-😇❤️MY Entry into the LOH Contest # 138- My Beloved Father is An Angel with a Golden Heart❤️😇

Photo source edited in my fathers photo via CapCut App GIF Maker

Hello everyone! How are you all? I hope you are all doing well and fine together with your friends loved ones and family!❤️

>Exodus 20:12 (KJV) "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."

First of all I want to wish all fathers and father figures all over the world a "HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!! May God bless you all"

Thank you @ladiesofhive community for this Ladies of Hive Community Contest # 138 and to Ma'am @thekittygirl for these lovely questions. And I am very much inspired to answer both of them. And all of the answers I am going to give are all about my beloved father. Because my father is the BEST FATHER, BEYOND COMPARE!.❤️❤️❤️

1️⃣ A day recognizing fathers will be celebrated later this month in some parts of the world. With the changing perception of gender roles in our modern societies, how would you define the roles and responsibilities of fathers? And why do you define them that way?

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-Father roles are very important in our lives, and every characteristic of being a good father is all present in my father.

https://youtube.com/shorts/4Q-FJMktqOc?feature=share

AS A HUSBAND, A FATHER, A GRANDFATHER, A RELATIVE, A FAMILY MAN, A SUPERIOR, AND A COMMUNITY LEADER

My father is very responsible, he is not perfect but he is beyond compare. Very loving, caring, and understanding. He is the type of father that will never use his hand to discipline us in any way, he is very calm, and observant. He never uses any foul words when he is angry. Even to our needs, he is trying to provide as much as he can. He is a very jolly person, he always uses his smile as an answer to every challenge in life matched with his smart ways to solve them. He always tells us to be calm, but be firm and stand for every word that we are uttered. My father is very kind, but he never let anybody step down on him. Integrity is seen in his personality. He is very alert and always sees the safety of all of us. He always checks everything, he is always one step ahead.

He is very caring, especially to his grandchildren. He always reminds us not to give small things to children, particularly to babies, that they might choke, putting soft cautions on the edges of cabinets.

He never shows any favoritism to us and his children. He is always fair and thinks of the wellness of all of us.

As a Leader and Superior he is always fair and honest to everyone! He always improves the lifestyle of his subordinates. When my father was the General Manager of the SPRACI Water System Cooperative, he approved the implementation of the Social Security System benefits for his employees, provided Summer Excursions, and granted different financial benefits too. He also implemented the regularization law in that cooperative company. He also solicited funds for the Deep Well Pumps and Tanks in different areas of the Big Village from different sources like in Australian Embassy and Rotary Clubs. He also gives rewards to all the members of the cooperative who can pay their dues on time.

My father is a God-fearing one acts according to God's goodness. He always put God first in everything he does before He acts and makes any decision, in that way, he could make just and fair decisions that his priority is what is best for his subordinates and community, sacrificing his own himself for the sake of others. He leads the people yet positions himself behind them so he could catch them, and back up them in case of problems and challenges. He knows how to boost their confidence and build them to be good leaders like himself in the future. He knows how to uplift their self-esteem for them to become productive and good team workers.

A good leader is also a great team player, who knows when to impose strict rules and disciplines yet a good friend by giving advice and inspiration to others. He could be anything, according to the needs of his subordinates.

A God-fearing one is full of courage yet so humble. Knows how to respect, listens to others' opinions, and gives importance interest even in little things because He is always finding anything, that is good even in the middle of negativities. He could extract the goodness in bad circumstances and enhances it to be the best. He could adjust himself to different minds and behaviors of the people. I remember some of the staff of my father, telling us what kind of a leader was my father when he was alive, and He was the General manager of a Water Cooperative Corporation, they said that those consumers whose water services were cut and disconnected because they didn't pay for their overdue bills or sometimes there were water service interruptions, because of technical problems, they throw disrespectful words to them, shouting outrageous nonsense, etc, my father instructed them to let those people talk with him close door in his office..and they got so amazed because those people who were creating chaos before they enter my father's office, was smiling or laughing with him after their talk. He he he. How I missed my father and his attitude and behavior, He is not easy to get angry with and was so kind, jolly, and very humble, I am not saying this because I am biased for I am his daughter, but this description also came from his Staffs and members of the cooperative. Even here in our neighborhood, they have high regard for him not because He was once a General Manager and an elected politician, but because of how he treated his staff and constituents. My father has a soft heart, a calm mind, and a wise, practical way of thinking. For him, humanity is a priority, with humility, kindness, and fairness.

