Keempee de Leon on reconciliation with parents Joey, Daria

Keempee de Leon | Image: Screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network Fast Talk

Kempee de Leon broke down in tears as he opened up about his reconciliation with his parents, veteran actor-host Joey de Leon and seasoned actress Daria Ramirez, from whom he was estranged for years.

In a recent guest appearance on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” Kempee detailed how his reconciliation with dad Joey came to be after not seeing and speaking with each other for five years.

“It happened by the grace of God. June, nung panahon ng Father’s Day. Doon nag-manifest sa akin. Parang sabi ko, ‘Lord, give me the courage and strength na harapin si Daddy. Kung pagalitan ako, tatanggapin ko. Sigawan man ako sa harapan ng tao, OK, tatanggapin ko,’” he said. 

Keempee initially paid his dad a visit in “Eat Bulaga,” and despite not having the chance to discuss their issue then, he shared that Joey’s gesture gave him the assurance that everything was well between them.

“Ta’s total silence, wala siyang sinabi, lumapit ako, and niyakap ko nalang. ‘Happy Father’s Day, ‘dy,’ sabi ko,” he said, adding that they went outside, had some casual talk, and as he was about to say goodbye, Joey’s shook his son’s hand. 

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“Doon pa lang, parang naramdaman ko na na OK na. OK na tayo, kalimutan na natin kung ano ‘yung nangyari,” Keempee recalled in tears. “Niyakap ko siya, sabi ko, ‘I love you, ‘dy. Thank you.”

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Months later, Keempee was invited for lunch at Joey’s home with his wife Eileen and their other kids, Jocas, Jako and Jio, during which Keempee had the opportunity to properly apologize to his dad. 

“Sorry po. Sabi ko sorry sa lahat ng nagawa ko. Kasi ‘yung pride ko, ‘yung umiral sa ‘kin ‘yung pride ko kasi. Isa ‘yun sa kasalanan na ayaw ng Diyos talaga, ‘yung pride,” he shared in tears. “Malaki ‘yung kasalanan ko sa ‘yo, sa pamilya.”

Keempee and Joey’s rift was reportedly due to the former’s departure from “Eat Bulaga!” and subsequent feelings of depression and isolation. During this time, Keempee distanced himself from his family including his father. 

Meanwhile, Keempee also shared how he reconnected with his mother, Daria, after two years of no communication, saying it started because of his niece, Sophia.

“In-invite namin siya nung Christmas. Dun na lang talaga kami nakapag-usap talaga. Hindi na namin pinag-usapan kung ano ‘yung nangyari. Sabi ko lang, ‘my, kalimutan mo na ‘yon, move on tayo,” he said, referring to Daria’s viral interview in which she talked about Kempee and also aired her feelings about her split with Joey.

Keempee currently stars in the GMA TV series, “Prinsesa ng City Jail.”