Kapuso actress Lovely Abella found the perfect opportunity to introduce her biological father — whom she thought was just her brother growing up — during her wedding to actor Benj Manalo.
In an Instagram photo that captured the touching father-daughter moment, the Kapuso artist said that it wasn’t only the “first dance” at her special day, but also her first dance ever with him.
“Siya ang Daddy ko na inakala ko noon ay kapatid ko lang,” Lovely started her lengthy Instagram post on Monday, January 25.
She said that she was raised thinking her grandparents were her real parents and had a difficult relationship with her biological father.
“Noong bata ako, ayoko sa kanya, galit ako pag nakakasama siya, kahit anong pang uuto niya sa akin, binabalewala ko.”
However, as time went by, she was able to realize his fatherly love for her and his desire to make up for his shortcomings.
“Lumipas ang panahon di man kami nagkasama ng matagal, di man niya ako inaruga, di man niya ako nabigyan ng magndang edukasyon, di man niya nabigay lahat ng gusto ko di man niya naituro sakin kung ano ang tama sa mali pero ramdam kung MINAHAL niya ako.
“Ramdam ko na gusto niyang bumawi sa lahat ng pagkukulang niya sa pamamagitan ng paalala sa ibat ibang bagay, at napalitan lahat ng yun ng PAGMAMAHAL, tama nga talaga kahit anong galit sa puso mo nawawala lahat ng yun nawawala pag PAGMAMAHAL ang nangingibabaw sa PUSO mo.
“Di perpekto ang buhay natin, kaya sa pagkakataong to, pwede nating gawing PERPEKTO depende kung paano natin gagawin.”
She then thanked her husband Benj Manalo for making her first dance with her father make happen.
The Ang Probinsyano actor and son of Eat Bulaga host Jose Manalo shared how happy he was to have witnessed his wife’s first dance with her father at their wedding.
“Anything for you mahal. I’m just giving back kasi deserve mo ang lahat ng yan. Happy ako na makita ang first dance mo with daddy, at sa kasal natin nagawa yun. Napaka-special!”
The wedding took place just weeks after their second engagement last January 1, during which Benj also proposed to be the father of Lovely’s daughter.