This 54-year-old father from Bacoor, Cavite is a living proof of the famous quote “food is a symbolic of love when words are inadequate.”
According to Micah Denise Liwanag, Tatay Joel has a special love language for their family. On TikTok, Micah shared a compilation video of Tatay Joel preparing food to make sure that she won’t skip her meals.
“Nag-start ‘yon since nag-start na din ako mag-work from home. Kasi before ‘yung start ng shift ko 5AM so maaga talaga ako nagigising tapos ‘pag nagigising ako nang ganoong oras, nagigising din si Papa. ‘Pag tinatawag niya ako, sasabihin ko “wait lang” kasi minsan super busy or may ginagawa ako sa work. Doon na ‘yung iaakyat niya ‘yung food,” she told The Philippine STAR.
According to Micah, Tatay Joel always make sure that they are well fed anytime of the day.
“Kahit na maging busy or kahit na aalis siya or kunwari may lakad sila nang maaga, magluluto na siya bago umalis. Consistent siya. Nag-aalala siya ‘pag wala kaming food dito sa bahay,” she said.
“Hindi kasi siya vocal na parang sweet sa words, through actions talaga. Pero sa kaniya ipapakita niya na lang sa’yo yung love niya through service,” she said.
“Kunwari malungkot ako, parang kine-crave ko ang ganitong food, kunwari gusto ko ng nilaga, mamaya ‘yun na ‘yung lunch namin. O kaya ‘pag sad ako, alam niya ‘yung mga comfort food ko. Sobrang na-appreciate ko,” she added.
Tatay Joel, a former driver, was one of the thousands of individuals who lost their job when the COVID-19 pandemic happened.
“Nagluluto po talaga ako kasi ang wife k lagi siya [nasa] trabaho. Ako [naiiwan] sa bahay, [kaya] natutunan ko lahat puro sa YouTube,” he said.
“Lahat naman ng Tatay ganoon sa mga anak nila. Syempre kung ano ‘yung mabuti para sa mga anak nila, gagawin ng isang ama, isang magulang,” he added.
To show appreciation to her father, Micah uploaded a video on TikTok. Netizens were touched by the simple yet touching moment between the father and daughter.
“Grabe ganyan din si papa sa akin kaso nasa heaven na siya,” a netizen commented.
“Cuteyyy! Hind man ganito papa ko pero thankful padin ako kasi he is very supportive, taga makeup ko kapag mag program kami sa school,” another netizen said.
The said video has already garnered more than 950,000 views on the social media platform.
“Hindi ko nga alam na vini-video ako. Nakatago pala ‘yung cellphone niya. Kasi ‘pag alam niyang vini-videohan ko, magagalit siya,” she said.
“Nakakatuwa na kahit ‘yung ibang tao, naappreciate na ayun nga ‘yung comment nila na sana all blessed ka na ganyan ‘yung father mo, Mas na-realize ko na blessing na magkaroon ng isang father na ganoon,ibang alaga ‘yung nabibigay sa amin dito sa bahay, na hindi napapantayan ng kahit na anong pera,” Micah shared.
Micah said that words are not enough to show how lucky they are to have a father like Tatay Joel.
“Thank you sa pag-alaga sa aming magkakapatid, [sa] buong family. Sana hindi ka magsawa. Super blessed ako na ikaw ‘yung naging father ko,” she said.
“Sa mga Gen Zs, iba’t iba ang love language ng father natin and wala namang perpekto so habang nandyan pa ‘yung father natin, try natin i-appreciate ‘yung mga small acts na ginagawa nila para sa atin,” Micah said when asked about her message to the public.
