We parents have a dream
for our children, guiding them towards the lives
which is best for them. But sometimes,
despite our good intentions, they still go astray
to the path we want for them. Tonight, let's look at the story
of a mother who despite of it all,
remains honest to her heart and stood up to her belief. [Josephine] Toto! Ouch! -Josephine, dear, leave him.
-[groans] Toto! -You're about to give birth.
-Ouch! [Josephine] Toto! It hurts. [Mom] Josephine,
what are you doing? -[pants]
-Give birth already! Mom, I can't. I can't. -Can you stop your labor pains?
-No, my husband should be here. It can't be. Toto! I'm telling you,
give birth already! [groans, panting] -Josephine.
-Toto! [Josephine] Toto... Sweetheart. Come on... Sweetheart, come on,
I want to give birth already. Doc, doc, I can give birth now! [pants] [Toto] Joel... My child... I want you to be a soldier
when you grow up, just like dad. Oh, my child... If you want to be a soldier,
dancer, singer or teacher, or whatever it is,
it's fine, dear, okay? Whatever you want to be, your dad and I will always
be here to guide you. For me, I want Joel
to be a soldier. [sighs] -Sweetheart...
-Hmm? You're putting too much
pressure on our child. You're getting ahead of him. He can't talk yet. Son, whatever you want to be. What's important is
that we're happy, and our family is in good hands,
right? That's what's important, right? [scoffs] Okay, fine. You're always right. [scoffs] Come on, sweetheart. All right, all right. Joel, you will be a soldier,
said your dad. Joel... [Charo] <i>Dear Charo,</i> <i>time flies and two more children</i> <i>has been added to our family.</i> <i>When Toto retired</i>
<i>from being a soldier,</i> <i>we used the money he got</i>
<i>to start a fish pond business.</i> <i>By the help of that,</i> <i>our lives was not that lavish</i> <i>but the way our family was,</i>
<i>we were happy.</i> <i>I continued to juggle my duty</i> <i>as a wife and as a mother.</i> It seems like yesterday
you're still a baby and now you're about
to enter college. You know, you're both lucky. Your children are so kind. -Ah.
-Oh, Mom. Why are you crying?
I thought you're happy. I'm happy. Come on. [laughter] Come on, let's eat. [Josephine] Come on now. Now that you graduated
from high school, I want you to be a soldier. [utensils clanking] [Joel] Dad... I want to take
computer course instead. I think being a soldier
is not for me. You haven't tried
and yet you're giving up. Toto, maybe it's better if we let him decide. Wait, Josephine. Why is it that every time
I decides for our family you always oppose me? It's not like that, Toto. Toto. Toto. [sad music playing] Toto. Don't get mad, Toto. What am I in this family? I am the father, but I don’t have the right
to decide for our family. You're ignoring me. Come on. It's not like that. Our children and I are lucky, because you are so kind
and a responsible father. For me, as parents, we shouldn't dictate
our children all the time. Maybe we should give them
a chance to decide for themselves. So they will have
their own decision. As a mother, I know, if they do that
they will be happier. That's just my point. Okay, okay, okay. Enroll him
in the course he wants. [Charo] <i>After that,</i> <i>we prepared for Joel's college,</i>
<i>Charo.</i> <i>-Despite Toto's objection...</i>
-[sighs] <i>...I believe then,</i> <i>that Joel could prove</i>
<i>to my husband</i> <i>that the path he took was right.</i> Let's button this up a bit. Miss Anita, please, can you take
a photo of me and my son? -Here.
-A picture? Of course. Come on, please. Smile, son. -[Joel] Mom.
-[Josephine] Hmm? Just leave me here. Oh, this young man, are you embarrassed
I'm dropping you off? Just let others your age,
they envied you because they don't have a mom
who's caring just like me. Come on, Mom. Okay, fine. But here's the thing,
study well. Study hard. So that your dad
will be at peace. And show him that even though this the course
you'll take, it is still fine
that you're not a soldier. And as the eldest, study well. So that your siblings
would imitate you. Because if you do good, they will do good too. Promise me, son, okay? Yes, Mom. Promise. -Okay.
-Okay, Mom. -Okay.
