A Gen Z, who competed in an international dance competition, didn’t expect that he would offer his new milestone to his father at his funeral.
Prince Juanico recalled the heartbreaking moment when he found out that his father, Expedito, died when he was in Dubai for the World Supremacy Battleground last July.
“Pagka-arrive po namin, nakita ko sa may bahay po namin, meron pong tent. Kala ko marami po talaga ‘yung mga bisita or magsu-surprise po sila ng congratulations.‘Yung explanation po nila is, talagang sinadya po nila na hindi muna sabihin sa akin kasi kilala po nila kasi ako na overthinking po talaga ako na ‘pag nalaman ko na wala na pala si papa, siguro halos maapektuhan talaga po ‘yung performance ko,” he told The Philippine STAR.
Prince had no idea what happened to his father. According to his elder sister, Yxcily, it was a hard decision for them to keep the death of their father from him.
“Two hours nung nawala si tatay, start naman ang competition ni Prince. Sobrang saya na hindi maintindihan kung anong mararamdaman namin kasi nanalo ‘yung kapatid ko, tapos si tatay, wala na kaya sobrang hirap sa part namin bilang kapati,” she explained.
“Syempre super proud din naman ako sa kanya na panalo siya kasi natupad nila ‘yung pangarap nila. Sila pa ‘yung naging champion kahit grabe ‘yung struggles na ginawa nila bago lang sila makapasok dyan or makapunta dun sa Dubai,” she added.
Yxcily recalled the last few days of their father before he passed away on July 13, 2025, due to health complications.
Due to his old age, Tatay Expedito had existing comorbidities including arthritis, chronic kidney disease, eye cataract, and pneumonia.
“Three days before na naman ng competition ni Prince, napansin namin kay tatay is lagi siyang natutulog. Gigising na lang siya kapag iinom siya ng gamot or kakain siya. Tapos biglang bumilis ‘yung hininga niya, ‘yung parang kala mo hinihika. Tapos kumalma, tapos nakatulog naman siya. After noon, nung nagising na naman siya, parang ‘yung breathing niya, parang every seconds na lang, then after noon, tuluyan na siya nag-stop ng breathing,” she recounted.
Yxcily said that their father died just few hours before her brother’s performance. That’s when the whole family decided to keep the secret to Prince for him to focus on the competition.
“Ang hirap lang kasi after mo maging masaya d’yan, malungkot naman kami ulit. Kasi ‘yun nga, wala si tatay.Natatakot na kami, hirap na hirap ni kami itago. Kasi, baka may makasabi ba kay Prince na condolence. Wala namang nakarating sa kanya. Hindi ako nag-post na kahit na ano na namatay si tatay for the sake of my brother na hindi maapektuhan ‘yung performance niya. Kasi gusto talaga namin na manalo siya,” she said.
Adding, “After competition lang tsaka na lang sabihin kay Prince. Pero after competition, parang nakakaawa din naman sabihin sa kanya na nawala na si tatay. Eh kailangan pa nila mag-celebrate. So, syempre nanalo sila. So, meron pa silang party. So, nag-decide kamimga before flight na lang going home. Tsaka na lang sabihin. Pero hindi rin po ‘yun nasabi. Kasi baka daw mag-breakdown din ‘yung kapatid ko. Kasi 9 hours pa ‘yung flight from Dubai to Kalibo.”
For Prince, he said he totally understood and respected his family’s decision.
He became emotional when he came home to his father’s funeral in Kalibo last July 17, 2025.
“Iba na pala ‘yung bubungad sa akin na gano’n. Hindi na po ako makatayo. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko, anong iisipin ko. Halos hindi po ako makapaniwala na ganoon pala ‘yung feeling na mawalan po ng family or papa po. First time ko lang po, mawalan po ng mahal sa buhay. Kaya gano’n po talaga ‘yung reaction ko nun,” he noted.
“Sobrang hirap na hirap din po silang tiisin na hindi po masabi muna sa akin kasi alam po nila ‘yung magiging reaction ko po na masasaktan. ‘Wag ko masyadong dibdibin kasi baka maiba pa ‘yung mangyari or baka maapektuhan pa po ‘yung mental health ko po. Kaya dun po sila lahat po sila, kinomfort po ako nila. Lahat-lahat po. Lalong-lalo na po ‘yung mama ko po,” he added.
Even if Prince didn’t have the chance to bid goodbye to his father, he is now at peace knowing that he doesn’t feel any pain or discomfort. He also offers his success to his late father.
“Alam ko very proud ka sa’kin ngayon kasi naabot ko na po ‘yung pinaghirapan ko, na may mararating pa po ako na may patutunguhan po talaga ‘yung paghihirap ko na sa passion ko po.‘Yung papa ko na halos sinuportahan talaga niya ako doon. Halos hindi talaga siya magpapatalo na hindi niya makikita ‘yung performance ko,” he emotionally said.
