I love my Dad with all of my heart. He is such a kind, funny, loving, caring and thoughtful, hard-working, intelligent, strong and helpful man.

My Dad is so funny, even when I am serious. I remember scraping my knee from falling off my sister’s penny board. If there’s blood Mom can’t look, so she sends you to Dad—the family house Doctor. If you get bruised, you get to sit on the toilet while Dad pours hydrogen peroxide on your booboo and puts a band-aid. Dad jokes around saying at least I have two legs and I only injured one. He also says jokingly that I’m lucky I went to his clinic, because places like FHP over charge.

My Dad puts a lot of thought into what he gets you and that your gift is a practical one. One Christmas, my Dad gave me my very own headlight. Although it definitely was not my first choice of gifts, it has become very useful in my life. Dad makes jokes about my gift all the time. If my sister and I are missing a toy piece or something is missing in the house, my Dad says, “See now you can use your headlight to look under the bed.”

My Dad is the most caring person in the world. Last year our family dog Nala was diagnosed with breast cancer. Doc told us that even if we paid for her surgery, it would only give us another year or two with her. Dad knew how much Nala meant to us and started going around the house looking for things to sell, so that he could pay for her surgery.

My Dad always makes time for me no matter what. Even though he is busy, stinky, sweaty, working in the yard, he still makes time to open up the pickle-jar with his strong, muscular hands or stop a “PXC fight” between my sister and I.

My Dad is the hardest working guy I know. Even after work, he still works. He’s either fixing something outside or inside the house. I know my Dad does this to make sure our family has everything we need to live a good life.

Social Studies is a class that I sometimes struggle in. My Dad, being a teacher, always knows how to help. He makes learning fun by asking me questions to get my brain thinking.

My Dad has taught me several basic life skills. I learned how to pay the bills, change and put air into a tire, install a sink, husk a coconut, cook, build a patio deck, paint, detail cars, go fishing, how to clean a fish, plant crops and so much more. My Dad even taught me self-defense moves in case anything happens to me. I also know Filipino stick fighting and simple karate moves. Sometimes I think my Dad knows how to do everything.

Dad, thank you for teaching me how to be a man, even though I am your daughter.