-I'm already late. Okay. Take care. -I'm sorry, buddy.
-Sorry. Let's play first. [Josephine] Goodness, son. Your grades are all high. Oh, my son, thank you. Your Dad's hard work
is all worth it. Wait. -To...
-[Toto] What? Toto, come here, hurry, What is it? Look at this. Your son's grades are all high. See? -[Toto] This will do.
-[man] Joel. Hey. -What?
-[Joel] How are you? Mom... This is Chris and Allan. Good afternoon, Ma'am. Good afternoon too. Mom, we will just go to Chris's. Uh... We will just talk about
our project. All right, but just don't stay
up late, okay? [Joel] Okay, Mom. -[Josephine] Take care, son.
-[Joel] Okay, Mom. Why did you let him leave? He said they will talk
about some project. I don't like the aura
of Joel's friends. I think he would do
something again. You'll see. [Charo] <i>Joel finished his first</i>
<i>year in college well, Charo.</i> <i>I thought this would continue</i>
<i>through his second year.</i> [Toto] Dig in, dig in. -[Toto] You'll be late in class.
-[Josephine] Oh, hey. -We'll go ahead, Mom.
-Okay. Take care, okay? [Janrey] Yes, Mom. -[Joel grunts]
-[utensils clanking] [Joel] I'm late already. Hey, hey, hey. Wait. Aren't you going
to have breakfast? No, Mom,
I need to at school early. Oh, Mom, my tuition is due now. Oh, yes. Good timing. You know, I will be the one
to pay for your tuition fee, because I have to go
to your school. I'll pay, Mom. Let me. Because I will go
to your teacher, Miss Basco, I recommended
some herbal to her. Mom, because I'm embarrassed
with my classmates and friends. I'm all grown up now
yet you always visits me. Oh, this young man. Let them think what they want. Let me pay, Mom! Mom... I can do that myself. Okay, wait. I will get the money. Here. [sad music playing] [Charo] <i>I felt restless</i>
<i>that time, Charo.</i> <i>I have a strong feeling</i> <i>that something in my son</i>
<i>changed.</i> <i>That's why I decided to visit</i>
<i>his college.</i> <i>Hoping</i> <i>that my visit</i>
<i>will give me peace.</i> [Mrs. Basco] Mrs. Laruscain. -Ma'am.
-Hmm? How's the herbal
I recommended to you? Oh, yes, thank you. My skin is getting clearer. -I see it.
-[both chuckle] How about Joel, how is he? I didn't see him. Is he not student in your class? He drop out of my class. I heard from his classmates he dropped other subjects
from the first semester. I heard that he is always
at computer shop. He's with his friends. I'll go ahead, Mrs. Laruscain. I'll go to class now. -Okay.
-Okay. -Thank you.
-I'll go in now. Okay. [Toto] We trusted you. We thought you're... [sighs] studying hard. But you didn't finish
the semester. You spent the money
your mom and I earned so hard. For what? For computer! Huh? What will you get from it? Son... What's your problem, huh? Why are you being like this? Tell us, maybe we could help you. You had the courage
to make stupidity. Toto! We can't you talk! Answer me! Why?! Do you care? Even if I study hard,
you won't be happy. Why would I study-- What are you saying? Huh? Enough. Joel could enroll again
from the subject he dropped. So he can keep up. But son, you need
to straighten up your life. Didn't you hear what he said? He didn't care. He don't care
about the money we spent on him so he can study. So it's better for him to stop studying! Don’t be like that. There's still hope. There's no hope. He can't expect
anything from him, especially from his stupidity. Goodness, To. You are the father, so as his father,
you should trust him. You should be the one
to tell him that he can change
if he wants to. He don't want to change! [suspenseful music playing] If you don't have
any trust to your son, then I still have. And that will not fade. [scoffs] [thuds] Come on, Mom. I know what you will say. That I'm wrong. I'm a useless child, because I don’t follow
what Dad wants. Son... I don't want to judge
your wrongdoings. But as a mother, it is my duty to help you
to decide what's right. You're right, if you're happy
with what you're doing. I'm happy with what I'm doing. Even you know you're ruining
your future, you're happy? Because if you tell me
you're really happy, and that's what your heart
is telling you, then I will let you be, son. Mom, if you won’t say anything,
I will sleep. Me and my friends go through
some colleges, I want to take Architecture
to be an architect. That's nice, dear.
