Father’s Day (Too early)

I didn’t really know, or the least remembered it’s Father’s Day today. This type of occasion is usually left for the kids, the ladies and the wife’s to remember, I have the first but they too forgot until Shiela and Joy texted me on my way to Naga with the kids this morning. All we know is that we’re going out. A promise is a promise, I told the kids when “The Karate Kid” hits SM City, we’ll be watching it.


For a very obvious reason, it’s called Father’s Day because it is celebration of fatherhood and the important roles fathers play in the society. This celebration is almost exactly a month after Mother’s Day and both are celebrated on the second Sunday of the month, at least in the Philippines. In Japan, there’s a celebration called “Children’s Day”, in fact it is a National Holiday celebrated as part of the Golden Week. In South Africa and Australia, there is also a Family Day and it’s a Public Holiday intended to celebrate the importance of families in nation building. These different types of holidays lead me to ask, why don’t we just group it all together and call it Family Day so there’s only one celebration? Ahh, let’s leave the question for now to the Genealogist and Social Experts to decide, for the time being let’s enjoy the celebration.


Ironically, The Karate Kid is a movie unintentionally done for Father’s Day, but the plot of the movie exemplifies the greatest relationship between two complete strangers from the opposite sides of the world, and how they created a bond stronger than father to son, beyond fatherhood and family. It is never a pre-requisite for a man to call (or treat) a child his son even if he is not the latter’s biological father. In other words, Father’s Day is not an exclusive celebration of fathers with children, this is (and should be) equally enjoyed by would-be fathers, once-a-father and wanting to be a father. Most importantly, Father’s Day is not exclusive for fathers with families; this too should be equally enjoyed by fathers who lost a family, re-building a family, no plan for a family and no family at all.


I remember Angel Andrei Anna telling me when she was in Grade 2 the meaning of family. FAMILY is Father And Mother I Love You. It makes sense, in her young age that should be her definition (and nothing else) until she too has her family of her own or until eternity, whichever comes first. Good thing St. Paul Academy is teaching kids the meaning of family, the worst thing one can do is to want to have a family but never really knew the very basic meaning of it. I was probably absent when it was taught.


My Father’s Day is not more of my celebration. Today is more for the kids. Seeing them laugh, giggle and get excited at each scene of the movie is enough celebration for me. Them having understood the movie (except for Motet) particularly the dialogue between casts is an achievement. At least I’m beginning to notice that the questions such as “Ano daw ‘Tay?”, “Ano sabi nya ‘Tay?” while watching a movie is becoming a thing of the past. That means we will be watching more movies and it’s fiesta as it happens.


Before we left the mall, we dropped-by at my favorite ice cream stand. Angel offered to pay for her brother’s ice cream. I took Motet’s ice cream bill. Come to think of it, we don’t really need to put a tag or title to any celebration. For as long as you enjoy and make the most of your borrowed day, every day is just like Father’s Day. Every day can be a peachy day.


I have to add. I got it all mixed up. Father's Day celebration falls on the third week of June in 55 countries including the Philippines. It's in Austria and Belgium where celebration is done on the second Sunday of June. (Wikipedia). I guess the coming Sunday calls for another movie. :o)