WATCH: Sarah Geronimo gives heartrending tribute to Tatay Delfin during 20th anniversary concert
Sarah Geronimo paid an emotional tribute to her dad during her 20th-anniversary concert.
In a TikTok video posted by a netizen, Geronimo, before singing her rendition of Wency Cornejo's Habang May Buhay, gave a shoutout to his father Delfin.
She said it was her dad who saw her potential as a successful singer when she was still little.
@marygracekhu 2023.05.12 ✨ I HAVE SO MANY CONCERT VIDEOS TO SHARE!!! But here's the first one 🥹 everyone was moved and this shows how sarah is truly a family oriented person and how her dad had so much influence to her career! #MaryGraceKhu #Popster #SarahG #SarahGeronimo #SG20 #sarahgeronimoguidicelli #sarahgeronimoconcert #sarahgeronimo20thanniversaryconcert #sarahg20thanniversary #Popsters #foreverwithsarah #20thanniversaryconcert #MARYGRACExplores ♬ original sound - Mary Grace | 王育心
“Siya 'yung unang taong naniwala po sa talentong binigay sakin ng Diyos. He taught me to dream big," Geronimo said, as she appeared to hold back her tears. "Ang kaniya pong pagmamahal sa musika has greatly influenced me as a kid."
Her father also taught her to work hard, training her to sing every morning by standing on top of a table as if she were on a concert stage.
"Siya ang nagturo sa akin na maging matatag, maging malakas. Lalong-lalo na sa pagharap sa laban ng buhay," Geronimo said.
"Tatay Delfin, mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal na mahal kita. Para sa iyo ito, Tay. Love you, Daddy."
In Habang May Buhay, the persona dedicates their life and dreams to a special someone, even as they want to live for so long.
As she performs the song, a slideshow of her photos with her dad, as well as that of her mother Divine, flashed onscreen. Geronimo can be seen and heard trying not to cry.
After her moving performance, she reiterated her love for her parents.
"Love you, Ma. Love you, Daddy," she said, as the "Popsters" give her a round of applause.
In a now-deleted post in October 2022, Geronimo penned an apology letter to her parents for supposedly causing them pain. While she didn't specify what it was, Geronimo had secretly married longtime boyfriend Matteo Guidicelli in February that year. According to reports, it caused a rift between her and her parents, who have since been conspicuously absent in her concerts.