TINA's Father by : Author by: Zyriae R.Ganapin

Tina’s New Father
Author:
Zyriae R. Ganapin
Artists:
Jerrson F. Oronan
Samara Rhea B. Sollano
Robert C. Miano

Tina lived in Cebu with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Monteros and her elder sister and brother, Hannah and Joseph.

Tina’s parents always argue and their father’s negative attitude caused them to fear their own father.
But though he has a bad attitude, his children loved him and the only way he knew of repaying his children’s love was writing poems for them.
When Tina reached 10 years old, her parents was legally divorced then parted ways. Their father stayed in Bulacan and her brother went to Manila to study college while the rest of them settled in Australia. Tina spent 10 years of her life without her father.
Time passed, Tina and Hannah are already working for their living.


But one day, something seems to bother Tina. It’s telling her to go back to the Philippines and look for her Dad.
“ Mom I want to return to the Philippines and look for Dad,” said Tina.
“Have you lost your mind!? Huh, but he is your father. I can’t stop your will to be with him. Okay,” replied her Mom.
“ Joseph I want to find Dad. Will you help me?” asked Tina.
“ Okay, I’ll help you track Dad," agreed Joseph So Tina returned to the Philippines. With the help of Joseph, she was able to contact her Dad.
After the day she arrived, they agreed to meet. When her father appeared before her, she saw a new person. The violent father she knew disappeared.
Tina was puzzled, amazed, it seems like she saw a miracle.
“Dad? Is that you? You’re so different from what I expected,” said Tina.
“I know. When each of us parted ways, I sank myself with alcohol and cigarettes and its because of too much depression. But I changed,” spoke Mr. Monteros.

“ One day, I was walking along the road not knowing where to go. A red car stopped in front of me. The owner of the car was a Korean pastor who was asking for directions.
The man told me to hop on in the car and continue talking. After we reached our destination, the pastor invited me to stay a little longer and join them for a dinner. So I did…
When one of the pastors asked me,
”How about you my son, which path will you choose after death?”
I was speechless. From that very moment, I changed my life. I turned into a man of God,” Mr. Monteros explained.
Tina was so happy. At last, her father changed. He became a man of God and a better person.

Tina’s dad continued his life spreading God’s Love. He even fulfilled Tina’s dream that he will tell street kids about God along the streets.
But their happiness didn’t last long. Tina discovered that her father is suffering from a lung cancer.
A year after Mr. Monteros has gotten worse. Tina’s feeling is hurt watching her father physically suffering.

“Tina take care of your mother, brother and sister. Tell them I....I’m sorry’’. Her father spoke, and passed away in front of Tina.
When they cleaned up his room Tina found a brown briefcase. Tina ran and reported back to Joseph and the rest of the family.
“ Tina, what’s that thing on your hand? Is that one of father’s possession?” asked Joseph
“ Yes… Come let’s open it together,” cheered Tina
When they opened the briefcase, they found nothing but notebooks.
After scanning the notebooks, their eyes fled with tears.
There they found all the letter and poems their father wrote but didn’t had the courage to send them.
“He do love us. He just didn’t have the courage to show it and ask forgiveness,” Hannah spoke.
The family continued their lives happily and Tina following her Father’s footsteps.

Questions to Answer:
Why did Tina’s father and mother divorce?
A.Because their parents kept on fighting.
B.Because her mother had a negative attitude.
C.Because her mother is a drunker.
D.Because her father loved them.

Why didn’t their happiness last long?
a. Because her mother had a heart attack.
b. Because her father had a lung cancer.
c. Because her sister had a A(H1N1) virus.
d. Because her brother had a Alzheimer’s Disease.

Who helped Tina find her father?
a.Her Mother
b.Hannah
c.Herself
d.Joseph

What did their father write for them?
a. Story
b. Drawings
c. Poems
d. banners

Where did they live before they separated?
a.Manila
b.Bulacan
c.Australia
d.Cebu