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StarStruck alumna Diva Montelaba recently shared one of the most personal things that happened in her life: finally meet her dad after 26 years.

In a vlog she posted on her YouTube channel, Diva detailed that she never knew her dad and that she hated him all her life because of how he made her life miserable after leaving her. But that after meeting him, she said, "Nawala lahat 'yung galit. Napalitan siya ng saya, ng excitement, ng sabik.”

Diva said that her stepsister suddenly called her one day, inviting her to join the celebration of her dad's 50th birthday. She agreed to it, and even took a week off from work to surprise him in Dumagete.

“I arrived in Dumagete and to be honest, this time, I wasn't even sure if ano 'yung nararamdaman ko. Of course I'm scared, but at the same time, I'm excited,” she said.

She added, "That was very emotional for me and it was very scary. Pero sabi ko nga sa inyo, parang I've hated this man for 26 years. Bakit parang bigla ko na lang naisip gawin yun? Again, it's very cliché, but at that point, I was mature enough to deal with it.

"I don't think I was fully ready, but I did it anyway 'cause I realized na 'Kelan ko pa gagawin ang bagay na 'to kung hindi ko maaabutan yung papa ko? When I don't have a chance anymore?'” she said.

Then, she recalled what happened after her dad saw her, “I was holding the cake, right? He just grabbed me and hinug niya ako ng mahigpit. Wala siyang ibang sinabi sa'kin kundi, 'Nak, I'm sorry, nak, I'm sorry,' paulit-ulit sa tenga ko. At that moment, I didn't need anything else. I don't need an explanation, I don't need anything.

Diva also noted, “That was very precious kasi parang that void that I have my entire life was filled with gratitude, excitement, and happiness and that's when I knew I did the right thing. That's when I knew this would change my life.

“From then on, lagi na kami nag-uusap ng papa ko, mga kapatid ko, ng step mom ko dun, and I'm so glad. I am just so happy na now I am very proud of myself. That was the best decision I've ever made.”

Diva's dad explains

At some point, Diva said she did ask her dad about his reason for leaving them. He answered, as related by the actress, “Nung nalaman kong buntis yung nanay mo, umuwi ako kagad sa amin, sa Negros. Sabi ko, nakapagbuntis ako dyan sa Cebu. Ipakasal kami ng nanay mo. Sabi ko, ayaw ko muna kasi bata pa 'ko nun e. Wala pa sa tamang isip.”

However, he assured the actress that they'd always tried to look for her and that he even stayed in Manila for years trying to find her.

“Palagi kitang iniisip talaga. Kahit hindi ka nag artista noon, hahanapin ka talaga namin nung malaki ka na,” he added.

When asked if he regretted leaving them in the past, he answered, “Oo, nag-sisi talaga. Nagsisi dahil hindi kita nakapiling ng bata ka pa, pero ngayon na malaki ka na at nakita mo na ako, at nagkaroon ng pagkataon magsama tayo, talagang gagawin ko."

On her vlog, Diva highlighted the lesson she learned from her reunion with her dad.

“If you guys have the chance to do the same, like kung meron kayong kapamilya, kaibigan, or kung may hindi kayo nakasunduan at matagal kayong hindi nag usap, wag niyo hahayaan lumipas ang mahabang panahon para maging ok kayo kasi yung mahabang panahon na yun, e, masasayang.”

"Instead of you guys together, enjoying life, you guys spend it hindi nag uusap, nagbi-build lang kayo ng galit sa isa't-isa and that's not good."

Watch Diva's full vlog here:

TAKE A LOOK AT OTHER CELEBRITIES WHO REUNITED WITH THEIR PARENTS IN THIS GALLERY: