A UP Diliman student found a father figure in Romeo “Dingdong” Corpuz, a taho vendor who regularly looked out for her during her years on campus.
Corpuz met Atty. Alex Castro when she was a freshman at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Castro attended a 7 a.m. class and often arrived at school without eating. After learning about her situation, Corpuz began waiting for her every morning with a fresh cup of taho.
For four years, until Castro completed her undergraduate degree, Corpuz continued the routine “rain or shine,” according to Castro’s account.
Their bond grew through daily conversations at UP. Corpuz shared stories about his family and life as a vendor, while he asked Castro about her studies, future plans, sports and student activities. Castro later described him as a father figure who became an important presence throughout the eight years she spent at UP, including her time in law school.
Castro also recalled a rainy day in December 2009 when Corpuz noticed she went to school without a jacket. The next morning, he gave her the jacket he had been wearing.
She later shared that it was the only jacket he owned. When she tried to return it, Corpuz told her he had already washed it and that she could keep it.
Castro eventually bought him a new jacket, which Corpuz proudly wore while telling others,
“Bigay ng anak ko ’yan.”
After completing her law degree at UP, Castro passed the Bar Examinations in 2018. She returned to campus in 2019 and reunited with Corpuz at the Sunken Garden, where she finally told him the words she had waited years to say.
“’Tay, may abogado ka na.”
Castro’s Facebook post about their reunion later went viral, drawing public attention to the bond formed between a student and a vendor through years of kindness, care and gratitude.
