Ryan Bang on reunion with separated parents after 19 years: 'Answered prayer'
Ryan Bang expressed his happiness over seeing his estranged parents together at the dinner table after being apart for years.
In an Instagram post, the It’s Showtime! host and restaurateur shared some photos of their reunion dinner, which was made even more special for him as they spent it with the family of his girlfriend, Paola Grace Huyong. “Year 2005 isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit ako nagpunta ng Philippines ay dahil naghiwalay yung parents ko,” he wrote in the caption.
“Araw araw kong pinagppray kay God na sana dumating ulit yung araw na magkasama ulit kami kahit sa isang dinner lang at ngayon answered prayer talaga na nagkasama kami ulit at ang pamilya ni @paohuyong.”
Bang wrote that nothing is impossible with God, adding two praying hand emojis.
In a vlog documenting his recent trip to his home country South Korea, Huyong’s dad gifted Bang’s father with a black bracelet, while Paola and her mom gave Bang’s mother a necklace and a bracelet.
“This is a token of family and friendship,” said Huyong’s father. “I give this to you.”
Noticing that his parents enjoyed playing with the kids from Huyong’s family, Bang jokingly told his girlfriend, “Paano ‘yun, Pao? Gusto nila ng apo eh?”
In April, Bang shared with journalist Karen Davila that he had a difficult childhood in South Korea. Born to a well-off family, his father’s billiard business closed down amid the 1997 Asian financial crisis. This led to arguments on money matters between his parents, and eventually, divorce.
"So nag-divorce po sila so nung naghiwalay sila, Grade 4 ako kasi sobrang ganda ng bahay tapos lumipat kami condo two-bedroom, tapos lumipat kami one-bedroom and then lumipat kami sa second floor na maliit na condo one room, wala kaming kwarto, studio," Bang recalled.
Seeing that his mother toiled in selling insurance and washing dishes to make ends meet, he decided to stay with her after his parents separated. His mother, however, had to send Bang to the Philippines when he was in Grade 7 due to the high costs of living in South Korea.
"'Yung best friend niya, nung medyo may kaya pa ang mommy ko tinulungan pala ng mommy ko 'yung kaibigan niya tapos 'yung kaibigan niya may negosyo dito, yumaman dahil sa pera ng mommy ko so nag-favor 'yung mommy ko, 'Pwede [diyan] muna tumira ang anak ko?' Kaibigan ng mommy ko may asawa pero walang anak so parang inampun nila ako," Bang said.
Bang only had good words to share about his father, who works as a cab driver in South Korea. He said his old folk does not charge Filipino passengers as a way of paying forward. “Yun daw ‘yung pambawi niya sa pagmamahal sa akin ng mga Pilipino. Super sweet talaga ng dad ko!” he said.