This story yet again proves that a father’s love is unconditional.
Even though he’s sick and bedridden, Daddy Danilo wanted to walk his daughter, Daren Tuazon, to the altar during her wedding day last February 17, 2024.
Recalling the tearjerking moment, Daren said that she also prayed for that moment to happen.
“‘Yung morning po noon sobrang worried kami, baka–inisip namin–baka dun pa siya [mawala]. Sobrang nakakaiyak, hindi ko ma-explain,” she emotionally told The Philippine STAR.
“Weeks before noong wedding, lagi niya tinatanong, ‘Tapos na po ba ang wedding? Sobrang gustong-gusto niyang makita ‘yung mga apo niya na naka-Amerikana, ayan, naka-flower girl.’ Lagi niyang sinasabi, ‘Kailan ba magpapasukat?’ Sobrang excited siya. Kasi ako ‘yung bunso–only girl–na hindi niya pa naabutan ang wedding,” she added.
Daren said that Daddy Danilo first underwent an operation 15 years ago due to a heart ailment.
“Nung namatay po ‘yung mom ko [year 2020], nag-iba na lahat. Si mom ko kasi lahat nag-aasikaso sa kanya. Napapansin namin na parang nami-miss niya si mommy, nalulungkot siya,” she shared.
Daddy Danilo was back and forth in the hospital before he was bedridden in December 2023. In 2024, days before the wedding, he was again brought to the hospital.
“Hindi na namin alam ‘yung gagawin namin Paano ‘to ‘pag nangyari ‘to? pero sobrang, parang inaantay niya din eh. Tapos miracle, parang lumakas siya bigla, parang ano, parang pinilit niyang maging okay ‘yung mga vital signs niya, lahat, pinauwi kami ng doctor.Noong wedding day, dapat hindi talaga siya sasama sa mismong church, baka kasi magka-emergency. Pinag-usapan naming family na, ‘Sige, gawan nating paraan,’” Daren said.
Daren couldn’t help but become emotional when her father made it to her wedding. While lying in a hospital stretcher, Daddy Danilo walked with Daren in the church.
“Hindi ko akalain na magiging ganoon ‘yung wedding na kahit pabalik-balik kami sa ospital, parang sobrang saya.Kahit wala na po ‘yung mom ko during that wedding, nandoon pa rin siya. Sobrang thankful ako. Kusa na lang talagang lumalabas ‘yung luha. Nakakaiyak talaga na, hindi ko ma-explain po ‘yung ano eh, sobrang saya ko kasi for the last time, na-bless din po siya ni father noon,” she noted.
Weeks after Daren’s wedding, Daddy Danilo passed away.
“Alam mo ‘yung parang ‘yun lang talaga ‘yung hinintay niya. Parang tanggap niya na ‘yung nangyari. Ang peaceful po nung pagkamatay ng dad ko,” she said.
She is thankful to all her family members who helped her fulfill her dad’s wish and for having a supportive partner.
“Sobrang thankful naman ako sa naging husband ko. Never siya nagreklamo, sobrang inuna niya ko, kung anong desisyon ko naiintindihan niya. Close nga sila ng dad ko. Kampante ang dad ko na siya ‘yung papakasalan ko,” she stressed.
When asked about her message to her father, Daren emotionally said, “Sobrang thank you daddy sa naging sacrifice mo sa’min. Sana gabayan n’yo po kami na habang lumalaki po ‘yung family ko. Gabayan po kaming magkakapatid na makayanan po namin lahat ng mga challenges, mga problems na dumating sa life po namin sana i-guide n’yo po kami ni mom.”
