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Filipino children left behind by their foreign fathers bare their story of longing and acceptance

Twins Madeline and Melanie grew up without a father by their side.

They’ve only known him by his name or from a photo that their mother, Esperanza Delos Santos was able to keep after their failed relationship has separated them for years now. The twins just turned 18 last year, but like any other child who didn’t grow up knowing their father, they could only wish that he could somehow see them or get to know them.

The plea that the Delos Santos twins are telling the world is similar to the plea of other children in Angeles City, who grew up only knowing their fathers by their first name or that they were some foreign national who just visited the Philippines for alleged sex tourism.

A recent report from The Guardian about these children with different skin colors and features from that of their Filipino mothers is a testament that they exist until now. They long to be acknowledged and the chance to be called sons and daughters by their fathers of different nationalities.

Angeles City in Pampanga has long been known as a place in the Philippines where sex tourism is still reportedly booming.
If you searched on Google, there are at least three websites that would serve as a guide book for foreigners who are visiting the city for the first time and who wanted a different type of entertainment.
There were no statistics as to how many children have been abandoned by their fathers, but The Guardian interviewed six of them.
Among the stories shared, the Delos Santos twins were somehow the ones lucky enough to be acknowledged by their father, a retired civil engineer known only in reports as Ron. He even sent them money to have their own house. However, he stopped sending the twins money and their means of communication has also stopped after he lost his  job,
The twins were able to attend a private school and gain a decent education with the help of their Filipino uncle who sent home remittances from his job as a waiter in Dubai.
Their uncle also helped Melanie and Madeline trace their father thru social media but they received no responses.
Now, Melanie and Madeline work in different jobs to save up and finish college.
Thru the help of The Guardian, they were also able to locate and reconnect with their father who promised to keep in touch with them. (Elle Sie) Photo credit: Madeline Delos Santos Facebook

Staff Report

The Filipino Times is the chronicler of stories for, of and by Filipinos all over the world, reaching more than 236 countries in readership. Any interesting story to share? Email us at [email protected]

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