A daughter showed appreciation and gratitude to her father, who took care of her during her journey to motherhood.
It was in September 2022 when 24-year-old Denise Amabelle Espiritu learned that she was pregnant with her first baby.
“Nabuntis ako ng ex ko, pero ayaw akong panagutan. Umiyak talaga ako. Two weeks, three weeks akong nag-isip kung paano ako aamin sa sobrang takot ko. Kasi alam kong magagalit ‘yung Tatay ko,” Denise recalled.
When she revealed her situation to her father, Dan, she was surprised by his initial reaction.
“Hindi niya ako pinagalitan, hindi niya ako pinagsalitaan ng kung ano-ano. Natatakot ako nung una kasi baka masapok ako, nakaready na akong umiwas nun kasi baka masapok ako,” she noted.
During the first few months of Denise’s pregnancy until the long hours of labor in the hospital, Daddy Don was there by her side.
“Buong pregnancy ko, father ko ang kasama ko. Lahat ng galit ko, lahat ng inis ko, siya ang sumalo. Pero never siyang napikon sa ‘kin. Kahit nararamdaman kong naiinis na siya, hindi siya nagagalit sa ‘kin at hindi niya ako pinapagalitan,” she said.
“Nineteen hours akong nag-labor. Ganun siya katagal nag-aantay sa labas ng operating room. Nakatunganga habang inaantay akong manganak. ‘Yung recovery ko, lahat siya. Sobrang tiyaga ng Tatay ko, nagulat ako,” she added.
According to Daddy Don, it also took some time to process the situation of his daughter.
“Syempre masakit ‘yun pero nandun na ‘yun eh, kailangang suportahan. Hangga’t nandito naman ako, susuportahan ko sila at mamahalin. Sa mga katulad ko, dapat tuloy niyo lang kasi para naman sa mga apo natin ‘yun,” he noted.
Denise is very thankful to Daddy Don for helping her raise Baby Eloie and for being a father figure to her daughter.
“Hindi na siya makaalis kasi hahanap-hanapin po siya ng baby ko. Siya talaga nagkecarry kapag umiiyak. Siya na ‘yung hinahanap hanap ng baby ko kaysa sakin. Kada umaga automatic na po ‘yun, susunduin na siya dito sa kwarto tas lalabas na sila, magpapaaraw,” she shared.
“Super blessed po na kahit akala ko dati, papagalitan ako, papalayasin ako ganyan, mali ‘yung expectation ko tapos sobrang okay po nung nangyari. Kaya sobrang helpful po talaga ‘yung nandun siya. Naisip ko noon, kung wala si tatay, wala po akong ibang magagawa sa buhay kung hindi, aalagaan ko lang ‘to, nakahiga lang kami,” she added.
As a working single mom, Denise admitted the hardships of raising a baby alone, but noted that with the help of family members, everything is possible.
“Kahit wala po silang tulong na nakukuha kahit kanino, they really need to keep fighting kasi para po dun sa baby kasi kailangan, tayo as a mom is okay dapat maayos tayo mentally, physically. Pray lang and dapat maging matatag lang talaga, ‘yun lang talaga ‘yung kailangan, maging matatag lalo na’t single mom, walang kaagapay. Mahirap po talaga pero kailangan kayanin,” she said when asked about her message to fellow single moms.
