A Father's Love

I remember how my father was very strict with me and my siblings while we were growing up. We had to be home before he arrived from work. So as a child, when I’d see his car coming and I was still on the street playing with my friends, I would run as fast as I could to reach our house first.

- Joel Saludares

He was a disciplinarian and I can still vividly remember the leather belt that he would use to discipline us. Being the youngest among three siblings, I was the naughtiest and most mischievous. So, you can just imagine who got whipped with the belt most of the time.

When I was in second year college, a friend invited me to her debut in La Union. I was supposed to be part of the eighteen roses dance but my father said no. He didn’t allow me to go on out-of-town trips. For parties here in Manila, it’s either I go home before midnight or just go home the following day.