Parents of Freddie's minor girlfriend, daughter Meagan air support for the couple's wedding plans

Maureen Marie Belmonte

<div><img src='' alt='102813-freddie_main.jpg' width='305' height='290' align='left' border='0'>Amid the persisting clamor against the relationship of iconic singer Freddie Aguilar to his 16-year-old beau Jovi Gatdula, the latter’s parents and the former’s daughter Meagan Aguilar, both expressed agreement to the couple’s plans of tying the knot soon.</div><div>During a live appearance at “<i>Ang Buzz ng Bayan</i>” on Sunday, Maegan thanked “Babe” for coming into her father’s life, which she has noted “made a whole lot of difference.” Despite admitting that they are not that close, Meagan said she “likes” babe enough to actually support their plan to exchange “I Do’s” in due time.</div><div><br/></div><div>'Actually yes, <i>kasi 'yung ganyang</i> happiness<i> hindi ko naman 'yan mabibigay sa Tatay ko. Hindi ako pwedeng pumapel na asawa. Ang papel ko po sa buhay ng Tatay ko ay anak hindi asawa, hindi</i> girlfriend. <i>Alam natin ang kaligayahan na nabibigay ng isang relasyon. Alam natin ang kaligayahan na nabibigay ng isang buong pamilya. Magkaiba po 'yan,</i>” she said.</div><div>The former singer even reiterated, “<i>Tignan niyo naman ang ngiti ng Tatay ko! Saan naman po kayo nakakita ng </i>60-year-old<i> na ganyan, na</i> fresh<i> na</i> fresh<i> at </i>happy <i>na</i> happy.”</div><div>On a taped interview aired on the same “<i>Buzz ng Bayan</i>” episode, Jovi’s parents who are currently in their hometown in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, Violeta and Joel Gatdula, echoed the support given by Meagan to the currently much-talked about couple. </div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Kung kagustuhan po nila na magpakasal, susuportahan ko lang ang mga anak ko. Basta po sa ikabubuti nila</i>,” said Joel.</div><div>But this kind of understanding and support for the couple’s unconventional relationship, what with their 44-year age gap, didn’t come very easy, especially for Jovi’s parents.</div><div><br/></div><div>'<i>Ang tagal naming pinagusapan 'yan, halos pagkagalitan pa naming mag-ina 'yan eh. Talagang pinagtatalunan namin. Talaga pong hindi ko na talaga siya mapigil</i>,” related Jovi’s mother.</div><div>What changed her mind though was the fact that “<i>Kung pipigilan ko lalo pong magwawala 'yan eh. Lalong mas mapapariwara ang buhay. Kaya kung ano ang gusto niya susuportahan nalang kita</i>.”</div><div><br/></div><div>While many would see their daughter’s relationship with the legendary “Anak” singer as a taboo, for Violeta and Joel it somehow came as a blessing in disguise.</div><div><br/></div><div>'<i>Malaki po ang ipinagbago at ako naman po'y natutuwa sa pagbabago ng batang 'yan. Mas nag-mature siya, mas naging magalang po siya samin</i>,” shared Violeta.</div><div><br/></div><div>Notwithstanding the positive effects brought about by the relationship to Freddie and Jovi’s respective lives, the people around them cannot simply dismiss the fact that a good number of the public were disturbed by the couple’s May-December romance and some are even actively airing their thoughts about it.</div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Kinukutya kami ng mga kapwa tao. Ano ba ang kaso ng anak ko, nangutang ba siya sa gobyerno? Talaga pong masakit pero pinaglalabanan rin po namin dahil iniiwasan ko rin pong makasakit ng kapwa tao</i>,” Joel related.</div><div><br/></div><div>Violeta on the other hand addressed one of the most vicious accusations against their family—one that involved money. </div><div>“<i>Ang tingin po kasi sa akin ng ibang tao mukha po kaming pera. Na kaya ang anak namin ay nandoon ay dahil sa pera, hindi po ganon. Hindi na,in hinahangad ang pera. Insulto narin samin. Insulto narin po 'yun sa kahirapan namin. Ayoko po kasi na may. Naririnig na kung ano-ano, masakit kasi hindi naman totoo. Ayoko ng ganitong buhay</i>,” Violeta lamented.</div><div><br/></div><div>In the end though, they are still hoping for the best for Freddie and Jovi’s relationship.</div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Ika'y magpakabait para mapaagos ang buhay. Kay</i> Freddie<i> na sana ay unawain niya ang aking anak dahil sa mura pa ang isip</i>,” Joel said as a message to his young daughter.</div><div>While Violeta offered a few pieces of advice for the couple of five months.</div><div><br/></div><div>“<i>Ang pakiusap ko lang po sa dalawa ay magsama sila ng ayos. At sana kung magkaka-problema ay mag-usap sila at ayusin nila. Tibayan rin po nila ang pagsasama nila at pakita nila sa mundo na talagang nagmamahalan sila</i>” she said.</div><div><br/></div><div>Meagan on the other hand assured her father that she would be by his side at all times saying that, “<i>Tay, mahal na mahal kita. Andiyan lang ako sa likod mo kahit anong mangyari</i> and of course<i> kay</i> Babe, thank you t<i>alaga na</i> you came into his life <i>kasi</i> it really made a big difference. It really did.”</div>

Both Violeta and Joel Gatdula, parents of Freddie Aguilar's 16-year-old girlfriend, and his daughter Maegan Aguilar gave their thumbs up for the couple's plan to tie the knot soon

Parents of Freddie's minor girlfriend, daughter Meagan air support for the couple's wedding plans | PUSH.COM.PH