It goes without saying that every doting father would want to walk his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day, no matter what. This determination to do just that didn’t stop Pedro Villarin, 65, from ‘walking’ his daughter, Charlotte Gay Villarin, on her wedding day, despite being bed-bound.
In an interview with Coconuts Manila, it was learned that Villarin had advanced liver cancer but he still insisted on being there on his youngest daughter’s big day on Thursday (August 9) at Palazzo Verde in Las Piñas.
Charlotte said that during the time, they thought her father wouldn’t make it to the wedding because he had been admitted to the hospital as he was in agonising pain. “We were going back and forth in the hospital beforehand,” she added.
Source: Facebook
“We hired an ambulance and a private nurse [for the wedding],” she said. “We thought he would be able to sit in a wheelchair, but he couldn’t take it and used the stretcher from the ambulance instead.”
Thankfully, the wedding went smoothly and Villarin could ‘walk’ his daughter down the aisle as the event’s coordinators and family members helped by pulling the stretcher towards the altar.
Source: Facebook
Source: Facebook
Charlotte added that her father had really sacrificed a lot because was in a great deal of pain at the time of the wedding but ultimately, she was thankful to God for allowing him to be there on her big day.
Source: Facebook
Paradox Films documented the wedding, in which the first half of the touching video pays tribute to him.
Charlotte booked us less than 2 months before their wedding (original date was December) and when we found out the story behind the sudden change of the date, we were heartbroken. We thought we were ready. But nothing prepared us to what we have witnessed that day. It was a day filled with extreme emotions. It was surreal filled with poignancy, that felt like we were all in the same dream or a movie set.Tatay Pedro or Papu to his family, a loving father with a tremendous zest for life could not let his illness stop him from fulfilling his dream. His greatest wish, is to walk Charlotte who he fondly called Love, his youngest daughter down the aisle on her wedding day. It was an unforgettable moment and the most incredible one we've ever had the honour to witness.Papu Pedro, this is for you…Maku & Charlotte's WeddingVideo: Paradox FilmsPhoto: Law Tapalla PhotographyCoordination: Events Management Services by Anna Sotto | Anna Liza Sotto Events Management Services MUA: Carissa Cielo MedvedHair: Arci Sonio BarcenasCake: Cake Mapping PhilippinesFlowers: Flowers Of May and Event StylingChurch and Reception: Palazzo Verde
Posted by Paradox Films on Monday, August 13, 2018
The wedding was originally supposed to be in December, but because of her father’s weakening condition, Charlotte and her husband Mark decided to move it up to August so as to give her father a chance to see his daughter get married. Just a few days after the wedding, Villarin passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 12th.
A tearful Charlotte said, “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 deeply touched by the photos shared by the couple’s wedding photographer, Law Tapalla and agreed that a parent’s love knows no boundaries.
Our deepest condolences to the grieving family.
Also read: Single Dad Wears Pink Dress to Mother’s Day Event So His Kids Won’t Feel Left Out
