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After being 'ghosted' for 60 years, this lola finally found closure with her first love


Lola Avelina, 85, grew old thinking she would never hear from her first love, Guillermo, ever again.

But for the first time in over 60 years, she finally got a chance to meet him again and asked him once and for all why he suddenly "ghosted" her back in the day.

In the latest episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," Lola Avelina admitted she never forgot about Guillermo.

She met him in Manila when she was 17. Avelina was working as a maid, while Guillermo was an 18-year-old amateur boxer.

Lola Avelina didn't have any pictures to remember him by, but she can still recall how handsome he looked back then.

"Matipuno, dahil nagbo-boxing siya eh. Matangos din ang ilong, ma-ano din ang mata, mapungay din," she said.

("He has a good build because he does boxing. He also has a tall nose and tantalizing eyes.")

"Siya pa lang ang lalaking nagsabi sa 'kin na mahal niya 'ko," she added.

("He's the only man who ever told me he loves me.")

The two shared an intense romance for four years, writing and calling each other, but things suddenly grew cold when Guillermo did something to arouse her suspicion.

Avelina heard that Guillermo was at the house of another woman, and when she went there to check, she ran into him on his way out and he refused to meet her gaze.

"Du'n na ako kinutuban na pumunta ako doon. Tamang-tama, pag-pasok ko du'n sa gate nila, lalabas naman siya. Hindi niya iniharap sa akin 'yung mukha niya, nakayuko," she said.

("I had a feeling when I went there. It so happened that when I entered the gate, he was on his way out. He didn't show his face to me, his head was bowed.")

"Nagalit ako. Na-blanko ang isip ko. Tina-try niyang tinawagan ako pero sinasabi ko doon sa sumasagot sa phone na wala ako, hanggang doon na lang. Hindi ko na [siya] nakita," she added.

("I was angry. My mind went black. He tried calling me but I had the person answering the phone tell him that I was not there. That was the end of it. I never saw him again.")

In her despair, Avelina ended up marrying early, having nine children, and permanently moving to Isabela.

"Nanghihinayang, pero nag-asawa ako agad e. Du'n ko naibuhos ang sama ng loob ko," she said.

("I regretted it, but I married someone else already. That's where I poured my resentment.")

Looking back, Avelina admitted she was not so sure if she had been truly happy with her marriage.

She was widowed in 2017, and she still found herself thinking and dreaming about Guillermo and the life they could have had together.

"Masaya ako sa mga anak ko pero 'yung naging asawa ko hindi ko alam kung masaya ako o hindi eh," Avelina said.

("I'm happy with my children but with my husband, I'm not sure if I was happy with him or not.")

"Ganito rin kaya ang buhay ko pagka si Guillermo ang naging asawa ko?" she added.

("Would my life have been the same if Guillermo had been my husband?")

Closure, at last

With the help of the KMJS team, Avelina was able to find her Guillermo again.

Guillermo, now 86 years old, is currently living in Malate, Manila. He was married and had six children, but his wife passed away due to diabetes around 20 years ago.

Much like Avelina, Guillermo's first love was still vivid in his memory.

"Amateur boxer ako, siya ang aking inspirasyon. Kahit na sino pa ang kaharap ko, sa tingin ko napakaliit para sa akin," he said.

("I was an amateur boxer and she was my inspiration. I thought anyone I was up was too small for me.") 

"Nagmahal siya sa 'kin tinutumbasan ko naman 'yung kanyang pagmamahal. Sa katunayan nga, kapag kami ay kakain, halos isang kutsara lang ang aming ginagamit. Subuan ko siya, subuan niya ako. Parati kong sinasabi sa kanya 'I love you'," he added.

("She loved me and I loved her in return. In fact, when we ate, we would use one spoon for both of us. I would feed her and she would feed me. I would always tell her, 'I love you.'")

Guillermo said Avelina crosses his mind whenever he smalls his favorite flower.

"Tuwing maamoy ko ang sampaguita... naaalala ko siya. Siya 'yung aking nalalanghap," he said.

("Whenever I smell sampaguita, I remember her. All I could smell was her.")

Still, he knew there was a lot that needed to be said between them.

"Ang unang-unang sasabihin ko sa kanya patawad sa aking mga nagawang pagkakamali, kung mapapatawad mo ako, at mapapatuloy natin 'yung nawaglip nating pagmamahal," Guillermo said.

("The first thing I would tell her is sorry for my mistakes; if you could forgive me and we could rekindle our lost love.")

"Habang may buhay, may pagmamahal, may pag-ibig," he added.

("As long as there is life, there is love.")

Thanks to a simple video chat set up by KMJS, Avelina and Guillermo were able to see each other face to face and clear up more than 60 years worth of unanswered questions.

Guillermo surprised Avelina box of gifts, which included a ring of sampaguita and a photo with a loving inscription.

"Avelina, ang sampaguitang 'yan na inihahandog ko sa 'yo ay walang kupas at walang mantsa. Maraming-maraming salamat. I love you," he said to her over video.

Guillermo even took a chance and tried to sweep his first love off her feet with a very old-school pick-up line.

"Sa laot nang namimimighati kong pag-asa sa buhay, ay pinagsikapan kong kuwintas-kuwintasin ang mga pighati at himutok upang maipahiwatig sa ‘yo ang isang pusong nagmamahal nang taitim at wagas," he said.

("In the deep sea of my despairing hope, I persevered to tie all the sorrows and pain to let you know about a heart that loves serenely and purely.")

And Avelina let him down easy by saying: "Wala kang pagsasabihan ng gan'yan kung hindi kita hinanap!"

("You won't have anybody to tell that to if I didn't try to find you!")

Of course, Guillermo also wanted to know if Avelina would be open to picking up where they left off more than 60 years ago.

"Nako! Matanda na tayo," she answered, stating the fact that she can't even walk anymore.

("Gosh! We're already old.")

Guillermo took the hit like a champ and brushed it off, saying: "Gagawa ako ng paraan para makalakad ka." 

("I'll find a way for you to walk.")

—Margaret Claire Layug/MGP, GMA News

Tags: Ghosting
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