My 84-year-old father has Alzheimer’s, and is forgetful, but every night he asks to marry a 40-year-old maid. At first, I thought those fantasies were just due to illness, but when I secretly installed a camera, the scene that appeared shocked the whole family.
A WEDDING IN THE DARK

Mr. Santos – 84 years old, worked all his life as an elementary school teacher in Quezon City, famous for his integrity and seriousness. In his old age, he suffered from Alzheimer’s. Since he became seriously ill, he was forgetful, sometimes calling his son by his former student’s name, other times insisting on teaching.

His family loved him very much, so they hired a 40-year-old maid named Alma to take care of him. Alma was healthy, resourceful, spoke softly, and quickly won the hearts of the elderly.

But then, the strange thing began: every night Mr. Santos asked to marry Alma. He kept on pleading with his children:
– “Mga anak, may kapalaran kami. Gawin ninyo ang kasal ko at ni Alma, bago mahuli ang lahat.”

At first, everyone thought it was just a symptom of Alzheimer’s. It is normal for the elderly to be confused and delusional. But as the days went by, Mr. Santos became more and more persistent: during the day, he even asked to write a letter to the barangay to “register their marriage”.

The eldest son – Ramon – was both worried and worried. He suspected something was wrong, because his father had always been loyal to his mother and was known to be strict. Now he was infatuated with the maid, afraid that it was more than just an illness.

After many nights of thinking, Ramon decided to install a hidden camera in his father’s room. He did not tell anyone, not even his sister Isabel, for fear that if he made a mistake, he would be branded as unfilial.

The truth was chilling in the dark

A week later, Ramon opened the recording. And the scene that appeared left him speechless.

In the dark, Alma did more than just care. She sat close to Mr. Santos, constantly whispering sweet words:

“Ikaw ang asawa ni Alma… Ibibigay mo lahat ng pera at bahay kay Alma, hindi ba?”

Mr. Santos nodded blankly, smiling foolishly.

Sometimes, Alma even held his hand and signed a blank piece of paper. One night, she even prepared a wedding dress, put it on him, and recorded a video while giggling:

“Kasal natin ngayong gabi, tayong dalawa lang. Pag nakuha ko na lahat ng pera mo, magiging masaya ako habang buhay.”

Ramon trembled, his heart pounding. This was not simple Alzheimer’s, but taking advantage of a person who had lost his capacity to act to appropriate property.

That same night, Ramon called the whole family to watch the video. Isabel burst into tears:
– “Kung hindi tayo naglagay ng camera, hindi natin malalaman. Patay na si Inay, pero nagawa pa niyang gawin ito kay Tatay!”

Everyone was outraged, but Mr. Santos still sat on the corner of the bed, muttering:
– “Kasal… kasal… Nasaan ang bride ko?”

The law intervened

That same night, Ramon brought all the evidence to the barangay police. The officer on duty looked at it and immediately sent someone home to check.

Alma was caught red-handed holding the land certificate and a fake will in Mr. Santos’s room. She panicked and denied:
– “Ako’y nag-aalaga lang sa kanya, kusang-loob niya ang lahat! Wala akong ginawang masama!”

But in front of the camera and the seized documents, the truth could not be denied.

After the investigation, Alma was prosecuted for taking advantage of a person with cognitive impairment to appropriate property. The entire barangay was shaken: some sympathized with Mr. Santos, others were outraged by his bottomless greed.

The family stayed with their father

Mr. Santos’s illness became more and more serious. He still kept saying “kasal”, still asking “nasaan ang bride ko?”. The family was heartbroken but understood that only true love could keep their father.

Ramon decided to quit his job for a while to take care of his father directly. He sat next to him, hugging his thin shoulders:
– “Tatay, wala nang kasal. Kami ang nandito, kasama mo habang buhay.”

Mr. Santos’s tears welled up. Although his memory was disturbed, perhaps in his heart, he still recognized the love of his family.

The story ended with much pain. A gentle father became a victim of greed. The two children realized that sometimes illness not only robs memory, but also turns loved ones into targets for bad guys.

The bond of blood and family is what retains the ultimate value. And above all, greed always has a price to pay before the law.

Part 2: Mr. Santos’s Last Years
Old Age in the Arms of His Children

After the incident with Alma, Mr. Santos gradually became weaker. His memory gradually faded, sometimes conscious, sometimes unconscious, sometimes calling Ramon “student”, sometimes calling Isabel “teacher”. But thanks to love, he was no longer alone.

Ramon temporarily stopped his business to spend more time at home. He often sat next to his father, spoon-feeding him porridge, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Isabel, even though she had her own family, still took turns going back to her hometown in Quezon City to take care of him. She often brought a guitar, sat singing the songs he had taught his students, to evoke beautiful memories in him.

Once, when hearing Isabel sing “Bayan Ko”, Mr. Santos’s cloudy eyes suddenly sparkled, his hoarse voice trembled as he sang:
– “Ito ang awit ng guro…”

That moment made the whole family cry. Despite his illness, deep down, he still remembered who he used to be.

Family – the most precious medicine

Doctors say Alzheimer’s cannot be cured, it can only slow down the process. Ramon and Isabel do not run after expensive medicines, instead choosing love as the medicine.

Every day, he hears the laughter of his grandchildren, sits in the yard and watches the children run around. Isabel tells her father about the children’s studies, Ramon recounts memories of his childhood:
– “Tatay, I remember when you stayed up late to grade papers, then woke up early in the morning to cook lugaw for us…”

Although Mr. Santos did not respond clearly, his eyes shone with peace.

A lesson for the community

The story of Alma taking advantage of Mr. Santos quickly spread throughout the barangay. People talked, both indignant and alert. Community organizations and churches in the area even invited Ramon to share at meetings:

– “Tayong lahat ay tatanda,” Ramon said. “Kapag dumating ang araw na hindi na natin maalala, sana ang maiiwan sa tabi natin ay pamilya, hindi the greedy one.”

That statement moved many people, making them promise to care more for their parents and grandparents, so that no one would be left alone to be exploited by outsiders.

The last days

One morning, as dawn was just rising behind the rows of houses in Quezon City, Mr. Santos was breathing heavily, his heart beating weakly. Ramon and Isabel rushed over, holding their father’s hands.

– “Tatay, nandito kami…”

His dry lips trembled as he mumbled:
– “Mga anak… salamat… guro pa rin ako… proud sa inyo…”

Then he smiled slightly, passing away peacefully in the arms of his children.

Spiritual legacy

Mr. Santos’s funeral was simple but filled with tears. Former students, neighbors, and barangay residents flocked to the event. Many recounted their memories of him – a fair, honest, and dedicated teacher.

On the altar, next to his portrait, Ramon placed a small plaque engraved with the words:

“Family love is the greatest legacy. Don’t leave your elderly parents alone, because when they forget the world, they will still remember your love.”

The story of Mr. Santos is not only the pain of a family, but also a lesson for the entire Filipino community:

Don’t let greed turn love into a tool.

Stay by your parents’ side when they are at their weakest.

And above all, family love is the thread that keeps people from the darkness of loneliness at the end of their lives.

In Ramon and Isabel’s hearts, the memory of their father is not the days of Alzheimer’s disorder, but the image of an exemplary teacher, a gentle father, and proof that family is the last home in life