Push through it. If you need something
just tell us, we will help you, okay? You know, dear, if you will do something bad
just like your brother don't make it hard for your mom. [utensils clanking] You're drunk again. -[thuds]
-You don't have any respect. For me and your mom. Yes, Sir. I smell alcohol again, Sir. Yes, Sir. [scoffs] I drunk outside with Ruel. They invite me, Sir. [laughs] Toto, don't. What is it about you two?
Stop it. You will stop... studying. Then I will stop. [laughs] I really don’t want to study. You just insisted. [thuds] Go to your grandma, go! Stay there! [sad music playing] [utensils clanking] Mom, are you all right? I'm all right, dear. I will study hard, Mom. I won't be like my brother. This I promise you, Mom. [Charo]
<i>Though Toto lose hope with Joel</i> <i>we send Nova to college.</i> <i>While Joel loses</i>
<i>his direction in life.</i> <i>That's the hardest decision</i>
<i>I've in my life, Charo.</i> <i>They said I should listen</i>
<i>to my husband,</i> <i>to them, all of them.</i> <i>But I chose what my heart</i>
<i>is saying.</i> <i>A heart of a mother</i>
<i>that loves his son.</i> [sad music playing] Nova, I want a cell phone
when you come back. -Oh, my.
-[Janrey chuckles] Don't worry, son. When your sister graduated, and she have a job, she will buy you
the nicest cell phone. [Janrey laughs] Goodness, dear. If your school was not faraway
from our home, I don't want you
to be apart from us. Yes, Mom. Okay, I will go ahead. Take care, okay? Mom. I need to pay my tuition fee for the second semester
tomorrow. Maybe you can give money now? Is that so? All right. I will handle it. I will go to your school
tomorrow, I can pay your tuition. No, Mom. I can do it. Then I will give you
the receipt. Just like I used to. Let Nova do it, Jo. We can trust her. She will not fail us. I will bring it
to your grandma tomorrow. Okay. Thank you, Mom. All right, Dad. I will go ahead. Dad... [Charo] <i>I had a bad feeling.</i> <i>I feel like what happened</i>
<i>to Joel is coming back to me.</i> <i>But I still forced myself</i>
<i>to trust Nova</i> <i>and let her continue</i>
<i>her second year in college.</i> <i>But one day, Nova didn't come</i>
<i>home to us just like before.</i> [Josephine] Toto, it's Nova! She left! She ran away. Come on, let's look for her. She ran away. She ran away, so let her be. How can you say that? How can we let her be?
Your child is a girl. We didn't even know
where she went or what happened to her. If they didn't want to value all the things
we're doing for them, then let them be. Let them be. If you don't want
to look for her, then I will. Josephine. Enough! Let them be. [Cacai] It's raining. There. Okay, I will go ahead. [woman 2] Thank you. Cacai. I know you're the closest
to my daughter, Nova. Do you know where is she? Can you bring me to her? Uh... Auntie, I don't know. You know, I've been looking
for her since last night. Um... I already asked
all of her friends but they didn't know anything. It's just that I worry about
my daughter as her mom. I'm really sorry. I really don't know
where she is. Okay. If you heard news about her,
please tell me, okay? Please. Auntie. Uh... I lied to you. Huh? Uh... The truth is,
I know where is she. [cricket chirping] Mom? Nova... Why? Mom, I love Eduardo. How about your studies? Your life? Mom, I'm pregnant. [sighs] Can he support you? Mom, it's not important
if he can support me, we love each other. Why? Do you think that love
can feed you? Do you understand me, Nova? You're both young. What will happen to your life? Nothing, right? Nothing. Nova... Dear... Dear... I can accept my grandchild. I can accept Eduardo too, dear. Just come back to us. I will not leave here
until you come with me. I can accept
all of your mistakes. All of it. Dad will not forgive me. No. He cannot disown you. I promise you. He will not disown you. [both crying] [Josephine sighs] [Eduardo] I will marry Nova. I love your daughter. We're planning to build
our own family. Um... How about you, dear? What's your plan? I don't want to study, Mom. Eduardo and I really want
to live together. -[sighs]
-[glass thuds] How about you, Janrey? Are you going to be like your useless siblings? Huh? Because if you're just going
to be like them, I will not send you to school
anymore. So we will not expect anything
from you. To... Hmm. And this one too. This one too. Are you going
to help this one, huh? Huh? Are you going to guide
this one in life? Are you going to expect
something from him? Huh? Why are you mad, Dad? Huh? -[scoffs]
-Is it because I don't follow what you want,
huh? -[grunts]
-[Josephine screams] -[Josephine] Toto, enough!
