My Dad. Manuel P. Rodriguez (1936-2009), 73

Manuel Purugganan Rodriguez
A Father. A Husband. A Man of Letters. A Servant of His Creator.

(October 24, 1936-October 30, 2009)

"Great lives do not go out; they go on" - St. Paul

To many of his friends he is known simply as "Manny;" and as his son i will always be proud to carry his name with me; Manuel the Second.

He may be not that known in the movie industry; but all his colleagues in showbusiness will agree that his contribution in the colorful worlds of television and movies deserves acknowledgement. In the industry they call him "Direk Manny," isang batikang direktor at manunulat, board member ng Screenwriters' Guild of the Philippines (SGP) at electoral college ng Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) na mas kilala ngayon na "Luna Awads."

Isang makabayang Pilipino, miyembro ng Knights of Rizal, grupo ng nag adbokasiya ng mga prinsipyo ng ating pambansang bayani. Minsang nagtrabaho bilang isang brodkaster sa radyo at isang panatiko ng Pinoy sining. Sya'y naging isang detainee noong panahon ng pagdeklara ng Martial Law.

A boxing fan, there is no "Pacman" fight he missed, he has a dvd copy of each and every fight. Sayang, di nya naabutan ang Pacquiao vs. Cotto.

As a man of faith, he is known as an active participant in the Church ministry. He sings every Sunday in the Church choir at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) - Cosmopolitan Church. He used to be the President of the Greater Manila Conference (GMC), United Church Men (UCM).

A lay preacher and a devotion leader, young people call him "tito," his church collegues call him "Manny" the always smiling Church fellow.

As a father, he has so many flaws and yet i love him. As a father, he always treats his son as a man. If not for him, i will never learn how to live the way a real man should. To be a good husband, a good father and a humble servant of his God.

In the hearts of his loved ones, "Direk Manny" will never die.

Till we meet again dad, I love you.