A good leader is more willing to sacrifice himself, like his time for the sake of the majority, full of determination, famous for being Good, and not an attention seeker. He is popular for his good deeds and not for the power he is possessing. Like a seed sprouting and standing strongly during fall, showing courage and hope to others.

When there were complaints about the services, those who went there with my father, after a few minutes would come out smiling and happy hehe! Because my father always performs and does everything in a very peaceful way. He is a Peace Lover.

He also became elected as the Chairman of The Board of that Cooperative Company and later on elected as the whole Chairman of the Board of the Cooperative Union of Laguna. He was also elected as Barangay Councilman in our Barangay. And here is one of the acknowledgment awards they give to him as he died he even have the flag of the Philippines during his burial to give him honor.

You will never see him in churches but he always said that we can pray directly to him is not a showy type of person but he is the life of the party to his friends and colleagues and us his family too is a man of integrity, a man of his words and stands out and known for being firm to his words and actions. A leader who never blames nor complains. Have a high respect for the opinions of others. He was also the one who built the career of the famous Mayor of San Pedro City Laguna, a mentor of so many younger leaders of the community but after those kinds of honorable character and prestige, my father remained humble and kind!

And before I forget he also became one of the best Provincial Auditors there during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos's regime.

I mentioned all of these not to show off but as an answer to the first question about the roles and responsibilities of a father. Because like what I have said those characteristics were possessed by my father.

He is a Generous Giver. My father helped his siblings and relatives. He gave a portion of our lot freely to one of his siblings, and his whole family, despite the not-so-good things they did to him he chooses to forgive them and continue to help. We have a very simple life and a small house but her sisters once lived with us together with their family. Our houses are open for those who need them even though some of them showed their bad sides but kindness always wins.

This is how great my father is. Beyond compare and a Guardian Angel to me and many! A shoulder to lean on to all of us, his family and friends.

My father also was an immigrant from Texas, USA, and my sister petitioned him to go there for almost half a year. He left a lot of special memories with my sister and her family. My sister regularly sent him an allowance and he always shared this with all of us what a responsible parent he is.

He loves to cook from simple to extra-special dishes he said "Cooking is judgment". He also taught us to be simple in any way and learn to be content and count our blessings.

My father was born on October 11, 1932, and passed away on June 09, 2012.

Let me share with you the letter I made for my father on his death anniversary last June 09 2023

Letter to my Father in Heaven

-Happy and peaceful 11th year in heaven Papa SALVADOR "BUDDY" ERLANO, WE ARE MISSING YOU SO MUCH PO!!! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH, PAPA!!!❤️❤️❤️ I don't want to remember you on your last day here in the mortal world, but I know you are in a better place with God, In Jesus' name!🙏🙏🙏But you know what??? You are never forgotten🤗😇❤️, you are always part of our bonding talks here at home, reminiscing of times when you are here with us, looking at the pictures in our photo albums, our simple home, that you designed, Always remembering your golden heart, humble, a very loving, caring, and generous son, brother, husband, grandfather, relative, friend, community leader, superior and human being and most of all a GOD FEARING SERVANT OF GOD! how GENEROUS GIVER you are to everyone, You are always ready to help without asking anything in return, Giving even if nothing is left to you. Your kindness, too much kindness you are beyond compare to anybody!❤️❤️❤️🤗You are always in our prayers, and for Mama and all of us, your children, (Kuya Chito, Ate Chona, Kuya ching, Chud and Henry) the best way to remember you are not of Beautiful flowers, scented candles or delicious food because you will never enjoy those anymore, what we give to you is a heartfelt, sincere and solemn prayer directly to God, In Jesus name🙏 and you also taught us this way to be sincere and simple in all ways!. Thank you very much, Papa,❤️ for being sweet, caring, and loving to us! Even in your last minute here on earth you still show how much you love us, by still giving us smiles and good advice, learning to forgive but be tough to fight for our rights, and protecting all members of our family, especially Mama. You never hurt us in any way, only love and care, THANK YOU PO PA!!! Till we meet again! 🤗❤️*

WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH PO PAPA!!!❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️🎈🤗🤗❤️❤️❤️😇😇🤗🎈💕❤️🎈💕🤗❤️❤️❤️💕❤️❤️💕💕❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

You can also see it here in my Facebook Post

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2 ️ ⃣ If you had a beloved "father figure" in your life (father, grandfather, uncle, family friend, employer, etc.) and would like to recognize them with a story, we'd love to hear it!

