Tatay celebrated his 92nd birthday last March 23. Though stricken with Alzheimer and bedridden, we are very thankful that he is still with us.
Conversation with him is one way now. He used to be a highly principled and opinionated person. He encouraged us to be honest with our opinions, feelings, principles. He made us realize that no one can defend us best, except ourselves. So very unlike most of his contemporaries, he preferred that we reason out to him (very politely, of course) when accosted with misdemeanors. He believed that in every issue, one has to take either the black or the white, never the gray area. He did not believe in being neutral at all. Being the eldest child in the family, I was privy to Tatay's thoughts and actions, more than my younger siblings. This is why I try to put in print my recollections of our father. On June 21, the world celebrates Father's Day once again. To me and to my siblings, TATAY IS OUR WORLD! May his tribe increase.
