Our son has fallen
for someone else

Dear Tita,

My husband, Nick, and I have been placed in a very embarrassing position.

Our son, Joel, who graduated from college last year, has been working in Makati for the last eight months. Recently, Nick informed us that he met and fell in love with a co-worker of his in Makati and now he had gotten her pregnant. It was a big shock to all of us.

Joel has a girlfriend here named Malu, who is the daughter of our close family friends. They had been on since their college days and everyone took it for granted that they would marry someday. Malu is a sweet, thoughtful and lovely girl, who had been almost part of our family for years. When I was hospitalized recently, she visited me in the hospital everyday and nursed me when I got home. She was offered a job with a big hospital abroad but she declined as she wanted to wait for Joel to come back home.

I know how much she loves Joel and wants to marry him. I asked Joel how he could do that to Malu, who has loved him for years. He said he doesn't even understand how this situation developed. He asked me to try to explain things to Malu and her parents.

Up to now, Joel still has not told Malu about what happened to him in Makati. She calls and visits me often and even revealed to me that Joel has not been communicating with her as much as he used to and she is worried. When she asked me if I knew of any problem, I didn't have the heart to tell her.

Please advise me on what to do.

CONCERNED MOTHER

Dear Concerned Mother,

You must tell Joel to let Malu know what happened as soon as possible. It is very cruel to keep her in the dark, expecting to marry him anytime soon.

He has to be the one to tell her the truth. For your part, you should have a heart-to-heart talk with Malu's parents and explain the situation to them. Let them know that this has been a big shock to you, too.

I know how disappointed you and Nick must be over what happened to Joel, but that's the way life is. Things happen when you least expect them.

TITA