Dear Dad,

Thank you for visiting me last night in my dreams. The dream was like a normal day from the period that I was last with you. You were on your manual wheelchair munching on some snacks. You were also wiping your face like you would always do. You didn't say anything but we were together for a few seconds.

I love and miss you Dad. Thank you for the memories.

Dearest Dad,

Thank you for visiting me in my dream last night.

The setting was the upstairs middle bedroom at Tenterfield but in my dream we were in the Philippines. You were around the age you passed and lying on the bed. Uncle Danny came to visit you and he was up with us in the bedroom. He had a big smile on his face and he was sharing some news with you. A familiar music was also playing in the background. I knew the music during my dream but can't recall it now. It was a short dream but very much cherished.
You are missed forever. I love and miss you so much.

Love,
Che

Dearest Dad,

Thank you for visiting my dream the night before last night. The setting appears to be the Philippines and it looks clean like the 70s. You were walking from your car and looked around your 50s and healthy. I then announced to the family that you have arrived. You didn't say anything in my dream though but I'm very thankful for those few seconds that you were back with us and alive. 
We love and miss you so much. 

Love,
Che

Dearest Dad,

Thank you for visiting me in my dreams last night. In my dream, Liezel and I were arguing over something. Then I noticed that you were just sitting close and saw everything. You just calmly said "nanunumbat din naman ako" We stopped arguing after that and Ish gave me a pink gift.

It was just a few seconds Dad but your presence was felt and it lingered. You were very much alive and with us in my dream, Dad.

I love and miss you so much.

Dearest Dad,

Thank you for visiting me in my dreams last night no matter how short. ❤

We are back in the Philippines and was out-of-town. We were standing inside a restaurant lobby. You were young and healthy and Mama is next to you. You were talking to the owner of the restau and he appears to be your friend. From where I was standing I can hear you pointing me out to him and introducing me as the "panganay" You had that tone of pride that you always had whenever you introduce us to anyone. That was it. It was short but it made me go back to my childhood with you.

I love and miss you, Dad.

Love,
Che

Dearest Dad,

Thank you for visiting me in my dream, on Levi's 49th Birthday. You always find ways to send your greetings.

In my dream, I was watching some old home videos. It was a party and Kuya Jerry was the star at that party. He was dancing non-stop and everyone on the video, including me who was just watching the clip, were laughing. Kuya Jerry is young and alive in my dreams. The party had a big crowd and some Bol-anons as they would speak in bisaya. I know that Kuya Romy was also there.

When that portion of the video ended, the next on the screen was Levi. I went inside the bedroom, still laughing, and you were inside. You were around your 50s, alive and kicking and sitting on the bed (indian sit) Yvette moved the TV so we can watch it from the bedroom. Then you said that you will attend the party and to remember to get the "pakimkim" 

I sent your greetings to Levi, Dak. We love and miss you so much.

Love,
Che

Dearest Dad,

I had this dream while in India but I didn't get to see your face.

I was standing on a road watching some sort of parade. Uncle Ine was walking towards me and said 'Galit sa akin ang daddy mo.' I looked at the direction where he came from and saw you going inside a gate. I told Uncle Ine 'Puntahan mo sya. Hindi na sya galit sa yo.'  And that's all I remember.

In my dream, I knew that both of you are no longer with us. Happy reunion to you all! 

Love,
Che

Hi Dad,

Today would have been your 54th Wedding Anniversary! You and mama look so young and happy here. Full of love and ready to take on life together as man and wife.

I still recall the surprises we did for your Golden Anniversary. Seeing you and Mama feel special on that day made all the efforts worth everything!

How I wish you're still around to celebrate with us. I know you are celebrating today and the festivities up there will be unimaginable for us. 

Happy 54th Wedding Anniversary, Dad!

We miss you so much. And especially so on special days like this. We will try to make mama feel special today.

We love you, Dad. 

Love,
Che

Dearest Dad,

Thank you for visiting me in my dreams last night.

We saw you happily driving a motorbike. In my dream you were so happy because you were moving freely by yourself. But you were going way too fast and lost control. Your motorbike went to the road from the dirt path and you lost your balance.  You were still smiling even after your mini accident. We rushed to help you up. I was able to hug and kiss you while checking if you were ok.  

Thank you Lord that I remembered my dream last night. 

We love and miss you Dad.

Love,
Che

Dearest Dad,

Thank you for visiting me in my dreams last night and the night before.

I have no recollection of the previous night's dream except waking up in the middle of the night and smiling because you were in my dream.  I went back to sleep and woke up without any trace of the dream.

Last night's dream was back in the Philippines.  You drove me to Makati and dropped me off.  In my mind you were going to park the car and we will meet up again somewhere.  

It was like the times we would drive together to Makati for work. How I treasure those memories! 

We miss you, Dad! We love you so much!

Love,
Che

Dearest Dad,

Thank you for visiting me in my dream last night.

I was coming from a dark and noisy section of this big commercial ship. I went out that area to go down the lower floor. As i got out that section and into the ships's balcony side, the noise was replaced by a peaceful sound of the calm sea and the wind. The dark became the natural light of the sun and the sky. And then I saw you. You were looking relaxed by the ships' balcony. It was a fine and bright day and you were on a folding cot. You would have been in your 70s already but you looked healthy even if you cannot walk in my dream.

