Mom found a girl who is very suitable for you. She is a single mother. but…
Miguel, 35, is a software engineer living in Manila. He is the pride of the family with a stable career and a gentle personality, but there is one thing that makes his parents have a headache: Miguel is still single. While his peers have children, Miguel is still only interested in work.

His mother, Aling Rosa, often sighs when neighbors ask:
— “Anak si Miguel, may asawa na ba?”
Mr. Mang Ernesto, Miguel’s father, is more straightforward:
— “Kung ganito palagi, mawawala ang apelyido natin!”

One day, Mrs. Rosa called Miguel back to his hometown in Batangas to attend a death anniversary. During a family meal, she suddenly announced:
— “Miguel, may nakilala akong babae para sa ’yo. Mabait siya, masipag, marunong mag-alaga ng pamilya. Pero… single mom siya. Sana makilala mo siya.”

Before Miguel could react, Ernesto continued:
— “Pangalan niya si Marites, 32 years old, may isang anak na lalaki, 5 taong gulang. Hindi naman kami namimili ng nakaraan, basta masaya ka lang.”

Miguel immediately objected:
— “Ina, hindi pa ako handa mag-asawa. Lalo na ’yung hindi ko kilala, at single mom pa. Hindi ko kaya!”

But Mrs. Rosa did not give up. She quietly arranged a meeting. And although reluctant, Miguel still had to go back to his hometown to “see the match” at his mother’s request.

The fateful encounter

The meeting took place at a small coffee shop in town. Miguel walked in with a depressed mood, just wanting to return to Manila as soon as possible. But when Marites walked in, he was surprised. She was gentle, her eyes bright but tinged with sadness. Next to her was a 5-year-old boy, Benedict, adorable with an innocent smile.

During the conversation, Marites told about her past love. The man abandoned her when he found out she was pregnant, and from then on she raised the child alone, working as a tailor in the countryside to make a living. Miguel listened, somewhat sympathetic, but he remained cold:
— “Marites, ayokong paasahin ka. Hindi pa ako handang magpakasal, lalo na sa may anak na.”

Marites just smiled sadly, her eyes slightly disappointed.

The wedding and the shocking secret
Miguel thought the story was over, but Mrs. Rosa kept pressuring him. Finally, exhausted, he agreed to marry, thinking simply: “Tutal, pagkatapos, kung hindi mag-work, hiwalay na lang.”

The wedding took place in the countryside, with all the relatives and neighbors. Miguel wore a suit, his face cold. When the wedding music sounded, Marites appeared in a pure white dress, holding the hand of little Benedict in a small suit.

The crowd was dead silent. Mrs. Rosa trembled, pointing at Benedict:
— “Diyos ko… bakit kamukha siya ni Miguel noong bata?!”

Miguel was stunned. He looked closely at Benedict: big round eyes, high nose bridge, dimple on the left cheek – all exactly like him when he was a child. Mr. Ernesto exclaimed:
— “Hindi maaari… ano’ng ibig sabihin nito?!”

Marites walked up tremblingly, put Benedict down, and choked up:
— “Miguel… patawarin mo ako. Hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihin. Benedict… anak mo siya.”

The truth returned

Miguel was stunned. Memories of six years ago flooded back. When he was working in Cebu, he had a brief love affair with a girl named Lyn. After breaking up, he returned to Manila, not knowing that Lyn was pregnant. Lyn changed her name to Marites, returned to her hometown, and raised the child alone.

She choked up:
— “Ayokong isipin mong sinadya ko. Hindi ko gustong pabigat sa ’yo. Pero nang malaman kong nanay mo ang nag-ayos ng pagkikita, naisip ko baka ito ang pagkakataon para magkaroon ng buong pamilya si Ben.”

Miguel knelt down and hugged Benedict. Tears streamed down his face. The boy hugged him innocently, the whole hall was moved, many people quickly wiped away their tears. Mrs. Rosa ran over and hugged the father and son tightly:
— “Anak ko… apo ko…”

Late happiness

After the wedding day, Miguel did not rush back to Manila. He stayed in Batangas, spending time with his son and Marites. He realized that this was not a compulsion, but destiny.

The story of Miguel’s wedding day became a legend in the village: from a man called “leftover”, he suddenly became a devoted father, a responsible husband. And he knew that this small family was the most precious gift that life had to offer.