Called. Chosen. Loved. ❤

T oday is Father’s Day. A day of cologne.  A day of hugs, new neckties, long-distance phone calls, and Hallmark cards. Today is my first Father’s Day without a father. For thirty-one years I had one. I had one of the best. But now he’s gone. He’s buried under an old oak tree in a west Texas cemetery. Even though he’s gone, his presence is very near ¾ especially today.             It seems strange that he isn’t here. I guess that’s because he was never gone. He was always close by. Always available. Always present. His words were nothing novel. His achievements, though admirable, were nothing extraordinary.             But his presence was.             Like a warm fireplace in a large house, he was a source of comfort. Like a sturdy porch swing or a big-branched elm in the backyard, he could always be found…a...

KAIBIGAN ? Sila yung mga taong tatawanan ka pag nadapa ka, babatukan ka pag nagkamali ka, iinsultuhin ka pag di ka maganda pumorma. Sila yung mga taong wala nang ibang ginawa kundi utuin ka pag may pera o pagkain ka, papasok sa bahay nyo ng basta-basta, kakantyawan ka pag may crush ka, at higit sa lahat, papagalitan ka pag may ginawa kang hindi maganda. Hindi ba’t nakakatuwa? Kasi kahit paminsan minsan eh pabaya ka, meron pa ring gaya nila. Hindi ba’t nakakataba ng puso, kasi may mga taong kahit hindi ka man kadugo eh ang turing pa rin sa’yo ay parang parte ng kanilang pamilya? Pero bakit ganon? Bakit minsan eh hindi natin sila makita? Oh sabihin man nating nakikita natin sila, bakit hindi man lang natin sila magawang pasalamatan? Sabagay… Minsan kasi sa ibang tao tayo mas nakatingin. Minsan pa nga, pag nagkaroon tayo ng girlfriend o boyfriend, yung mga kaibigan pa natin yung nakakalimutan natin. Tapos akala natin kapag iniwan tayo ng mga syota natin eh katapusan na natin sa...