Too bad we didn't talk in my dream.  But it was so good to see you, Dad.

I love and miss you so much.

Love,
Che

Dearest Dad,

As promised, I learned to play the violin for you. I hope this makes you proud and happy, as it serves to honor Lolo Bestre's memory too. ❤

Happy 77th Birthday in Heaven, Dad!
I hope the music reaches you in heaven. I love and miss you so much! ❤

Love,
Che

Dear Dad 

This is not my third dream of you because I know that you were in my past dreams but could not recall much - except that you were there.

Last night's dream were with you, Mama and Manon. You looked young. There were no conversations but there was music in my dream and I was singing along to it.

Here you go dak..."Did I Fill The World With Love" You used to sing this song. And the answer is YES!

We love and miss you so much.

Love,
Che

Dear Dad,

Thank you for visiting me in my dream on Mama's 77th Birthday.

In my dream, I was standing inside a big barn and I saw you walking towards the big doors.  You were on your way out. It felt like you were in a hurry. You looked so healthy and young. You would have been in your 40s or 50s only. You look happy and busy in the afterlife, dad.  :)

In my dream, I am aware that you are no longer with us. You just quickly dropped in to give me a message that I should relay to the family. Your message was: You know what's happening and you are receiving all our messages for you.  To test that you are really getting our messages, i said 'I love you, dad' in my mind, as you were stepping out the doors. No words were spoken. And on queue, you stepped back by the door and said 'Love you too' assuring me that you are indeed getting our messages. And then you were out the doors and you were gone.

We know that you are still with us, dad. We love and miss you so much. 

This is not the first time I dreamt of you but this is the most vivid and longest by far. 

In my dream, we (me, Levi, Liezl etc) missed an appointment with 2 Canadians as a service or session I was attending dragged on. I was on that session but was always on the phone with Levi.

Afterwards, the family was attending some sort of meeting at the hotel lobby. We are in the Philippines. You WALKED in with one alalay assisting you. No cane. Mama and Yvette were there at the front and I assisted you to settle on a chair. You just finished a successful back surgery in my dream dak. You would have been in your 60s only. 

Mom was signing up to join an org and we were all there as a witness. 

Too bad you didn't say anything in my dream. But thank you that I got to spend a few seconds with you Dak.  You were 'alive and kicking' as you would always say.

I love you, dad. I miss you. ❤

I told this story in my eulogy for Dad and I will tell it again here. In early Elem I was the perfect example of a seven or eight-year-old kid who hated school or at least dreaded school so much. Honestly I had no idea what was going on everyday in school - I was totally lost. Our yayas made my homework and everyday my eyes were so puffed up from crying because I never wanted to go to school but had to everyday.

Anyway, one night (I was in Grade 2), I took out all my things from my bag, scattered them all on the floor (I still do this now!) and was trying to organize my new bag with wheels! Dad arrived from work, found me there sitting on the floor, blocking the way with all my school stuff, and as he stepped over, he put his hand on my head and said, “Mag aral ka nang mabuti.” He added, “Gusto ko first honor ka”. I sat there slightly shocked. Dad did not talk like that normally and with matching hand-on-my-head, so the words got my full attention.

I guess I took those words very seriously because that night I stayed up to memorize all 5 or 6 stanzas of the assigned poem for the week. Was it “All Things Bright and Wonderful”? Or some poem from our Balarila? I can’t remember exactly now. But I slept late because I did not stop until I mastered this poem.

The following morning, Ms Fabe’s question as to who was ready to recite the poem up front (this was a morning drill) was met with deafening silence. The air was so still for maybe 20 seconds then I timidly raised my hand. I am sure my teacher was pleasantly surprised (if not shocked) and I do remember feeling so feverish, and with a voice so loud and clear, I delivered the poem flawlessly from beginning to end! There was thunderous applause in the room! I have never experienced such success in school so I did my best again the following day and the day following it, until I truly became a studious student!

That year I got the First Honor award and I got it year after year until I graduated Valedictorian of my class!! Dad was the one who always went up the stage to pin my medal or ribbon. I think Mama allowed him that honor. The picture above was the year I got First Honor award for the first time! That was Grade 2 graduation. Dad must have been so proud because since then he would always introduce me to their friends as “eto ang first honor namen”.

Thank you Daddy for inspiring me to do my best with a simple, few-worded encouragement! I will always remember that. I love you Dad and I will be grateful to you - always!! Mwah mwah!!

When I first learned how to use the telephone (landline), I was probably 8 or 9,  it was dad’s office that I would always call. Most of the time I would phone to make “sumbong” whoever hurt or threatened me. Or ask dad to buy a project material required the next day. I remember the first few times I called, I would say, “Hello? Pwede po ba makausap si Daddy?” The person at the other end would laugh and ask “Ne, sino ba ang Daddy mo?” Lol! Sometimes I would call several times a day. He just let me call anytime even for petty reasons. His responses were just “Hello?”, “ok”, “oo”, “sige”, “babay”.  Dad never reprimanded me nor discouraged me from calling even if maybe my calls were annoying. Thanks Dad, love you!

Taken at White Rock, Zambales.