“Kahit nawala na po ‘yung mama ko is huwag po kayo mag-alala kasi naipangako ko po sa mama ko na aalagaan ko kayo.”
That was the statement of a millennial to his stepfather, William, after his mother died last year.
In a viral TikTok video, 29-year-old Rhenel Gregorio captured his stepfather’s love for his mother, Rosemarie while staying at the hospital.
“In-upload ko po ‘yung video na ‘yun nung nandun po ako sa hospital. Sakit niya po kasi is pneumonia so three months po kami nasa ICU. Napag-isipan ko lang [i-post] na for appreciation din po sa ginawa ng stepfather ko kasi araw-araw siya nandun sa hospital nagbibisita kahit malayo ‘yung hospital from sa bahay namin. So talagang nakamotor lang siya para araw-araw na dinadalaw si mama,” Rhenel told The Philippine STAR.
“Nung nangangailangan kami financially, naghanap siya ng paraan, nangutang siya, binenta niya ‘yung mga lupa niya. Para lang din may maibigay man lang sa gastusin sa hospital,” he added.
Rhenel grew up in a broken family after his parents separated while he was young. Since then, Rosemarie worked hard to sustain the needs of their family.
“Si mama kasi hindi niya pinaparamdam sa amin na may pagkukulang,” he stressed.
Recalling their life while growing up with William, Rhenel admitted that he was not that close to him.
“‘Yung stepfather ko po kasi is tahimik lang siya. Hindi siya vocal na tao. No’ng mga bata pa kami is hindi masyado kami close ng stepfather ko. Hanggang sa nung nag-aaral kami ng college, hindi na rin po kami masyadong nag-uusap. Until na nag-work na po ako,” he shared.
But they were able to bond and got to know each other in 2023.
“Nagbakasyon sila sa akin noong January sa [Maynila]. Dito sila nag-new year, so doon ‘yung time na parang nag-close kami, pinapalapit sa akin ni mama si papa. Every day na sinasabi niya, ‘Oy si papa mo, tanungin mo, kausapin mo, gano’n ‘yan.’ Hanggang sa naging close kami,” Rhenel recalled.
”So nakikita ko naman ‘yung pag-aaruga niya at pagmamahal niya doon kay mama kasi nakikwento nga ng mga kapatid ko na si mama nga daw sa bahay is buhay prinsesa kasi parang hindi siya pinapatrabaho ni papa,” he added.
Little did he know, it was his mom’s way to bring them closer as it would be their last bonding as a family. Almost three months after their vacation, his mother was confined in a hospital.
“Emergency po kasi ‘yun noong sinugod nila sa hospital. So, umuwi kami madaling araw sa Iloilo. Pagdating po namin doon sa hospital niyakap ako ni papa. Kasi sabi niya hindi niya daw matatanggap kung anong mangyari kay mama,” he said.
When he saw his stepfather’s sacrifices for his mother, he realized that all the thoughts he had while growing up were all wrong.
“Na-wipe out lahat ng mga thoughts na, “Si papa is hindi tumutulong, si papa hindi niya mahal si mama, si papa is sarili niya lang ‘yung iniisip niya.” Hindi pala ganun ‘yung stepfather ko. Talagang mahal na mahal niya pala si mama,” Rhenel said.
Adding, “Saludo din ako sa mga stepfather. Kinuha nilang ‘yung responsibilidad na ‘yun na itaguyod ‘yung anak ng mga asawa nila.”
Rhenel’s mom passed away after three months of staying in the hospital due to pneumonia.
When asked about his message to William, he stood firm that he would take care of him even if his mother was not here.
“Ako naman ang magbabalik-tanaw sa binigay niyong sacrifice, sa pagbigay tulong n’yo sa mama ko. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa inyo dahil walang-sawang pagmamahal ang ibinibigay n’yo pagtulong niyo sa amin din. Maraming salamat,” he stressed.
