A father’s love knows no boundaries.
That’s what wedding photographer Law Tapalla said when this father “walked” his daughter down the aisle while lying on a stretcher on Thursday at the Palazzo Verde in Las Piñas.
Sadly, Charlotte Villarin, the bride told Coconuts Manila in a Facebook message today that her father has passed away on Sunday.
“[The late] Mr. Pedro Villarin walked her (sic) daughter down the aisle like any father would have even if his current health makes this a difficult endeavor,” it says in the photographer’s post.
When the photo was taken, Charlotte said her father was battling advanced liver cancer.
The post showing Pedro holding Charlotte’s hand now has over 21,000 likes and 15,000 shares as of posting.
Charlotte told Coconuts Manila that her wedding was for her 65-year-old ailing father. “That wedding is really for him because he wants to walk with me to the altar and witness my wedding since according to him I’m his favorite daughter,” she said.
She also said that during the time, they thought her father wouldn’t make it because he had been admitted to the hospital for extreme pain. “We were going back and forth in the hospital beforehand,” she said.
“We hired an ambulance and a private nurse [for the wedding],” she said. “We thought he would be able to sit on a wheelchair, but he couldn’t take it and used the stretcher from the ambulance instead.”
The event’s coordinators and family members helped to pull the stretcher towards the altar.
Charlotte continued in Filipino: “But he really sacrificed because he felt [a lot of] pain in that moment. And we thank GOD for allowing that to happen.”
Over the weekend, she shared a photo of her kissing her father during the wedding. In the caption, she says in Filipino: “Papu, I love you so much.”
She said in a mix of English and Filipino: “It was really painful but knowing that he left this world [after] fulfilling his dream [of walking me down the aisle], I’m happy already no matter what.”
Netizens were amazed by her father’s love, leaving positive comments on the post:
Facebook user Aying Jomuad Babas said that a parent’s love is priceless.
Rhea Nisola Osia wrote: “[T]his is love.”
Zhio Shiori wrote in a mix of English and Filipino: “Omyghaaad. My heart.”
Others wished their own dads would be there for them when they get married.
Adriana Gulla said in Filipino: “I hope when I get married, my papa is by my side.”
“Pa, I wish you could’ve done this with us,” another follower shared.
Charlotte announced in a Facebook post yesterday that his father’s wake will be held until Friday in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
