Tatay was already 50 years old when he had me. In my young mind, he was old and I was so concerned for his health... I think I was 6 years old when I started praying for him every time I saw or heard an ambulance. I would pray, "Sana hindi tatay ko ang laman ng ambulansiya." (“I hope it’s not my father inside the ambulance.”) After three years, my fear did happen. He was brought to the hospital by ambulance and he died several hours later. Since then, my prayer changed. I no longer pray for my beloved father every time I see or hear an ambulance. I pray for the patient it carries, that he or she might have the opportunity to repent of his or her sins, and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior... I pray for financial and emotional support for the patient and comfort for the family. If the patient already has Christ in his or her life, I also pray that he or she may develop a deeper relationship with the Giver of Life and that the entire household may also experience the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

At first, it was my love for Tatay that prompted me to pray for patients carried in passing ambulances, but eventually my love for my heavenly Father became my inspiration to pray for these people.

Going back to my Tatay, no matter how hard I try to remember what he looked like in his coffin, my memory fails me. All I can remember about my father are his features when he was still alive. I got my sleepy-looking eyes from him! And the big moles on my forehead! And… I will always be grateful to my heavenly Father for giving me Tatay to be His instrument in creating me, and to be the vessel of His love.

Tatay is the only man whom I will remember without any feelings of pain in my heart. He was not a perfect man... but HE IS THE MAN THAT I WILL ALWAYS LOVE WITHOUT ANY REGRETS.