Elso Dayday - A Tribute To A Dying Father

This video is a tribute to my father, Elso Dayday, who recently passed away on 12 November 2011. He is survived by his wife Josie, and his 5 children, Daphne, Ayn (self), Rhaiz, Sherae, Darnell and his 3 grandchildren, Alexander, Brandon, and Gavin.

My father, an adventurer, left home at the age of 17 only to board a ship and become a sailor by his 18th birthday. For the next 14 years he travelled around the globe. If it had a port, chances are he had been there. He collected currency from every country he visited. As a child, I remember a box in his room with more coins than the United Nations had flags.

When he and my Mom moved to America, he agreed to stay home with the children while she went to work, giving up his life as a sailor. The plan was supposed to be temporary. However, by the time the children reached an age that would allow him the freedom to travel once again, his illness had rendered him too weak to go back to the open seas. I often think a part of him died long before his actual physical death.

My father was ill for the last 15 years and literally fought for his life every single day for the last 5 years. His grandchildren will unfortunately never get a chance to get to know him. I like to think, however, that the main reason he agreed to stay alive and suffer for as long as he did was so he could get a chance to get to know them... even if only for such a short time.

Like many Filipinos, my Father was baptized Roman Catholic. However, he was not a religious man. He had seen too much of the world to think that his way was the only way. He was simply a good man who lived a good life.

My father was quiet and often times could be described as a solitary man. At home he rarely spoke, but perhaps becoming more aware of his mortality, it was only in the hospital he would open up and tell me stories of his previous life as an adventurer.

The first segment of the tribute are the places which he often reminisced about and held the most dear. The second half is of us... His family... We were his ultimate and final destination. His experiences made him, but it was his family that completed him. He was not one to say I love you, but his actions always spoke for him, even into his final moments. As I stood at his side while he took his last few breaths, it was his wife, his children, and grandchildren for whom he called.

There are those who would say my Father died a poor man. I tell them they are wrong. My Father was the richest man on this planet. We were his true treasures in life and he would have, and did, give up the world for us. There are those who would say my Father is long gone. I tell them they are wrong. My Father continues to live on every single day in each and every one of us.

"Although I am reminded of my childhood when you were so often away at sea and I again feel a great sadness in your absence, I too can now rest knowing that you are no longer suffering. Now you sail through the seas of heaven with joy in your heart, and bliss in your soul. You are once again a strong and free man of the seas, a man with spirit and a man of perfect imperfection. And for this...Dad...we will always and forever love you."- Sherae Dayday

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Elso
• Dayday
• Tribute
• To
• Dying
• Father

[gothslave]

I know what you're going through man.

Jan 18 of 2012 was the 7th anivercery of my dad'a passing .

It sux, you feel like they will never leave you.

my deepest condolences to you man....

[liamisic911]

Great video sorry for your loss, you obviously loved and respected him very much I don't think anyones really ready for their parents to pass away it makes you appreciate the time you have with them. I might go see mine this weekend...

[xxspaggyxx]

this is absolutely amazing man, im sorry for your loss. But like you said, he will continue to live every second of everyday in you and your family.

[Chips702]

Wow so touching..great job.

[LqFFREAKK]

This was incredibly moving. Thank you for sharing.

[johnsango84]

im a lurker, but i had to post and thank you for this, it's beautiful. i went through something very similar with my grandfather (who basically was my dad since my biological parents passed away when i was young). the portions at the hospital had me teary eyed. in the end when you're having a drink with your Dad at the cemetery, i was bawwwlin' like crazy. never had a video do that to me before. thank you again for sharing.

[SpellSniper]

Thank you for sharing this with us. Elso Dayday will not be forgotten.

[ku42]

WOW b e a utiful

[hockeyer101]

very thoughtful. thanks for sharing