(editor's note) Today we introduce our newest columnist/writer and long time editor, Ms. Anna-Varona Rivilla, the better half of Mayor Miguel "Dors" Rivilla.  Mam Anna has been an editor of ePaniqui Online for quite some time already and now here's her first article just in time for Father's Day.  Her personal website is at anna-varona.com.  Welcome Mam Anna!

Dear Dad,

This Father's Day weekend the children and I are here with you to be part of your life here if but fleeting, our time spent apart hopefully makes the time we spend together more meaningful. We pondered on what to give you, a man who gives so much to run his hometown, a man considered to be a great leader, a man who visits barangays and goes to work with a line of people waiting outside his office in need of his attention. I realized that our lives have gone on to such a different direction.

Around two years ago our life was very simple.  We wake up, you drive the children to school in your house shirt, shorts and slippers and I stay home trying to catch up from another sleep deprived night or we meet up with our other married friends for several intense games of badminton.  The working day follows by going to the gym that you once managed which was 10 mins. away making sure that the staff and the members were happy.  It had it's problems but you were determined to keep the ideal of person to person service for ultimate fitness, a hard battle considering fastfoodlike gyms that have popped up.  Sometimes you'd pick me up to have a date lunch alone, or with Mio and Yagu or sometimes we'd have the North Park dimsum session with Natz, Michelle, Yacuy or Malen.  Three times a week all our children would be at the gym, the three girls doing martial arts or working out and the two boys just to hang out with us and bonding with the staff.  Our life was sprinkled with laughter.  In the afternoons you'd come home with a loud holler and the kids would either run in your arms or holler back, all having something  to share with you.  Sometimes it would be what they need in school, or something crazy that Mio did (as always), Yagu wanting another robot or just as mundane as us runnin out of their favorite cereal.

Now you are away from us most of the week, your absence makes our hearts long for you.  We sometimes waver during school days wanting to ask you to come home to us. I sometimes want to beg you to give me...give us a taste of our old life when we were always together as a family if only for a couple of days.  When you can put your cellphone aside for a day so you can completely be ours.  The hurt deepens knowing that it is something I shouldn't do. My angel of wisdom reminds me I have asked you long ago how and when will you leave a mark in life.  You are doing it now. You are in Paniqui because you've always wanted to serve your hometown.  You are in Paniqui to help people make their lives better.  Only big men can do that and you are one of those who have the capacity to incite change for the good. So I stop myself, restrain the little girl that I can be, and refrain from asking for you to come home on that spur of the moment.  I realize that you are no longer the father of this family alone but that of a whole municipality.

I have asked the children check my slowly growing crystal collection and take the gemstone that calls out to them.  Their choices were heartwarming.  Remember that their ages range from 5-23, you wonder what is it that guides them.  The gems they chose to give you as symbols of their blessings:

Amethyst -  It helps give positve energy when you intercede in disputes and promotes good guidance.  It gives you new ideas and enhances the intellect
Citrine - A stone the color of gold that signifies wealth and opportunity. 
Rose Quartz - The stone of love, not only from others, but for oneself
Isis - Assists in accessing info and is good for healing, inner strength and determination

My children, how lovely they are.  They have chosen to give you symbols of Wisdom, Wealth, Love and Perserverance.  May you have all that in abundance Dors.  Wisdom to stand firm in what is right and wrong.  Wealth so you have not to worry about providing for us or Paniqui.  Love...so you don't forget to love yourself since you are always giving to others.  Perseverance because the path you chose leads for the good of the people but is not an easy one.

As Calvin Coolidge said:

Patriotism is easy to understand in America; it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country

We understand but don't forget that we are here.

Anna, Tish, Dani, Quita, Yena, Santiago and Mio