I rarely write about my family, and I rarely show them my work, but recent events have encouraged me to do so, like the overflow of love for my Father during his 50th birthday, and my baby brother, delivering a poem in front of 200 or so people that night. I made me think, "dapat pala, dinala ko na rin yung nasulat ko..."hehehe.
In our house, there are no rules. While some young adults adhere to a strict dad, we had a groovy and sensible one. I have friends who were only allowed to watch TV during weekends or after they did their homeworks. Or keep a certain grade to be able to go to the mall with their friends. In our house, there was no such thing. Okay, so there was this one time when Papa discouraged me to watch those youth-oriented programs where teenyboppers had love interests. He found those kind of shows baduy. In our home, the only rules our father set are the following: we should always respect our mother, love and refrain from hurting our brothers and sister, and develop our talents as much as we can and have fun while doing it. He equipped us with every toy and materials and workshops that we can use to enhance our skills and creativity. Piano lessons, ballet, voice lessons... it was only once that he denied my request when I told him that I wanted to enroll in a Personality Development class a la John Robert Powers which was quite the trend in those days. He told me that I didn't need to enroll because I already have a great personality. He signed me up for Art Camp instead. He wants us to learn and hone our talents because that's how he is. He is quite the renaissance man. In a span of 10 years, he learned to do a lot of things that he didn't know how to do at 40. He learned to do magic tricks, make great videos, ballroom dancing and play the drums. He is now very athletic, playing tennis and going to the gym once a week. Fortunately for me, he recently just learned boxing and weight training so he can now beat up my sister's suitors (I'm married now so I wouldn't have to worry about that). He is exceptional at those new talents, teaching himself while raising five rowdy kids, keeping a demanding career and serving in church at the same time.
Yes, our father is a wonder kid. So a lot can be expected from a Robert Labayen's offspring. It can be a pain sometimes, at work, in school or in the community, when people expect us to be as brilliant as our father. But our Papa never asked us to be the over-achiever that he is. He just wanted us to grow up having fun and become decent individuals. He knows we will shine in our own twisted ways.
Of all his kids, they say I'm the one who is most like him. They silent-type, brooding, low-profile, articulate and most of all, clumsy. I also got his sarcasm. We are so alike that we clash at times. When I was a teenager, Papa once told me that I'm the most stubborn among his children, and that's true. I would do what he says, only if I think he's right. Otherwise, I would stand up for what I believe in and he would just shake his head in frustration. Now that I'm older and a little bit wiser, it's easier for me to obey him, because I see the sense in the things he say. I also tell him what I think, and he values our opinions. That's what we liked most about him. He encouraged us to speak our minds so we grew up unafraid of rejection or failure. Ever since I was a young girl, he always told me that I'm beautiful, so I grew up believing that I am. And no matter what I feel about myself, he always tells me that I am a good girl and daughter, and that would always lift my spirits.
Papa has a lot of friends. He would probably win if he decides to enter politics because of all the people he helped and inspired. But despite being a friend to all, his family is his topmost priority. Our father is the epitome of a family man. When he has free time from work, he makes sure that he spends it with his wife and kids. Which is why when I got married, I made it clear to my husband that our family should always be his top priority and I couldn't have it any other way. To be fair, he knew from the start that I have high standards, because I look up to my father when I think of a great dad and husband.
Some people find it hard to be proud of their fathers, which is a shame. But us Labkids are lucky, because Papa always made it easy for us to be proud of him and respect him. When I was in ABS-CBN, I was a bit shy to admit to people that I'm Robert Labayen's second eldest child. I was afraid of the pressure. But now, I am proud to say, that I am my father's daughter.
Happy Birthday Papa, you really are the best. I love you :)
