Angelica finally meets her dad

Those were the happiest days, said Angelica Panganiban of the five days she spent with her new-found biological father, American navy, Mr. Charlson. A teary-eyed Angelica recalled how she discovered and eventually met her father. The big day happened on the last week of November this year.

“Marami na po ang nakakaalam that I have met my biological father. Masarap lang yong pakiramdam,” she began.

“I spoke to my (adoptive) mother who gave me just the surname of my father. I searched through the website of the US Navy where I saw his name. There was no phone number and no address. At that time, I had no plans of seeing him or talking to him. I just wanted to see how he looked. Gusto ko lang mabuo ang imagination ko. After two weeks, I found a fan page of the ship where he was on assignment. There was this man who posted that he could never forget his experience during the martial law period from 1984- 1986. I figured since I was born in 1986, it maybe possible that he knew my father. I sent him a message and he responded. I asked him if by chance he knew of a Mr. Charlson, and he said, “Yes, why?” When I read his “yes” answer, kinabahan ako. Two weeks after, I was able to chat with my dad.”

Angelica said she was trembling when she saw his picture. She is his carbon copy. Initially, she felt disheartened. “Para siyang lulubog lilitaw. Minsan nandiyan, minsan wala.” I did not understand, why at times he would chat with me, and another time, he would disappear. Parang pinagtataguan niya ako. Then came a point when I sent him a message that I don’t want anything from him, and I don’t need his support.”

Many times, Angelica revealed that she would accept work around the United States hoping to meet him. “He would tell me, yes, we can meet up but at the last minute he would back out. Until I got tired. Sabi ko, kung ayaw mo di huwag. At least nakita ko na ang picture mo. Yon lang naman ang gusto ko noong una eh.”

On her birthday last Nov. 4, her mother gave her a CD as birthday gift. It contained a recorded message from Mr. Charlson. It said, “Happy birthday Angel, this is your dad!” Angelica also got a call from him. “I was crying and crying at the mere sound of his voice.”

Last week of November, Angelica scheduled a Mexican cruise. Mr. Charlson knew about it. “He said he’ll take a leave from Nov. 29 to 30. I told him, ‘I can extend my vacation just to meet up with you even for a day.’ But my Mexican cruise was canceled and he had come over in advance and instead of a one day meeting, we got together for five days.”

Angelica described the first meeting with her daddy as “magic.” “I can’t believe it up to now.“ Spending five days with Mr. Charlson, Angelica got to know that he speaks a little Tagalog, that he has three kids, two boys and a girl. She also learned why she was separated from him — somebody sent Mr. Charlson a telegram saying she and her biological mother died in a car accident.

During the five days that they were together, Mr. Charlson also got to watch Angelica’s DVDs. “He asked me what my projects are and I gave him DVDs. We watched I Love You, Goodbye together. I have so many bed scenes in that movie and every time, there was a bed scene, I would turn around, nahihiya po ako, ganun pala ang pakiramdam pag may tatay ka, na hindi mo kaya ipakita ang ginagawa mong kalokohan.”

Angelica also gifted him her first Best Actress trophy. “I brought my trophy with me. Sabi ko, that’s for you. I wanted to give him my first Best Actress award. Bilang tatay ko, kasi sa kanya ako galing, gusto kong ibigay sa kanya yon.”

Angelica has yet to see her half-siblings. And her father has started giving hints to his own family. “Pero hindi pa umaabot ang kwento niya tungkol sa akin kasi gusto niya magkita muna kami.”

While their first meeting was very emotional, saying goodbye was with a very heavy heart. “We were both crying. He sat me on a chair and told me, “Do you remember the time when you got to sleep while leaning on my shoulder? I did not move a bit because I know that my first-born was sleeping on my shoulder for the first time.”

An overjoyed Angelica has now come full circle. “I didn’t expect that this will happen to me. I know there are kids who want to meet their mom and dad.. I want to be an inspiration to them.”

But whatever happens, her adoptive family will always be there. “Balibaliktarin man ang sitwasyon sila po ang pamilya ko. Sila lang. I love them dearly.”

(To be continued)