-[Janrey] Dad! [Josephine] Enough! Don't! Toto! [screams] [Janrey] Mom! [groans] Do you see what you did? Do you see what you did? Leave... -[Janrey] Joel!
-...this house now. Leave. I don't want
to see your face here! Toto, don't. He can't leave, he's our son. Fine. Then choose. Me... or your useless son? Choose! [narrator] <i>This February</i> <i>Maalala Mo Kaya</i>
<i>went to Tarlac City,</i> <i>Masbate City and Dipolog City</i>
<i>for a regional story gathering.</i> <i>We were overwhelm</i>
<i>by your warm welcome.</i> <i>We're glad</i>
<i>to all the letter senders</i> <i>and those who shared</i>
<i>their story.</i> To... It hurts
when you made me choose. You're my wife. Joel is my son, our son. I don't have a son who is... Who's what? Who is useless? Who don't have direction
in life? Who don't have respect
for his parents. I don't know why despite your son
being disrespectful, you're still on his side. Because that's what
my heart says. That I shouldn't disown him. And I want to be honest
with myself. My decision came from my heart. And it's not dictated
my anyone else. Choose. Me... or your son? Don't ask. You already know the answer. [sad music playing] [gloomy music playing] [cries] [sobs] Where did my husband
and me fail, Mom? Why are they like that? They don't care...
about their dad's kindness. Is my decision right? I choose Joel. I let my husband go, Mom. [sobs] I just really don't know. I don’t know... [sobs] Mom... [both crying] ["Hawak Kamay" playing] [exhales] Toto... Forgive me. We're partners. [Charo] <i>Upon Toto's come back,</i> <i>I felt like I've made</i>
<i>the right decision, Charo.</i> <i>Since then,</i>
<i>he accepted my decision</i> <i>to let Nova and her boyfriend</i>
<i>Eduardo live in our house</i> <i>because I want to take care</i>
<i>of my daughter</i> <i>during her pregnancy.</i> <i>Even though Joel and Nova</i>
<i>lose their direction,</i> <i>I'm still at peace</i>
<i>because they are with me.</i> <i>But the problems</i>
<i>still tested us.</i> [keyboard clanking] Janrey! Why are you not in school, huh? You too, huh? You will be like your siblings? Is the heartaches given to me
and your Dad not enough? Come on. Let's go home! Come on! [tense music playing] Son... Don't you want to study anymore? Janrey... As parents, I want you to have
your own decision. You will have wrong decision, but because of that you will make the right one. Son... Just be true to yourself, then you will make
the right decision. You will be happy
and you won't regret it. [clangs] Mom... I will continue with my studies. I won't stop. Hey. Where are you going? I will just go out, Mom. Where? With your friends? Are you going to drink again?
Then go home drunk? Mom, don't mind me. Joel, please. I'm begging you. Straighten your life.
Consider your dad. It's already late and yet he's still in the fish
pond working for us. [laughs] He should be ashamed. He left and yet he can’t
stood up with his decision. -Ouch!
-[Janrey] Joel! -Joel, stop it!
-What? Go ahead! You really have the guts!
