Another Father's Day

Daddy, Tatay, Papa, Dada --these terms are often used to call a father. According to dictionaries, the father has a relation to his children and plays the male parent role in leading the family. He is the biological make-up of the child paired with a mother. Society paints him as the provider, the protector and the foundation of the family. However, it is not the same for all people.

Last Sunday, the rest of the world celebrated another Father's Day. Restaurants were jam packed as usual, each creating their own promotion for families to dine in. Fathers either get a special treat or a photo opportunity with their "Happy Father's Day" prop --a typical ride on the season to attract more customers which translates to more money.

It was on this day when I realized that some families function without a father. If there is indeed a male figure in the family, he is either dysfunctional by being present physically but absent mentally. Other children are raised by mothers only and they find their father figure elsewhere. As for me, I have mentioned a couple of times that my father raised me by doing double roles of the male and female in the family.

However, societal norms are already different today. Gone are the days of assigning gender to specific roles in the family. The mother can now be the provider while the father takes care of the children and vice-versa. Most females are now joining the revolution of working around the house for repairs and renovations. The pandemic brought life to the do-it-yourself era of bringing about a minimalist and aesthetic vibe to one's house. Thank you for the countless Tiktok reels and home buddies Facebook group.

The notion of removing the assignment of roles tied to one's gender is also even felt in the workplace. We see a lot of women bosses, taking on both administrative and physical tasks. Men can also now be seen in departments such as design and marketing, which are often associated only with females. Because of the introduction of the SOGIE or the sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression bill, a lot of human resource offices are taking this into consideration. They are trying to make a safe space for everyone involved.

Similarly, the role of the father could be taken by anyone. It is up to the family to decide. Others are seen in the form of a female, transgender, or bisexual, however they want it. As long as they do their fair share of contribution to the family, they are sure to be part of it in any way. As good children, we honor them and show our gratitude for the sacrifices that they made. This may be two days late but it is never too late to honor our parents. In fact, every day must be Father's Day because our parents deserve respect every day and all the days. In one way or another, they made us who we are.