No matter what challenges life throws at you, your father will always be there for you. And even if your father comes home late from work just so he can pay for your education and the bills, his love is always unconditional, even if he may not be there all the time. He cares and wants only the best for his children. In our heart of hearts, he will always be our hero.
I asked fellow teens about their Super Dad and the valuable lessons they’ve learned from him.
“My dad always told me never to pressure myself. I should do my best in whatever I do to succeed. Those simple words made me achieve a lot in academics, music, and more.”—Denise Cu, 15, Immaculate Conception Academy
“As the proverb goes: ‘Give a man a fish, you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime.’ I believe my father taught me how to never go hungry again in my life. Growing up, I believe this is the most important teaching he passed on to me.”—Jan Adrian Chan, 15, Xavier School
“The most valuable lesson I’ve learned from my dad is not to let other people define who I am. My dad doesn’t let people’s opinions rule his life.”—Ramona Datu, 17, Ateneo de Manila University
“One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from my dad is that the knowledge we obtain from school will serve as our guide in unlocking our hidden talents and potentials, and in determining our courses in college. He also taught me that the real lessons in school are not found in the topics we tackle in each subject; the real lessons are found in our ways and methods of handling and dealing with difficult school-related situations. This wisdom has enlightened me to do better not only in school, but also in life.”—Vince Nieva, 15, La Salle Greenhills
“Through the years, I’ve learned so many lessons from my dad, through his stories and who he has become today. My dad is a very serious person but he is also fun-loving. If I had to pick the most valuable lesson he has ever taught me, it would be that there is time for everything—family, work, friends. He taught me having balance is one of the keys to success. I love my dad.”—Lauren Lim, 18, Ateneo de Manila University
“The most valuable lesson I learned from my dad is to always work hard for what I want to achieve.”—Meryl Fong, 16, Immaculate Conception Academy
“I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons from my dad: Always trust yourself, have self respect and never give up; no matter how hard life is, always think positive. Being a single dad, my dad never gave up and left us behind. He always looks at the bright side of life. I love my dad. He’s my hero.” —Mollina Lu, 19, University of Santo Tomas
“My dad has always been a source of great inspiration to me, like a lighthouse to ships, always guiding me and giving me hope in my times of need. The greatest lesson I have learned from my dad is that all of us must believe. Believe that God is always there to guide us, believe that by enriching ourselves now, we can help the enrichment and betterment of others in the future, and finally, believe that by passing forward any goodness we receive, we can make the world a better place, little by little.”—Tiff De Guzman, 15, Immaculate Conception Academy
“Growing up, I’ve learned a lot from my dad, but the greatest of these is the value of sacrifice. Taking care of a daughter isn’t as easy as it sounds, let alone having four daughters! Even if he is the only guy in the family, he’s still patient with all of us no matter how trivial we get. His busy schedule may make it hard for him but he always strives to make time for us and even attend to our activities.
“My dad consistently prioritizes serving our needs before his own. I used to think it was really his job as my father to provide what I want, until I realized he was actually doing that because of love and sacrifice. After understanding, I now truly appreciate everything he has been doing for his family. I really do feel very lucky and thankful to have him as my father.”—Sophia Tiutan, 15, Immaculate Conception Academy
“The most important thing I’ve learned from my dad is that we are blessed and privileged to have all the comforts we are experiencing today. We may not be a super-rich family, or we may not have things other friends have, but we’re thankful for all the gifts we have received and are content with life. I learned not to compare our lives with other people because that’s other people’s business. He taught me to live happily because life’s too short to have tears and problems.”—Jennifer Tsang, 14, Immaculate Conception Academy
“My father taught me everything from academics, to sports, to art, and even broadened my mind when it comes to recycling. However, the most valuable lesson I’ve learned from him is patience. Every time I need help with my studies, he immediately comes to my aid when he sees I’m having difficulty, even if it is very evident that he is tired from his long day at work. Instead of getting angry when I make mistakes, he calmly teaches me what is right from wrong. Every day, as he tells jokes at the dinner table, cradles my crying sisters and calmly talks to everyone even if he has made a mistake, I cannot help but thank God for giving me such a wonderful father!”—Ileana Cabochan, 15, Immaculate Conception Academy