KEEMPEE DE LEON, actor: Every moment with my dad, Joey de Leon, is a tender one. Since we are both very busy we don’t get to talk a lot. But when we do get the chance we talk about anything – work, problems, lovelife. I know I can call him anytime. Today, nasa Zamboanga ako, hindi ako nakapagpaalam sa kanya he called me to ask me were I am and how I’m doing.
JOY BELMONTE, archeologist: My dad, QC Mayor Sonny "SB" Belmonte, and I always spend time together because we have many similar interests. However, I feel that the most tender moments I spent with him were those times immediately after the death of my mother, Betty Go-Belmonte. In order to cope with the loss of the dearest person in our lives, we traveled together to many of our dream destinations – those with lots of culture and history – such as Cambodia, Thailand, Turkey and Greece. One experience with my dad I will never forget was our trip to ancient Troy. At that time, Troy, now in modern Turkey, was off the beaten path. We rented a car and drove six or seven hours to visit the ruins. We had earlier visited ancient Mycenae where we saw the burial place of King Agamemnon. As we both love Greek mythology and Homeric literature, it was something truly unforgettable. Although we hardly ever take photos when we travel, we made it a point to climb the model Trojan horse near the site and have photos taken peeping through the horse’s eye while pretending to be Greek warriors.
JOANNE ZAPANTA ANDRADA, writer: My dad Jimmy Zapanta taught me to ride a bike. I was on training wheels at first. One day we took the training wheels off and he said he would steady the bike for me while I pedaled. That went on for sometime until one day, biking as fast as I could with him running alongside me, he shouted: "You are doing it on your own!" I didn’t believe him, but he stretched out his hands to show me that it was true! I was so elated. I will never forget that moment.
ARTHUR YAP, Agriculture Undersecretary: My dad Domingo Yap is not very expressive with his feelings so there were no glowing praises, long talks or big hugs. Except for two instances that I remember, both related to my passing the bar exams. It was like the entire family was taking the bar exam and waiting for the results. I guess my dad felt the pressure and saw how tortured I was waiting for the results. So one day he said, let’s get away for the weekend, just the two of us. So we did leave, one of those nights I woke up because of a nightmare – that I had failed the bar. Nagising din siya ‘coz I must have made an anguished sound. Surprisingly, when I told him about it, he calmly got up, sat beside me and asked me if I did my best and I said I did, he said If I did, then I need not worry because the Lord would see me through. He said that I shouldn’t even think of failing. He reminisced about the hardships he went through and the opportunities he was denied because of his humble origins. He also said he was proud of me. My father is a very strict father from the traditional mold who does not talk a lot, but he lets me know what was good or bad for me. The talk made me calm for the four months while I waited for the results. And when I passed the bar and took my oath as a lawyer, in front of thousands of parents and family members of other successful examinees, Dad surprised me a second time with a massive bear hug and whispered in my ear: "I told you so."
Umdersecretary TOOTS OPLE: When I was a child, my father, the late Senator Blas Ople, would sometimes bring me along on his travels as Labor Minister. I would hold on to his hand as we walked from plane to airport, fearful of getting crushed by the crowd that often greeted his arrival. My most tender moments would be the times I would hold his hand when he was already Foreign Affairs Secretary to steady him as we climbed the stairs during diplomatic functions and in major conferences. Many people miss his booming voice; I miss the softness of his hands.
SANDEE SIYTANGCO MASIGAN, restaurateur: My dad, Sonny Siytangco, and I used to go on dates when I was a teenager, he used to sing Moon River to comfort me when I couldn’t breath because of my allergies. But the one memory that stands out is the car trip to church when he kept asking me if I was sure I wanted to go through with my wedding. If I didn’t he’d make sure everything would be okay. Before going into the church he squeezed my hand and kissed me and said it was going to be okay. I couldn’t have walked down the aisle without him.
ANGEL JACOB, model/host: When I was a little girl, my dad, Nick Jacob would always carry me to my room and give me a kiss me before I went to bed. He would be the same person who would wake me up in the morning with the same loving kiss. Now that I’m all grown up, I never fail to embrace and kiss Dad not only when I leave and come home, but during unexpected moments. Making him feel I will always be his "little angel."
ANTON GONZALEZ, entrepreneur: I remember my trips with my dad Tony Gonzales when he was a member of former President Cory Aquino’s Cabinet. Going with him to Boracay when the place had no electricity. There were also trips to the Brisbane Expo, Montreal, Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai when he brought me along. These places are so incredibly different today from the way they were in the ‘80s. My best moments with my dad are the leisurely ones spent playing golf or chatting in my grandmother’s home.
REYSTER LANGIT, producer and columnist: When I was a kid, I would often visit my dad, Rey Langit, at the radio station. I would watch him while he did the newscast and directed radio dramas. After that we would eat at different Chinese restaurants.