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A young woman named Grace Ann Diño from Batangas spent most of her life not knowing who her biological father is. But when she turned 18 last year, she received the best birthday gift she could ever ask for: finally meeting her biological father.

In an episode of On Record, Grace Ann and her loved ones shared the heartwarming story of how she had her heart's greatest desire fulfilled.

According to her mom, Marry Ann Villamin, she had always been honest to Grace Ann about why her biological father is not with them.

“Pinaliwanag ko kay Grace noon na wala 'yung kanyang tunay na ama kasi umalis siya para kausapin 'yung kanyang magulang para magtapat. Kaso, hanggang sa mailabas ko siya, hanggang naghintay kami ng isang taon o mahigit, hindi siya dumating,” Marry Ann told On Record.

(“I explained to Grace before that the reason why her real father is not here because he went home to talk to his parents to confess about our situation. However, even after I gave birth to her, and after we waited for him for one year or more, he never returned,” Marry Ann told On Record.)

So, for most of growing up years, it was Grace Ann's stepfather who became the father figure in her life.

Despite this, she still felt like there was a gaping hole in her life that needed to be filled.

So, although she previously held grudges over her absentee biological father, it was undeniable that there was nothing more she wanted in life than to meet him and to get to know him.

For her 18th birthday last year, this wish was partially fulfilled when Grace Ann finally saw her biological father, Derby Pendon, through a recorded video message during her birthday celebration.

Grace Anne Diño seeing her biological father for the first time in person / Source: On Record

Although this was a truly special moment, Grace Ann wasn't content as she wanted to meet her father in person.

“Gusto ko po siyang makilala sa personal…kung sino po talaga siya, kung ano po 'yung pagkatao niya, ano po 'yung ugali niya…'yung maramdaman ko po 'yung pagmamahal ng isang tatay po sa kanyang anak,” Grace Anne said.

(“I want to meet him in person…to find out who he really is, what's his personality, his traits…to feel a father's love for his child,” Grace Anne said.)

This prompted her aunt, Eva Diño to track down Grace Ann's biological father on Facebook.

And with the help of On Record, Grace Anne's dream of finally meeting her father Derby in person to hug him and to get to know him finally came true last December 15.

While Grace Anne was shooting some videos for her appearance on On Record, she didn't know that her father was already just a few steps away from her at the beach.

Then, when the On Record staff told her to turn around, Grace Anne got the most beautiful surprise of her life: her biological father standing next to her, reaching for a hug.

Watch their heartwarming first meeting in the On Record video below:

For more inspiring stories like this, watch On Record every Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. on GTV.

Viewers abroad can also watch On Record via GMA's flagship international channel, GMA Pinoy TV. For the program guide, visit www.gmapinoytv.com.

Watch On Record and other GTV shows through the clearer digital display of GMA Affordabox! For those on the go, catch your favorite Kapuso programs through GMA Now using your Android phones!

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