A heartwarming moment was shared online as an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) father, Erick Perculeza, surprised his daughter Maeca with a birthday “salubong” call on her 22nd birthday, September 12, 2024. The touching video, uploaded by Maeca herself, showed her father singing a birthday song to her at exactly 12 AM.
Maeca recalled that she almost forgot about the call since she was busy studying, but she remembered just before midnight. “It was around 11:58 PM when I realized it was nearly 12 AM. I remembered that Papa would always call me exactly at midnight, just like he does every year for me and my siblings,” she shared in a Philippine Star report.
Erick, who has been working as a cargo officer in Doha, Qatar, for 18 years, has maintained a close relationship with his daughter despite the distance. “I’ve always been a Papa’s girl since I was a kid, and even though we’ve spent many years apart, our bond has only grown stronger. I’m so grateful for our relationship,” Maeca added.
The heartfelt interaction quickly resonated with netizens, with many expressing their admiration for the father-daughter bond. “Awww, father’s love will always be the top-tier,” commented one user. Another added, “I aspire to be this kind of father to my children someday.”