Our father's love

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. A belated but heartfelt Happy Father's Day! Some stories leave you speechless. Others leave you changed.

- DBM SECRETARY AMENAH F. PANGANDAMAN

Last week, I had the privilege of speaking to the West Visayas State University's (WVSU's) graduating class of 2025. I came ready with a pep talk, but even then, revisiting the stories of these graduates moved me beyond words.

Take, for example, the story of Rodelyn Cusay. In elementary school, her parents separated, and it was her father who raised her and her sibling single-handedly. A laborer at a fish port, he toiled under the sun and sea, day in and day out, just to put food on the table and give his children a fighting chance at a better future.

When the pandemic hit, Rodelyn faced greater odds. She had no stable internet, no laptop-just a cracked phone, an unbreakable spirit, and a grateful heart determined to one day give back to the man who had given her everything.

Seeing her in person at the university, finishing strong, brought me to tears. Even as she accepted her degree in Education, it was clear her thoughts were with her father, whose sacrifice carried her to that moment.

I believe that the stories of WVSU graduates prove just how much of who we are is shaped by the fathers who stood beside us and helped build the lives we're proud to live today.