Jesus

My dad was born on Christmas day.

And his name is Jesus.
Jesus Allauigan Beltran.
Jess to his friends and relatives, Daddy for me and my sister.

I guess it was mere coincidence that his parents named him after Christ or because he was born on Christmas day, But I sometimes feel that I got Jesus Christ for my father. :)

He seldom gets mad and if he does that would mean you've done really something wrong, like Christ he gets mad for reasonable reasons.

He is kind and gentle and if he ever scolds us he does it in a kind manner.

Growing up, I never really got the chance to spend quality time with him, he is a workaholic but that's because he tries to make ends meet for us.

My dad and I aren't really close, guess it's because he is always at work, but I remember one time we watched a James Bond Movie (Tomorrow Never Dies) and it felt really good.

I sometimes wish that I got to play with him, he loves basketball just like I do, He is a die-hard Ginebra fan, and a Lakers fan just like me. There was a time when I felt that if there was one thing that was missing from my childhood is that I had no memory of playing with him. But I understand that now.

Every day, and every morning he calls to check on us, at noon after my mom arrives from school he calls to check on her too.

Him and my mom are extremes, but they hardly ever get into fights, lately I've noticed that his quiet demeanor has changed, perhaps because he is growing a little too tired from work, and I heard that they've been having problems with their company. He works in a business newspaper and that has been our bread and butter eversince. I guess he's worried for us and that adds to the stress he gets from work.

But just the same, he is still the same dad I know, to say that my dad is kind would be an understatement. He is not perfect and though he has his shortcomings that doesn't make him less of a person that he is to me.

Compassionate, patient, a loyal husband, an understanding father, what more can I say.

I may not say it much but I am so proud to have you as my father... (I just wish you got a little more creative in naming me, not just settling for initials of your first names, but that's a minor flaw.) everyone can say they're lucky to have a father but I feel a thousand times luckier than they are.

I love you daddy! Happy Birthday!!!