By Eric Borromeo
On April 26, the King of Rap, Andrew E, celebrated a major milestone for his daughter, Jassley Fatima, as she marked her 18th birthday with an intimate party at Conrad Hotel.
Despite Andrew E’s celebrity status, the occasion was a heartfelt family affair, attended only by their closest relatives and friends.
True to tradition, the evening featured the ceremonial 18 candles, 18 toasts, 18 blue bills, and the highlight of any Filipino debut — the 18 roses.
The iconic rapper shared a touching moment with his daughter, dancing to “Close To You” by The Carpenters. When “What a Wonderful World” followed, Andrew E became emotional, openly showing the heart of a father who had journeyed long and hard for this moment.
After their dance, he took the microphone to thank everyone present. With his signature humor, he quipped,
“Pagpasensyahan nyo na po, pero hanggang 200 people lang ang budget namin.”
But it was his heartfelt revelation that truly moved everyone in the room.He shared that back in 2007, when Jassley was born, he was at the lowest point of his career.
“I remember, ipinanganak ka, it was April 18, 2007. Anak, ang career ko was so, so very, very low.”
“Nung araw po, 2007, nung ipinanganak si Jassley, at kami po ay nagbinyag kay Jassley, hindi po kayo maniniwala — at baka hindi niyo kayang paniwalaan — na dumiretso po kami sa aming bahay pagkatapos ng binyagan, because me and Mylene, we could not afford a decent reception for you.”
“We really didn’t have that much, anak, at that time. My career was low. So I couldn’t afford na mabigyan ka ng magandang reception. Nagtuloy-tuloy na lang kami sa bahay. Naghanda kami ng ordinaryong handa,” he shared, his voice cracking.
It was on that humbling day that Andrew E made a solemn promise: he would do everything in his power to give Jassley the grandest 18th birthday he could.
“Sabi ko, pagdating mo ng 18 years old, babawi talaga ako ng todo sa’yo. Siguro, anak, when I was saying that to my heart, maybe nakikinig ang Panginoon sa akin, nakikinig ang Panginoon sa puso ko. At siguro, anak, naawa talaga siya sa akin. Naawa siya, kaya before you reached 18, talagang ipinatikim sa akin ng Panginoon ang pagbawi niya sa akin,” Andrew E emotionally shared.
Indeed, it was a promise fulfilled — a night not just of celebration, but of redemption, gratitude, and deep fatherly love.
Andrew E rose to prominence in the local entertainment scene with massive hits such as “Humanap Ka Ng Panget” and “Banyo Queen,” eventually starring in a series of top-grossing films.
Like most artists, he also experienced the inevitable ebb of fame.
But beyond his success, beyond the flash of lights and the applause, Andrew E proved once again: he is not just the “King” of Pinoy Rap — he is the true king of his own home.
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