a song for papa

Over and over I’d listen to Richard Poon as he croons his rendition of I’ll Take Care of You.

As the song is about love I have suddenly turned into a starry eyed, hopeless romantic imagining myself in a scene fit only for star cinema’s hottest love teams today.

There I was with Piolo Pascual shedding tears as he pledges his commitment to love me.

Sigh, sigh, sigh!

Like a drama series from the country’s number one network the story slowly unfolds in my mind.

Day after day the plot would change and when, finally, I have made up my mind that I am ready for a kissing scene with my leading man, I - unexpectedly, pictured the song in a different light.

I no longer see myself in a dream sequence with Piolo Pascual. 

Instead, I saw myself brushing my father’s hair of white 

with my bear hands, as I usually do.

I realized how appropriate the song is for us father and daughter tandem.

I want you to know that I love you so

I’m proud to tell the world you’re mine

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it once more

You’ll be in my heart ’till the end of time

I’ll take care of you

Don’t be sad, don’t be blue

Just count on me your whole life through

And I’ll take care of you

The song, partly, sums up my great love for my dear father.

I want to take care of him in this stage of his life when he is not only gray and old but ailing.

Once, I have made a major decission to take care of him and with that decission was the hope that he will again live a normal life.

But that hope vanished when the kidney i have donated him failed to function after twelve days.

That experience has not only left me with an 8-inch scar below my right rib cage but a scar that will forever be my reminder of how i truly loved and adored my father.

That’s when my passion for taking care of my Papa begun.

I know that there are other ways I can take care of him but if only I can still donate my left kidney, i will.