Actress Aiko Melendez expressed her gratitude towards her stepdad Dan Castañeda who passed away due to Covid-19.

Melendez relived the memory of her dad and the many lessons she learned from him as seen on her Instagram page yesterday, Feb. 22, where she also posted throwback photos of them together when she was still a child.

“The Passing of my dad has taught me so many things in life, [and] I know I will still learn more as days go by,” she said.

The actress admitted she “slept crying” and “woke up crying” while composing her post.

“I was my kids age about 6 years old when my mom Elsie Castaneda and Daddy Dan Castaneda got married. So basically more than half of my life he was the father I never had, because my Papa Jimi and mom got separated, and he passed away eventually,” she recalled.

Melendez is hurt at the way her step dad passed away. She stated that “if only the ‘so-called friends’ of Dad” were “just honest enough to tell him their condition,” she thinks her step dad would still be alive today.

“I have been praying, Lord knows how much I’m praying to forgive and to not just point fingers,” she lamented.

She believes that there is a lesson that her dad wants people to learn from his story.

Tingnan ang post na ito sa Instagram

Isang post na ibinahagi ni Ms Aiko Melendez (@aikomelendez)

“He wants us all to take Covid-19 seriously,” Melendez stated. “My Daddy Dan wants us to be extra careful with the people we mingle with. Kahit pa kaibigan mo yan (Even if you’re a friend). My Dad was a selfless man. He is too good with everyone around him. I am a living testimony he treated me as his own flesh and blood.”

She thanked him for being the “best lolo” to her kids Andre Yllana and Marthena Jickain. She also expressed her gratitude to her step siblings and lauded her mom Elsie’s strength, saying, “We admire you even more now.”

Melendez is seen daily on the teleserye “Prima Donnas” which airs on GMA Network. JB

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