A 96-year-old grandfather from Rosario, Batangas, drew millions of views online after rewarding his granddaughter’s first-honor achievement with a ₱50 bill, showing his continued support for her education.
Marcelo “Mamay Celo” Abjelina gained widespread attention after his granddaughter, Erika Janelle Abjelina, shared a TikTok video of his heartwarming gesture.
The moment happened on March 23, 2024, when Erika showed her grandfather her grades and certificate recognizing her as a first-honor student.
Upon seeing her achievement, Mamay Celo immediately walked into his room. He returned carrying a ₱50 bill and told Erika to add the money to her school allowance.
“Pinakita ko po sa Mamay Celo ang grades ko at certificate ng first honor. Nagulat na lang po ako kasi po bigla po siyang pumasok sa kwarto niya,Paglabas niya po ay may dala na siyang 50 pesos. Idagdag ko raw po sa baon ko,” Erika recalled.
Surprised by the unexpected reward, Erika shared the encounter on TikTok under the account @luvlyeca, expressing her affection for her grandfather with the caption,
“luv u so much Mamay!”
The video gained widespread attention after it circulated online in 2024, with the TikTok post displaying approximately 10.9 million views in the supplied screenshot.
Erika also shared that Mamay Celo regularly gave her small presents whenever she reached milestones or accomplished something meaningful.
The ₱50 reward continued that tradition, reflecting how the elderly grandfather recognized his granddaughter’s efforts in school.
The encounter resonated with Filipinos familiar with grandparents giving their grandchildren extra allowance as a gesture of affection and encouragement.
Mamay Celo’s spontaneous response became a widely shared family moment, drawing attention to the simple ways grandparents celebrate their grandchildren’s accomplishments.