For this 2nd question, still my father is the topic of this story..

Family is my top priority next to God. Being with them I always feel complete even in times of a lot of challenges I am facing.

The sorrowful time came to us the time our father passed away in June 2012, it was a truly heartbreaking moment for our family relatives, and his closest friends, and for some people who remembered him as a very kind, humble, calm, and jolly person.

My father suffered from prostate cancer, and with God's blessing and mercy, we only knew his actual condition a week before he passed away. He never knew his real condition, our very loving, responsible, caring father..a perfect father. 11 years have passed but still, those happy and sad moments were fresh in my heart and mind. The day he died was very sorrowful and challenging for all of us. The attending physician was asking if our family wanted to use a respirator a few minutes before he died. But we asked what will be the good and bad effects, will that procedure go to lessen his pain. Because at that very moment, he must be transferred to the ICU( intensive care unit), but unfortunately it was not available in that hospital. He was confined in the most expensive room in that hospital we paid 1,100 PHP or 21 Dollars per day for room accommodation only, though those times our family was experiencing a financial crisis because he needs a very comfortable room for his situation my sister and her family who was residing in Texas USA the one who shouldered everything from the medical exams, checkups, and confinement "Papa" is what we call him spent almost a month on his last confinement in the San Pedro Doctors Hospital here in our place San Pedro City Laguna Philippines. We also asked for help from Politicians, government institutions, and friends and relatives too. Very expensive medications and treatments but for Papa we did everything. A week before Papa died my sister and her family arrived so timely that it was also their summer vacation. Our family was planning a vacation and a reunion at that time, to visit the province of Bicol where my sister and her family stayed, and also my father's province. But the plan didn't go as we planned it because the supposed to be a happy reunion ended to send our father to his last stop here on earth, in Angels Garden, to join our ultimate creator.

Sometimes some people have a stoned heart. For them business is business. The hospital did not release our father's body if we did not add some amount to the hospital bill, my one brother stayed there overnight and a day like collateral, because the hospital wanted to ensure that we will pay for them to also release the Death Certificate. My goodness!!! I don't know if I was going insane or starting to hate the administrator of that hospital. Hard to cry, and I didn't know how we all overcame those challenges. My sister was still the one who made her way to release our father's body, by adding 10,000 PHP or 200 Dollars as an additional partial payment. May God bless her more, those times she was in Bicol but God is great that She managed to talk with our Papa via phone call a few minutes before he died, I know Papa heard everything she said.

That night our father died, our Family friend, together with one of my cousins, look for the burial place of my father, and thank God we found the Miraculous Medal burial place, it was accessible to all kinds of vehicles because it was along the Highway, we paid 1,500 Pesos/day Papa has stayed there for more than a week. Because we were still collecting some amount of money for all the expenses. Then another challenge was the memorial place. Since our father and my mother were also a sales agent for that company we talked to them to pay it on an installment basis. And thank God again after we managed to pay the downpayment, my sister was also the one who paid the whole balance. The coffin, services, and burial place came from his Social Security system assistance, help from our relatives, friends, and municipal assistance too.

The day of the interment came, another challenge we faced, the owner of the burial place also asked for additional payment, but we told him we are already out of cash, another thing was the service for the interment was delayed because the car was still on travel from the province of Bulacan. During those times we were all bothered about everything, those times our family is getting our strength from God. But when I am remembering all those events I felt blessed, our family was blessed because maybe if those challenges and problems were not present, surely all we were doing was grieving and crying. Those times when God guided us to do things that we thought were impossible for us to do.

