From a daddy’s girl who always receives words of encouragement to a son who received “tough love” as a form of discipline. Our Ballet Manila artists have varied stories about how their fathers have raised them, but the goal seems to be the same – so that they’d grow up to be responsible and strong enough to go after their dreams. To celebrate Father’s Day, our dancers share the best lessons they’ve learned from the man they call Dad, Daddy, Papa or Tatay and how he continues to inspire them.

Gerardo Francisco, principal dancer

I’ve learned a lot of things from him. He taught me how to deal with things in this world, how to become an independent person. He told me before that there is no shortcut to success. You really have to work hard for it for you to be able to reach whatever you want in life.

And I will do the same thing for my children. I will do everything also for them. What I like about him is, he is a loving father to his family, a very hardworking person. Sa kanya yata ako nagmana – na pag walang ginagawa, parang magkakasakit! (I think I inherited one trait from him – that when you’re not doing anything, you feel like you’ll get sick!)

Top photo: Geri Francisco doesn’t see his Iloilo-based father Gerardo Sr. (here with mother Erlinda) that often, but the lessons he imparted to him are always on his mind.