True enough, distance makes the heart grow fonder.

After several months apart, a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) enlisted personnel has shared a heartwarming reunion with his children after returning home from his deployment.

Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Nelson Dadulo Jr. was deployed to Manila in December 2020. He was designated as the alternate boat captain in one of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ships.

His two children, Doydoy and Sassa have been staying home with his wife, PO3 Pearly Joy Dadulo, is also a PCG officer designated at the Coast Guard Station Negros Oriental in Dumaguete City.

When the day came that he was allowed to return home to his province, Nelson seized the opportunity to surprise his children in Dumaguete last April 28, Wednesday.

“Sinabi po ng husband ko na makakauwi siya, sabi niya isusurprise daw namin yung mga bata tapos hindi ko pinaalam sa kanila na uuwi yung papa nila sa araw na iyon, sinabi ko lang sa kanila na I have a big surprise and it’s tall kasi yung papa nila matangkad na tao (My husband said he will come home and we should surprise the kids. I did not let them know that their father will come home that day, I just told them that I have a big surprise and it is tall because their father is a tall man),” Pearly told the Manila Bulletin.

Pearly, who captured the video of their surprise, cannot contain her happiness for their children’s reaction when they saw their father home.

In the video shared on Facebook, the children greeted their father with warm embraces and cheerfully jumping in happiness, “Papa’s here!” as they chant.

“Masayang masaya ako at naluluha habang pinagmamasdan ko sila habang kinukunan ko sila ng video. Natatawa ako pero naluluha ako kasi iniisip ko na maging kumpleto na naman kami tapos kahit sa maikling panahon na paguwi niya kasi babalik na naman after (I was so happy and in tears, as I watched and captured them on video. I was also laughing and in tears, because we were complete even in the short time),” she said.

As both frontliners are needed to be deployed in the different areas, Pearly shared that they maintained the strong relationship with their family through good communication every day.

She said that they always explained to their children that they have duties and responsibilities to serve the country.

“Ine-explain namin na babalik talaga kami kaya sila every time na for example matagal kami magkita tapos magsabi kami na makakauwi kami that day ineexpect nila and nagaabang sila sa paguwi namin. Very malambing kasi yung mga bata sobrang close sa amin (We explain that we will definitely come back home, every time that we will say that we will go home on that day they are always waiting for us. The children are very sweet and close to us),” Pearly said.

They then advised parents, who are far from their children, to always have good communication with them to maintain their strong relationship.

“Through these actions, we can maintain our good relationship with our children kung imaintain natin yung good communication natin sa kanila (if we will maintain our good communication with them)” she added.