So we got a memorial lot in Angel's Garden Memorial Park, San Pedro City Laguna Philippines 🇵🇭. We chose lot 39, in the Angels Park Category, a short distance from the Gate. It was a small and exclusive memorial place, comfortable but economical too, for almost 60-70 thousand PHP or 1000 dollars plus you can avail via cash or installment but that was 11 years ago, now I think it's almost 2000 dollars, you can maintain it by paying an additional amount, and in one lot you can bury 2 bodies. I remember this topic too for Ma'am @dswigle of #MarketFriday because of the amounts we spent on that Memorial Place. The place is heavenly according to me, surrounded by nature's beauty, like green palm trees and cypress too. There were also Kalatsutsi flowering trees white with yellow varieties, that I have seen there. Every time we visit there we don't bring flowers, like what you are seeing in the photos, the kids arranging the kalatsutsi flowers which they got after their short walk around the place, the flowers were around the place laying in the green carabao grass, you can imagine how relaxing the place is... The design is great with a small chapel and water lagoon so when there is heavy rain all the water will come there, if there is also an earthquake the place is safer because it was a hilly place and not an apartment type, I am not discriminating the public cemetery, because one of my aunties, my father's sister had been placed in an apartment type, and we couldn't find it now, they remove the bones without even formally notifying us. In Angel's garden, it is a lawn, 6 feet below the ground, as you can see in the pictures. It was like everyone is having a beautiful moment with their departed loved ones, like having a picnic with them. The ambiance of the place is like a park, that I feel like if I want to talk with my father I can go there anytime I want and he is just waiting for me. And surely my family feels the same way.

The last stop here on earth, Angel's Garden Park where his friends, relatives, and family were present, that was also the moment that I felt the most sorrowful time, the last time that I went to see my father. A realization that life has an end here on earth, to start the walk to an everlasting life journey to be with God. Hard to accept because I always thought that my father was strong, he would survive but sadly.. all of us are temporarily here on Earth.

But I thank God that Papa's body is peacefully resting in his peaceful kingdom here on earth, there in the angel's garden, where the beauty of nature surrounds him. As I walk around his friends are also resting there. Whenever we visit that place, it is like we are visiting a leisure park, the morning sun, and the green grass and trees together with the blooming flowers of Kalatsutsi always welcome us!

Here are some of our family pictures that I kept when we were in the Angels Garden, (Random pictures). In this photo video (Taken in 2014 or 2015, If I am not mistaken) the first photo you will see is my Mama, my son @czander, my Sister Chona and her 3 daughters(Nit-nit, Int-int, and Tinit), my Brother Chito and his wife, Ate Mary and son, Macmac, My brother Henry's wife, Mabel and 3 sons (Henzon, Hayden, and Harry), my brother Chud's family, April his partner and Chuck his son. Only my brother Kuya Chito is in this picture, my 3 other brothers (Kuya Ching (In Bicol), Chud, and Henry with my brother-in-law (husband of my sister Kuya Jhamon) were taking the pictures. In the second photo, it's me and my 3 nieces (My sister Ate Chona's daughters). She has 4 daughters. The eldest Tin-tin was not available to visit the country at that time.

The next photo was me and my Mama together with my son @czander (wearing an orange shirt/ when he was 3 years old) and my nephew Henzon during our visit on Christmas day of 2012. My brother Chud was with us but he was the photographer

My brother Henry with his wife, kids, and my son @czander (throwback pictures in Angels Garden Memorial Park San Pedro City Laguna Philippines.)

This was our family's memorable walk with my father to his final place on earth. Though it was a sorrowful event yet it also made me smile while remembering the unity and love in our family❤️

The most important thing about all these is how our soul is prepared to face God, material things and how we perform the burial, interments, and other activities when our loved ones died are just part of maybe showing how we love and care, but it's best to show our love and care to them when they are still with us, our father is always in our heart and mind and for us, He is here with us, at home, I still keep talking with him in my mind. Seeing him even in my dreams. I love you, Papa, you are never forgotten!❤️

And if ever God will permit me to have the ability and power to meet him in my dreams I will do it consciously, meaning I am awake in my dreams, I will meet him in a mutual and peaceful place, I will express my gratitude to him for everything, I will tell him that his grandson "Bugoy" or "Mz" or @czander here that he was taking care before together with his "Pipa" the baby pacifier that he always carries wherever he goes hehe..is already 13 years old now and entering Grade 8 this year. This is the last picture left to me when he was carrying @czander in front of our store when he was less than a year old. If I am not mistaken, you can only see my father's nose hehe! My parents love my son like their own son, and my father had so many sacrifices for him, countless! And I will always treasure the moments and forever be thankful to him, and my son experienced fatherly love from him, not just as a grandfather as my mom.

