my daughter?’,” said Luis, who shared that with a family and, now, a child, “you’re thinking lifetimes ahead.”

Edu also shared his reluctance in holding babies—not just his first grandchild—saying he can’t wait for her to “become bigger and stronger” so he’ll feel more at ease around her. The veteran actor-TV host likewise said that a first glance at Isabella Rose is enough to draw a smile from him even if she isn’t smiling.

“I can’t wait to see how much of you will be in her because I realized part of her is me,” shared Edu, who told Luis that he can’t be prouder of him as his father.

When asked about the qualities he hopes Isabella Rose will inherit from Luis, Edu wished his granddaughter would be God-fearing and “treat everybody with dignity and respect,” saying that he sees this in Luis.

The former “Myx” VJ said that he wants his parents to enjoy their granddaughter. He wants them to be able to “simply carry your apo (granddaughter),” which he thinks is one of the most priceless moments in life. He also wants them to be able to do with her the activities they did with him as a child.

When asked about re-creating a memory with young Luis with Isabella, Edu shared that one of his greatest moments as a father was being able to take Luis to his class.

“Before, every day, ibababa kami ng driver, hawak-hawak ko si Luis, (our driver would drop us off, with me holding Luis’ hand) and I would take you always to your class,” adding how that routine would always include a kiss.

The “Separada” actor would later share that when Luis reached the fourth grade, he started to feel shy giving his father a kiss in front of his classmates, which Luis called a “mini phase” that he thinks boys have to go through. But the father and son continue to be affectionate to this day.

On the prospect of being a strict parent, Luis shared a perspective that he got from a movie, of how children will have to experience the world, both the good and the bad. But he thinks that what parents can fall back on is how they raised their children.

“Kahit ‘yung anak mo maexpose sa pinaka-evil na meron sa mundo, if naka-ingrain ka ng goodness sa anak mo, do’n at do’n siya babalik,” explained the 42-year-old first-time dad.

(Even if your child gets exposed to the most evil thing there is, if you were able to ingrain goodness in them, your child will always go back to it.)

Luis admits that while it seems Mendiola is “mas praning” (more paranoid) than he, he thinks he really is more paranoid than she. He added that it’s one aspect of their parenting that’s similar.

“There’s a bit of paranoia, a bit of anxiety sa aming dalawa (in both of us), so I would like to think we’re quite similar when it comes to raising Peanut,” explained Luis, who also shared that there’s no good cop and bad cop between him and his wife. Peanut is their nickname for their daughter.

The couple also has a rule regarding the use of gadgets when Isabella Rose is around. “Ang rule namin is ‘pag nanonood ng TV, ‘pag pumasok [sa room] or dala si Peanut, automatic gadgets are [turned] off,” Luis shared.

(Our rule is that when we’re watching TV, then Peanut enters the room or is brought in, automatic gadgets are turned off.)

Edu shared how he would get upset whenever he sees families, both children and their parents, on their phones and not interacting.

“I am grateful that when you were growing up, we did not have the luxury of cellphones. So talagang kahit ayaw mo ‘kong kausapin, kailangan mo ‘ko kausapin,” expressed the former Makati vice mayor. (So you have to talk to me even if you really don’t want to.)

Luis and Mendiola also plan to enforce a rule that prohibits the bringing of phones in the table when their daughter is old enough to join them for meals.

When Luis asked Edu about the best advice he could give him as a father, Edu said that it’s one thing he won’t do. He explained how there’s no two people alike, adding that what worked for Luis might not work for Isabella Rose. “You have to find it out on your own.”

The “Puso ng Pasko” actor, however, told Luis that it’s important to be present in his kid’s life. “I just have learned that it’s important to always be there and to surround them [with] lots of love and affection and support,” said Edu, who would later on share how he realized that parenting “takes a lot more than just being able to provide.”

Luis is Edu’s son with the “Star for All Seasons” Vilma Santos. He also has two other children, Addie and Enzo, from his relationship with Rina Samson.

Mendiola gave birth to Isabella Rose in December last year. The couple announced Mendiola’s pregnancy via her YouTube channel in August. g