GROWING up, Kevin Embol always wanted to make his father proud.
Now in his 40s, he has established himself as an entrepreneur based in Kuala Lumpur.
But to his father, it was about carrying on the Embol family legacy — having a grandchild to hold and love.
Remembering his childhood, Kevin recalls growing up in a home filled with love and support.
As a son, he always hoped to make his parents proud through his accomplishments.
Much of that motivation stemmed from the example set by his father, whom he describes as “a loyal, respected and humble man”.
“Dad taught me about life and shared his experiences of the world we lived in.
A man of faith and the life of the crowd, he always held gatherings at home to laugh and drink over football.
But one thing I always respected was that he never abandoned tradition; he would tell me stories of my Iban ancestors who were headhunters in the old days.”
When his wife became pregnant last year, Kevin broke the news to the soon-to-be grandfather on his birthday in August.
Reminiscing about the video call, Kevin shared that his father, who was in Kuching at the time, was happy.
“But at the same time, I could see through the video call that his health had not improved at all.
I remember telling him that he had to stay strong and healthy so that when the moment arrived, he could hold his grandchild.
At that point, we didn’t know the gender yet, but one thing he knew was that his legacy would live on,” said the 43-yearold.
The silence
Just two months later, Kevin received devastating news from Kuching — the passing of his father, Patrick Embol, in mid-October.
The crushing loss impacted him deeply, especially as he was the eldest in the family.
Though his wife was expecting a child, he felt disappointed that he could not give his father the “gift of a grandchild” sooner.
“He always told me he was getting older and hoped that one day I would marry someone who would take good care of me in the future. Dad always wanted to hold his grandchild one day, but his passing came too soon.
The feeling of regret will always haunt me to the very end,” he said.
Remembering the days when he was younger, Kevin said his late father always supported him through both good and bad times.
“I may have neglected them during my younger years, but now I have come to see the bigger picture.
He was strict for a reason and wanted me to grow into a good man.”
Reflecting on his childhood, Kevin recalled growing up in a wonderful household that, while not perfect, illustrated tough love.
“My parents taught me that if I want something in life, it is not simply given to me; I often have to work for it.
The more effort I put in, the greater the reward or value would be,” he said.
Life as dad
In March, Kevin’s wife gave birth to a healthy baby boy, and that brought a new light into his life.
“Since my son was born, I knew my life would change. As a proud representative of 34th Scout Kuching, I live by the words ‘Be Prepared’.
I knew I had to sacrifice my time and work for him while also balancing work and family,” he said.
As someone who does extensive research on what is best for his son’s wellbeing, Kevin hopes that one day he can instil in his son the values his father taught him.
Staying humble, staying out of trouble and praying to the Lord are among the early lessons he hopes to inculcate as a father.
Though only three months into the “practical work” of fatherhood, Kevin admits he still has much to learn along the way.
Yet he already hopes for a future where his son grows up to achieve great things and carry forward the Embol family legacy.
Since losing his father in October last year, Kevin has often wondered how life might have been if his dad were still around.
“If dad was around, I would want to see him hold my son and take lots of family photos as memories.
I’m sure that dad would be proud and happy.”
Though no longer present, Kevin hopes his son will one day come to know the man he once called father — a hardworking, humble, calm and deeply respected man.
Just as his father filled his own childhood with stories of their Iban heritage, Kevin now hopes to continue that tradition, sharing memories of a loving grandfather who was a devoted husband and a man who respected women.
