well...things are so emotional today because this is the first time my family will visit my dad at the cemetery. for those who don't know, my dad passed away last july 17. i have an altar here in our house with a nice picture of my dad and beside him is JESUS on the cross. i offered candles and flowers to him. i have lit candles since yesterday. i'm still grieving and i still hate the fact that he's gone. but, things are to be dealt with one way or the other. i don't easily cry to"dance with my father" or butterfly kisses" or "sing me a song again, daddy" anymore but, one day won't pass without me thinking of one instance in my life shared with him. i love my daddy so much and i just feel so different now that we don't have him anymore...i know this grieving phase will pass but, i don't think the pain will go away or even lessen...

in loving memory of my daddy, COL. ELIAS CASIMIRO

My daddy, COL. ELIAS CASIMIRO, was born on July 4, 1944. He belonged to a poor family with 3 siblings. His family was so poor that he depended on his own ability to attend school. He worked his way to high school then, to college. He had an uncle whose family supported him in his ideals that he lived with them for a time. He worked as a clerk at the police headquarters of Valenzuela to be able to pay for his college education. He took up BS Commerce at the Far Eastern University in Manila. He finished this course on his own, without any help from anybody but his job.

He did not turn out to be an employee for some business company, instead, he trained to be a police officer. He started as traffic aid. During those times, a police traffic aid wore brown uniform with black belt, black sash, black wooden stick and black shoes which looked very neat and dignified. He became a neighborhood friend to businessmen, children, etc. According to his stories(supported by my mom), he met my mom when he was in his outpost at the heart of Marulas BBB in Valenzuela. Whenever he would see my mom approaching the stoplight to cross the street, he would stop all vehicles North South East West from his manual buttons at the outpost and let my mom cross the road. This love story began with my dad leaving his post and approaching my mom, who was at the jeepney stop waiting for a ride to school(University of the East Recto). He asked how my mom was doing and smiled after my mom responded. This went on for months, with my dad asking my mom one or two questions per day. Finally, they went on a date and another and another and another. They kept the relationship going despite my grandfather's objection. My dad did not budge and my mom did not get bothered. The love story went on for years before they decided to get married. And, they eloped! Of course, knowing how strict my grandpa was?!? Their civil wedding took place on January 18, 1974 and their church wedding on January 31, 1974. They were blessed with 4 children--me(Jan 1975), Kenneth(Dec 1978), Andre Gideon(Dec 1984) and Tressa Denise(Sep 1988).

As years went by, my dad earned a lot of promotions, medals, awards, recognitions and citations for being a good police officer. I know he started as a traffic aid then, to all those positions he earned from his good work in the force. In the 80's, he was the commander in chief of the Narcotics Department in Velenzuela. In 1993, he filed for his retirement, as Lt. Colonel. He concentrated on businesses after this. He had a security agency, an employment agnecy and joined his friends in other businesses.

My Dad was also well-traveled. He has gone to a lot of cities in the Philippines and several countries, as well. He has visited Davao, Bacolod, Cebu, etc. He has also visited the neighboring countries--Taiwan, HongKong, China, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and of course the land of milk and honey, the United States (Hawaii, Texas, California, Arizona, etc).
His view on traveling was reasonable--he wanted to enjoy life while he's still strong. He did.

In 2002, he was diagnosed with lymphoma. It was never clear to the family how he acquired it and what will it do to him. But, he was a very determined father who went through all those very painful chemotherapies just to survive. He had a year full of agony and pain before he joined the Lord on July 17, 2003.

He will surely be missed by the whole family. He is loved forever by my Mom, me, my 3 siblings, my 4 kids and my niece. I wish he was still here spending time with my kids, whispering "happy birthday" every morning of October 7th to my Mom, knocking hard on the doors when it's breakfast/lunch/dinner time, watering the plants every morning, asking the myna bird "kumain ka na"?...

Well, I guess, as the saying goes, "it was his time." I guess it was. I was just not prepared yet to lose him. I still have a lot of questions that only he could answer. I still have a lot of problems that only he could solve. I still have a lot of qualms that only he could clear. But, he's gone and now, I would just have to accept the fact that I am on my own. My 28 years with my Dad was a gift from God. I would have to let go and just cherish those precious memories I have of him.

He remains in my heart, and my husband's, and my kids', and my mom's, and my brothers', and my sister's and all of those people's hearts whom my Dad touched one way or the other.

WE LOVE YOU, DADDY!