Chapter 19 – Letter from Tondo
The sky was overcast in Seoul that morning. It wasn’t raining, but the clouds hung low like they were cradling a secret too heavy to keep. Erica had just finished breakfast when the doorbell rang.
“Jepoy!” she called gently from the kitchen.
He was already on his feet. “Got it!”
A young Korean mailman bowed and handed him a single envelope with his name written in shaky, uneven handwriting—definitely not from Korea. The paper was thin, already creased at the corners. When Jepoy flipped it over, he saw the smudged return address: Tondo, Manila.
His stomach dropped.
He hadn’t heard from home in months. Not since he left Manila without a proper goodbye, driven by guilt, dreams, and a desperate need to escape everything familiar.
He closed the door slowly.
“What is it?” Erica asked from behind him, sensing the silence.
Jepoy looked at her, the letter still trembling in his hands. “A letter… from my dad.”
Erica tilted her head. “Do you want to read it alone?”
He hesitated. “No. I think… I want you to hear it too.”
She nodded, moving to the couch. He joined her, fingers carefully opening the envelope like it might break apart in his hands. Inside was a single sheet of paper, folded thrice.
He took a breath, then began.
Anak,13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHnHnLmty4
(Son,)
Kumusta ka na diyan? Alam kong hindi ka nagpaparamdam. Hindi ko rin alam kung nagalit ka ba sa akin nang huli tayong nag-usap. Pero anak, gusto ko lang malaman mo—kahit anong mangyari, ikaw pa rin ang anak ko. Mahal kita.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODVxI6ylmw
(How are you there? I know you haven’t been reaching out. I don’t even know if you were angry with me the last time we talked. But son, I just want you to know—no matter what happens, you’re still my son. I love you.)
Jepoy paused for a second. His throat tightened, and Erica gently rested a hand on his knee.
He continued.
Pasensya ka na kung hindi ako naging perpektong tatay. Hindi ko man nasabi, pero proud ako sa’yo. Sa pangarap mong mag-drums. Sa tibay ng loob mong tumuloy sa South Korea. Sa tapang mong harapin ang mundo kahit wala kang kasiguruhan.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ejqk0QuUJ
(Forgive me if I wasn’t the perfect father. I may not have said it, but I’m proud of you. Proud of your dream to play drums. Proud of your courage to go to South Korea. Proud of your bravery to face the world, even without certainty.)
Wala na ang nanay mo.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3obMoFenL
(Your mother is gone.)
The words stopped Jepoy cold.
Inatake siya sa puso habang natutulog. Hindi na siya nagising. Marami siyang iniwang sulat para sa’yo, anak. Bawat isa may date. Araw-araw daw dapat mo basahin. Para kahit malayo ka, maramdaman mong kasama mo pa rin siya.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIG1fIgkJEK
(She had a heart attack in her sleep. She didn’t wake up. She left many letters for you, son. Each one dated. She said you should read one each day. So even if you're far, you’ll still feel like she’s with you.)
Erica let out a quiet gasp. Her hand tightened around his.
Pinag-iipunan ko pa ang padala ko para sa’yo. Hindi ko man kayang suportahan ka nang buo, gusto ko lang malaman mo, ginagawa ko ang lahat ng kaya ko. Ang tambol mo, nilinisan ko pa rin bawat linggo. Nakalagay pa rin sa ilalim ng kama mo.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIRhMgGuY2
(I’m saving up to send you some money. I may not be able to support you fully, but I want you to know, I’m doing everything I can. Your drumset, I still clean it every week. It’s still under your bed.)
Huwag mong pabayaan ang sarili mo. Kung may babae diyan na kasama mo, sana maging mabuti siya sa’yo. Hindi kita pinalaki para maging mahina. Pero hindi rin kita pinalaki para itago ang sakit. Umiyak ka kung kailangan. Kahit mga lalaki, pwedeng masaktan.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZjtLrNwCh
(Don’t neglect yourself. If there’s a girl with you there, I hope she’s kind to you. I didn’t raise you to be weak. But I didn’t raise you to bottle up pain either. Cry if you must. Even men can be hurt.)
Balang araw, sana makauwi ka. Hindi man tayo laging nagkaintindihan, pamilya pa rin tayo. At dito sa Tondo, may tatay ka pa ring naghihintay sa’yo.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61JvK9JwhH
(Someday, I hope you’ll come home. We may not have always understood each other, but we’re still family. And here in Tondo, you still have a father waiting for you.)
Mahal na mahal kita, anak.13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzN5fbxh46
(I love you so much, son.)
– Itay13Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQkkWj3oKq
(– Dad)
The last word on the page blurred as Jepoy’s vision swam. He hadn’t cried in years. Not when his mother begged him to chase his dreams. Not when he boarded the flight to Seoul. Not even when he missed home so badly it hurt to breathe.
But now—he couldn’t hold it anymore.
He clutched the letter to his chest, bowing his head.
“I never even called him after I left,” he whispered. “I told myself I needed space… pero totoo, love, natakot ako. Natakot akong aminin na kahit may pangarap ako, bitbit ko pa rin yung sakit sa amin.”
Erica wiped her eyes, voice trembling. “He doesn’t hate you, Jepoy. He never did. He just missed you.”
He nodded. “And now Mom’s gone. She died and I wasn’t even there. Hindi man lang ako nakapagpaalam.”
“You still have your father,” she said gently. “And the letters from your mom. You carry them now, in your heart.”
Jepoy looked at her. “I want to go back. At least to visit.”
“Then let’s go,” she said.
He blinked. “We?”
She smiled. “You’re not facing that pain alone anymore. Wherever you need to be, I’ll go with you.”
It was a simple promise. But it anchored him.
Because for the first time in years, he didn’t feel like he was running away.
He was finally choosing to come home.
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