You will hurt me too! Go ahead, do it! I don't know what your dad and I
did wrong to all of you. But whatever shortcomings
we have, I know we did everything just to be a good parents
to all of you. But if you want
to ruin your lives, I still won't give up. I'm still here, right?! Right?! I almost lost your dad. I almost lost
the love of my life. What else
do you want me to do, huh? What else? What do you want me to give you
so you'll come to your sense? What else?! [sad music playing] Mom, forgive us. [Josephine crying] Mom, forgive us. [sobs] Aren't you going to change,
Eduardo? Do you not care that we're going to have a child
that we need to support? Eduardo, please. Don’t go out with your friends.
Help me, please. Find a job. You know... The problem with you,
is that you're nagger. You don't want me
to live in peace. [thuds] I give up, Mom. Mom, I can't take it anymore.
I don't know what to do. Mom, you're right. This is my fault.
I didn't listen to you. You know, dear, my prayer to the Lord is for you and your husband
to be good together. Whatever you think is right
for you, do it, dear. [Charo] <i>Nova decided</i>
<i>to leave Eduardo.</i> <i>She looked for a job</i>
<i>to support her child.</i> <i>I continued to be by her side,</i> <i>guiding her to her new start.</i> [Nova] My salary
from the grocery store I'm working for
is just a little. I couldn't budget it
even for my child's milk. But you know, Mom, one of friends is lucky because she was hired
from a recruitment agency. She will work in a restaurant
in Dubai. Uh... Was she sure about the agency? Yes, Mom. That's why getting her documents
to work was just easy. [Toto] That's good, dear. So you can save some
for you baby. But you know your mother, she loves you so much. She didn't want you
to be apart from her. Uh... I don't want mom to be sad. Ooh. Come on, Nova. Don't think about me.
Think about your child. Whatever it is
that's good for you. If you need to go abroad,
then go ahead. Whatever... help you need just tell me,
I will you. [Nova] Hello? Yes speaking. Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Okay. Thank you so much. Mom, I was hired
as service crew in Dubai. I told you! [both laughing] -Wow, Nova, congrats!
-To! To! -What’s happening?
-Goodness. Our daughter was hired in Dubai.
She have a job now. I will go to Dubai, Dad! -You got accepted in Dubai?
-[Janrey] Yes, Dad. Really? Amazing! [Josephine] Oh, my. We're so proud of you. I will go to Dubai. [laughs] [utensils clanking] [glass clinking] Mom. I want to change my life too. I want to go abroad but... I don't know if I can. Why not? It seems like... I've made
a lot of mistakes to you. Mom, I don't want to leave you. Son. It's time to think
about yourself. Someday you will have
your own family. You should prepare for that. You're right, Mom. You know... those times I was destroying my life, Mom, I thought I was happy. But I was not. I am not happy. Joel... Now that you've finally found
your real happiness, follow it. Follow your heart. Now that I've seen you changing, I know the decision
I've made is right. I'm right. I was right
not to listen to them. Mom, forgive me. [sniffles] Mom, forgive me. -Mom, forgive me.
-Hush. Mom, forgive me. [crying] [Charo]
<i>After Nova left for Dubai,</i> <i>Joel got hired to work in Qatar.</i> Be true to yourself. Always listen to this. This won't go wrong. -Okay?
-Yes, Mom. Whatever happens your Mom and I will be here. Okay? Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Dad. Hmm. Psst, be good, okay? Yes, Joel. Take care. ["Hawak Kamay" playing] Take care. Bye. ["Hawak Kamay"
continues playing] [Josephine] Let's go. You know... I'm lucky you're the mother
of my children. [Janrey] You're sweet, Dad. [chuckles] What do you want to be
when you grow up? It's up to you. You should decide for yourself. Your Mom and I will be here
to guide you. [Charo] "<i>Today,</i> <i>Nova and Joel are still working</i>
<i>abroad, Charo.</i> <i>And Janrey continued studying</i>
<i>high school.</i> <i>Because our children</i>
<i>often calls,</i> <i>our family went back</i>
<i>the way it was before.</i> All of us carry hope for a peaceful
and better future. Sincerely, Josephine." Though the person important
to Josephine opposed her belief in her children, she stood up with her decision. Sometimes, listening to what
our heart is saying and believing in it is just what we need to become successful
in whatever life challenges. Just like Josephine who fought
for her children's future and become successful
at the end. This is Charo Santos. Good evening. ["Maalala Mo Kaya" playing]