And wherever you are, I want you to know that you are like a tree..that protects and comforts..and defends us on everything. I made a letter for you..as you are a Narra Tree and I pray that you feel how precious you are to me and our family

Photo edited in Incollage App and GIF Maker

And to express my gratitude and love for my father I wrote a letter and compared him to a Narra tree🌳..here is my Email for this adorable guardian angel, Narra tree🌳, MY BELOVED FATHER.

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             2023, June 16
                Friday          
                 10:00 PM

Dear My beloved Narra Tree 🌳,

Hi! How are you?

I hope you are healthy and strong as you receive this letter. I wrote this to express my gratitude for your kindness, love, and care for me and my family.

I want you to know that I appreciate your presence in my life. I feel so secure having you near me. In a time of beautiful hot summer, you never stop to comfort me with your coolness, you are giving me life because of the oxygen that you are giving to me. While others are thinking about how to find ease on a humid day, you were there pampering me with your shades..from your adorable green leaves.

What more could I ask for? You always give me a reason to smile, by showing me the image of you with the pretty scented flowers that shower all over me, while I come to rest beside you. I felt so cherished that I was bathed with scented flowers. There were times I fell asleep while staring at you because you never stop blowing your air over me. It serves as a lullaby that led me to feel the sweetest comfort and close my eyes.

As the rainy and stormy weather came, you were there controlling and blocking the strong blow of the winds with your huge trunk and strong branches. I couldn't forget how you controlled the other trees that tried to come near me during the typhoon last year. I will never forget such a heroic act, my beloved Narra🌳. While I was peacefully asleep the whole night, you were there, fighting the stormy wind just to protect me and my shelter. So the next day, as I woke up, I had a beautiful smile from a contented sleep while you greeted me with your slightly damaged branches, but still, you remained tough and continued to protect and comfort me.

How I admired your generosity and kindness for making the people around you, enjoy the fresh air you had blown after that damaging typhoon, while the other trees surrendered their strength and were beaten by the typhoon, you were there giving everyone hope by giving yourself as an example, that in times of difficulties, we should always remain tough and fight for our lives!.

In return for all the love and care you have given to me, please expect that I will also show my love and care for you, by protecting you too. I will never allow anyone to harm you, if some people will try to hurt you in any way, I will be there to fight those abusive people. I will defend you in all possible ways, I will file a complaint against them in the Department of Environment and the National Resources, so they will be punished for their abusive actions.

I will never allow anyone to plant another tree beside you, so you could grow freely, and get the proper amount of nutrition from the soil and sunlight. I want you to always be healthy. I will always give the best care to you.

Hehe, but you know Narra🌳, I know sometimes you were annoyed with me that was why you keep on beating our roof with your branches, or sometimes you just stand there and didn't let your branches move to give enough air to comfort me, because I was late to visit you or forget to visit you on time hahaha!. You reminded me of a very special someone, a human being whom I loved the most, that is a little bit sensitive too..jolly, shy sometimes but very thoughtful and caring even if annoyed, he never throws hurtful words at me even once, even if sometimes we had a misunderstanding, and was my fault because I was stubborn..he never mistreated or disrespect me in any way. Are you that patient also Narra🌳?!😅 hehe!

Ahw my. I don't know how long our life span here on earth is, my beloved Narra🌳 because we came from different elements of mother nature. I am human and you are a tree. But please keep this in your mind, even if we belong to different elements of nature, as long as you exist, I will always be with you. And if one day, they need me to go far away from you for any reason like work, please don't worry ha. because I will hire somebody to take good care of you, to protect you..till the day I come back to be with you again..!.

So, I hope you know now, how precious and important you are to me, nothing to worry about okay? Please stay as caring, thoughtful, protective, and loving as you are!

Thank you very much! I missed and love you my beloved Narra🌳💚, see you one day💕.

            Yours always❤                                                
                                                                                             
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I always remember my father everytime I this song

Always keep a beautiful smile and let God be the center of life forever and always..please don't forget to pray!🙏
I hope you do all your stuff well today!
Have a blessed morning!
God be with you!😇
See you all!

GOD LOVES US ALL!❤

The rest of the Photos are mine and a few from our photo album with permission from my family

Bible verse from the Holy Bible

Song from YouTube