  I don't know why I was unusually emotional last night. I keep muttering "I miss you, papa" in my sleep. And I woke up crying. I miss my dad terribly that I wonder what it would be like if he was still alive.
He never saw his two girls graduate from college who went further by finishing two courses each. My dad died when I was 17 years old. I was fresh in college. Literally, unaware of the life in Metro Manila. You see, I was born and bred in Naga City, a city in the province of Camarines Sur. I finished my kindergarten years up to High School from a Catholic Chinese school called Saint Joseph School. Then, I finally went to college in a prestigious university, University of the Philippines Manila, where I took up BSN. I was trying to adjust to college life when my dad suddenly went very ill. He was hospitalized back in our province and was transferred to a hospital here in Manila. Every weekend, my sister and I would spend time with him in the hospital. I remember my dad saying, "I'd buy you a car soon. " He still had dreams for his children...he was still hoping to spend most of his lifetime with us. But, he died on the 4th day of September. I had to leave school for a week. Since it was almost the end of the semester, I had to leave reports and exams for awhile..and worry about it after all the tragedy was over.
We buried our dad in a cemetery in his hometown. Trying to put up a brave front, my sister and I went back to Manila. Back in college, I had to turn in my reports late. I distinctly remember one professor, Prof. Teresita Hernandez. She was known to be strict and heartless. But nevertheless, I tried to appeal to her sympathetic side. So, I approached her trying to explain why my report was late. But she brusquely told me, "You should have started that report before your dad died!
" I tried to explain that my dad was ill for four months and that I had to stay with him in the hospital but she basically just ignored me. Some people are just heartless. I wonder how she is today...hope she has changed for her own sake. Oh, how I wish my dad was still alive. I miss him terribly. 
