Childhood friends reunite after 14 years thanks to TikTok

Two childhood friends reunited after 14 years thanks to the power of TikTok!

Their story began in Puerto Princesa, Palawan in 2007, when Julienne Karl Genove, then three years old, became playmates with a five-year-old boy named Kenneth.

But Kenneth suddenly disappeared without a goodbye, so Julienne or Yen for short has been left wondering what happened to him and where he has gone.

"Si Kenneth po kasi 'yung laging pumupunta sa amin," Yen said in an episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho." "Umuuwi siya para lang po kumain tapos babalik din po sa hapon."

("Kenneth was always the one to come to our house. He just goes home to eat and then returns in the afternoon.")

"Sobrang tahimik niya lang po," she added. "Kahit inaaway ko siya hindi siya pumapatol."

("He was so quiet. Even when I fight with him he doesn't fight back.")

When Yen found old photos of her and Kenneth in one of her family's hard drives, she decided to look for her childhood friend via social media.

She posted a TikTok video with a slideshow of the photos and the song "Never Forget You" by Noisettes.

"To my childhood friend whom I never saw again after they moved out," she wrote.

The video went viral and several people came forward claiming to be her childhood friend. Many of them were just posers, but she received a promising lead when someone sent her a private message saying that they know Kenneth.

Yen's friend is Kenneth Español, who now lives  in Quezon, Palawan. His family used to rent a place in Puerto Princesa, but they eventually moved to his father's hometown three hours away from the city.

Kenneth remembers having a playmate who looked like Dora The Explorer during their stay in Puerto Princesa.

"May nakakalaro akong isang batang mukhang Dora na sipunin," he said. "Tuwing naiisip ko na may nang-aaway sa akin, parang iniisip ko same sila nung dati kong kalaro."

("I used to play with a snotty kid who looked like Dora. Every time someone gets into a fight with me, I kept thinking that they are the same as my old playmate.")

When he saw that their childhood photos have become viral in TikTok, his face broke into a smile but he did not message Yen right away.

"Nahihiya lang po ako. Kasi iba na siya ngayon. Dati sipunin lang siya. Ngayon maganda na siya," he said.

("I feel shy. Because she is different now. She used to be snotty but now she is pretty.")

Kenneth admitted that he has a crush on Yen, but he felt intimidated by the posers claiming to be him.

"Nahihiya ako kasi may mga itsura sila. Malalaki katawan, mapuputi. Tas ako ganito lang. Sure na ako walang laban," he said.

("I'm shy because they are all lookers. They have toned bodies and fair skin. While I'm just like this. For sure I have no chance.")

Eventually, however, he mustered the courage to repost Yen's TikTok video. Yen replied with an emoji and the two friends got to talking again.

Yen asked Kenneth for proof that he is really her childhood friend. When Kenneth sent a photo of him wearing the same clothes in her photos, it was finally confirmed. Yen's search was over.

The two reunited in person when Kenneth visited Yen in Puerto Princesa. He took an RT-PCR test to make sure he is negative of COVID-19.

Kenneth brought a framed photo of him and Yen as children, with Yen kissing his cheek.

He also brought chocolates, because when they were kids, Yen was caught on home video refusing to give him some even when her dad asked her to share some with Kenneth.

Yen's father welcomed their reunion, but he said they should be friends for now. Nonetheless, their family could not help but tease the two teenagers who suddenly became shy when they finally met.

The two said they will continue to keep in touch on social media and rekindle their friendship.

"Sobrang saya ko po na mabigyan po ng ganitong opportunity (I'm so happy that we were given this opportunity)," Yen said.

"Masuwerteng-masuwerte po ako, nakilala ko po ulit 'yung kababata ko (I'm so lucky to meet my childhood friend again," Kenneth added.

—MGP, GMA News