Eagle-eyed netizens spotted actor-director Chua conspicuously crying while watching a concert in Tondo, Manila. The free show featured Meg Imperial, Smokey Manaloto, Jopay & Joshua, Autotelic Band, and Bandang Lapis.

The viral video shows David leaning against the stage sidelines by his lonesome, soaking in the heart-wrenching lyrics of Bandang Lapis’ Kabilang Buhay, which deals with death, grief, and the painful loss of a loved one.

The chinito actor seemed embarrassed being caught in a rather emotional moment when a group of vloggers approached him after the program.

“Nakakahiya naman,” he admits. “It was just that the song’s lyrics reminded me so much of my mom Lucy, who passed away in 2020, at the height of the pandemic.”

“Mas ramdam ko lang kasi yung song coz Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and that reminded me of how we usually celebrate.”

“Kase nga, since I grew up without a dad, my mom had always been my constant, and losing her during those trying times when I was still a struggling actor brought back so many memories, especially of everything she did to fill up the void.”

Could he have been deeply affected as well by the recent passing of his estranged dad, whom he unselfishly feted a proper farewell and burial despite decades of being apart?

“Well, of course, there’s that too,” he admits. “Although that one hit me differently. I’m glad that I was able to finally relieve myself of the burden that I’ve been carrying all these years, and after forgiving him, I actually felt so much lighter.”

Asked how he plans to celebrate Mother’s Day, David said, “I plan to visit mom’s grave, and then have a little tribute celebration in our district in Tondo. I hope I can make my mom proud by paying it forward with our humble but slowly expanding Damayan sa Distrito Dos.”