#SalamatPa: Four kids lost their father, but they gained the love of a true tatay

Many parents will testify to the magical feeling of seeing their child for the first time. The connection is instant and in that moment, they almost always say that they feel the purest love they have ever known. 

However, there's more than one way to be filled with this life-changing love, as seen in Tatay Ruben's case. 

When he fell in love with his would be wife Arlinda Benitez, Tatay Ruben also fell in love with all four of her children. 

"Tinanong ko naman sila kung matatanggap nila ako bilang pangalawang tatay," Tatay Ruben said. "No'ng una walang sumasagot."

Tatay Ruben recalled that he would bring gifts for the children to try to win them over. "'Pag uwi ko do'n, may dala akong kung anu-ano. Kahit anong maisipan kong dalhin para sa kanila," he shared.

He earns a meager P200 a day from fishing, but Tatay Ruben does his best to save up and help out at home. "Bumili ako ng TV dito, kasi do'n sa kanila nakikinuod lang sila sa kapit-bahay."

Tatay Ruben nonetheless has to balance this, lest he spoil the children too much with presents. He does his best to fulfill the responsibilities of being a father, which sometimes means being stern. 

Gennevie, who was eight when Tatay Ruben married her mother, recalled one instance when he hit one of her siblings. 

"Nakita ko 'yong kapatid ko na pinalo niya — ang pinangpalo niya no'n walis tingting — tapos iyak ako nang iyak," Gennevie said, "Sumigaw ako, 'Bakit pinapalo niyo? 'Di naman [namin] kayo tunay na ama!'"

What Gennevie may not have known was that having to be rough with the children was hard on him. Seeing his wife and his mother-in-law hit the children was painful for him, too. 

Through all of it, Tatay Ruben remained patient and after three years, it became clear to Gennevie that he was someone she could rely on and even call "tatay."

"Sabik din talaga akong magkaroon ng tatay, kasi nga bata pa ako nawalan ng tatay. Gusto ko nga rin talaga dahil wala naman akong nakagisnan na papa habang lumalaki ako," Gennevie said.

And Tatay Ruben? "Ako ang nag-aalaga talaga sa kanila. Napamahal po sila nang husto sa akin," he declared. "Kahit umabot sa magkamatayan...gano'n ko sila kamahal."

Arlinda describes Tatay Ruben as a loving father and said that he appreciates what he has done to help her and the affection he has shown for her kids in the 18 years that they have been together. "Parang tinuring na rin po niyang mga tunay na anak 'yong mga anak ko," she said.

Tatay Ruben, though he has arthritis, works hard for the family. He wakes up in the wee hours of the morning — rain or shine — and faces the sea. 

"Sa papa ko, salamat kasi kahit hindi ko kayo totoong papa, pinaparamdam niyo 'yong pagmamahal ng isang ama...tapos naappreciate ko lahat ng sakripisyo niya," Gennevie said. — Aya Tantiangco, GMA News