Francine’s guardian angel

Not all kids get the chance to have a nice and happy family.

As time goes by, it seems as if more and more families are broken for some odd reason.

It isn’t like the old days when a couple who starts a family feels a lot more responsible and does everything to make the relationship work out.

Sometimes, it makes me sad that I happen to be born way after that period. I used to get jealous when I see other kids with both parents and their other siblings together.

Family gatherings and reunions are almost impossible for us to have these days. Everyone is just all over the place.

Spending my "growing-up years" away from my dad made a big difference. I did have a stepfather, but I always longed for my Papa.

Francine Prieto, however, sees things from a different light. Francine literally grew up under the care of her stepfather, Daddy Charles.

She was barely a year old when her stepfather started taking care of her. Up to this very day, Francine hasn’t had the chance to meet her biological father, whom she refers to as her "bio-daddy," face-to-face.

"I’m not looking for him. But if I ever see him, okay lang. I just want to see him, but I don’t plan to be with him," Francine says of her bio-daddy.

Growing up all her life alongside her Daddy Charles made Francine feel she didn’t really miss the presence of her biological father.

She says, "Parang nagawa na ng Daddy Charles ko yun eh. Nakumpleto niya. He shouldered a father’s responsibility. I’m not like the others who are looking for a father’s love."

Francine is in no rush to meet her biological father. "I just saw his picture. But even that is unclear," she says.

So, where would Francine be this coming Father’s Day?

"We will visit Daddy Charles. He passed away in 2002, so we will visit him in the church where his urn lies."

Francine felt as if her whole world crumbled when her Daddy Charles passed away. She has always helped her family financially even then. But it seemed all the responsibilities fell on her shoulders when she lost her stepfather.

As the family breadwinner, Francine is sacrificing a lot, including her studies. And it’s very hard for her.

She’s very thankful that her grandfather, her Daddy Charles’ father, is still supporting her siblings’ education.

Francine is doing very well in her showbiz career. She started off at a younger age, but unfortunately it didn’t quite work for her in the beginning.

"Lahat naman kailangan may tiyaga… at timing. Siguro noon hindi masyado pero maganda na rin ang nangyari," she says.

"At least now, my past sacrifices have given way to blessings," she adds.

"Feeling ko nga, Daddy Charles is my guardian angel when I returned to showbiz in 2003. He guided me in meeting the right people and taking the right path."

Every night, Francine prays for her Daddy Charles. For now, she is very happy with her career and is blissfully living a fabulous single life.

Her only wish is for her Daddy Charles to be happy wherever he may be.

Have a great Sunday!