Life after Dad

I have never thought, not even in a million years, that my dad, my friend, would be leaving us behind so early in life before I even get to graduate from college.
He was 49.

Sometimes, I would still blame myself for letting him go.
When he was still in coma, I remember telling him that It was time to let go, to not worry about us anymore and we will keep on moving forward even if it hurts us every bit of step that we will take without him.
But NO. Life was difficult after him.
I can't even go on with this story because I wanted to share with you only the happiest memories with him.
Happiest memories of my puzzle.
I see life as a puzzle back then - my every memory with him formed a piece of a happy yet unique puzzle, bringing in an entire image of my life.

My daddy took a piece of my puzzle with him, a piece that I can never ever get back.
Without that piece, I am no longer complete. No longer complete without him.
We used to do things together and would listen to me about silly things for hours, without even judging me. He was absolutely special.
They say when someone you love dies, that part of you dies as well. My puzzle may extend and grow, but the missing piece will always be there, and I will never be the same again.

When he was still alive, he would never allow us to do things by ourselves, even those measly things like not letting us travel to school on our own. He used to untiringly drive us to wherever we wanted to go, no matter what time or what he was doing. He would carry the burden we were going thru. I know that after he died, I became matured instantly, learned small and big stuff in life.
Our knight in shining armor--that was our dad.

It's nearly 15 years , but his memories are still fresh despite the passing of time. It will be forever imprinted in my mind (may FOREVER pala).
I miss him so bad and still talk to him every single day in my mind, especially whenever I see my friends' wedding pictures on the internet and how happy their dads are -- while walking them down the aisle. It was my mom who took my arms on my wedding day.
It pains me that my dad is no longer here physically to share in the joys of my 3. The heart aches whenever my 3 would ask me about him and insisting on telling a story about how great life was when he was still here with us.
We still have his "poging" picture hanging on our wall and my 3 would always agree on how "pogi" he really was.

Despite losing my dad 14 years after, we're extremely grateful and fortunate that we had the chance of spending amazing years with him.

So make sure, dear readers, that you'll #MakeTimeForDad.
Don't wait until it's too late.
Dads have an important influence on everyone's life.

Just like Dolphy on Epy Quizon's life.

According to Epy, he was a great and amazing father to all 17 kids. Also an epitome of a total entertainer and to everyone, he was the only KING.
Even when COPD or Chronice Obstructive Pulmonary Disease happened, the show must always go on for him.
"Our dad was a fighter. He was our general, our commander-in-chief, so watching him get weaker and trying hard just to catch his breath was very difficult for us," Epy recalled emotionally.
"The saddest part of it is seeing your loved one deteriorates and ther is nothing you can do."

Did you know that COPD is already one of the ten leading causes of deaths here in the Philippines?
It's not something a lot of people would always talk about but that disease already afflicts 4 million Filipinos and only 2 percent could get diagnosed. The rest would not even make it to a physician. That intense,right?
Honestly, I just got familiarized with the disease when they revealed years ago that Dolphy has COPD.
That is why campaigns like #MakeTimeForDad is here to build awareness and to team up the rest of us in fighting the disease together.

According to the World Health Organization back in 2013, it's possible that this could actually go all the way up to the 3rd leading cause of deaths worldwide.
This is why we need to know more about the disease.
Doing this campaign would not only target the disease but targeting the people who are important. The disease is not important here but the patient.

As part of the commemoration of World COPD Day, GSK and PCCP are launching #MakeTimeForDad for hardworking dads, who often forgets about himself , for the sake of his family.

By joining this campaign, you are encouraged to upload 30-second videos on Facebook and IG, stating a list of things they want to do or wish they could have done with their loved Fathers.

I did my best to upload a video for dad during this campaign launch, but to no avail. I tried to speak but my lips couldn't go on because I was already crying my eyes out.

I still miss my dad and the sound of his voice singing "He ain't heavy, he's my brother" by Bobby Scott and Bod Russell.
I know wishes are only granted in fairy tales, but if I could be granted with one wish, it'll be having a chance to #MakeTimeForDad once again.

pinoycopd.com