Happy Father's Day!
Aru abe! That's one of my father's fave expressions, which I think is quite common among Pampanguenos. In English, it means, "wow my friend". In memory of him, I am posting a simple write-up which was first published several years back in a company newsletter where my wife used to work. It's not the original copy, some revisions were made but the essence of the message remains the same. This is dedicated to you, Happy Father's Day.
He was kind, gentle and always with a smile.
He was slow to anger and patient . . . traits that no one can belie.
His compassion to those who had less always had a special place in his heart because he knew what it was like to be hungry, deprived and oppressed.
He was a hard-working man, struggling to provide the best.
He loved life and cherished it till his last breath.
Yes, he had passed on to a new life,
Still, I recall, he seemed to stand out from the rest.
