- Two-time NCAA Women’s Volleyball MVP Gretchel Soltones reunites with her estranged mother
- Soltones and her mother have not seen each other in ten years before their reunion
- ABS-CBN, through the help of NSO, located Soltones’ mother in East Rembo, Makati City
MANILA – Back to back NCAA Women’s Volleyball Most Valuable Player (MVP) Gretchel Soltones had a touching reunion with her estranged mother during the tournament’s awarding ceremony.
This emotional mother-daughter meeting is the culmination of the collegiate volleyball star’s journey of reconnecting with her mother.
Not known to many, the San Sebastian ace hitter has not seen her mother since she was in Grade 3 and has pursued volleyball as a way to prove herself and reestablish a relationship with her mother.
“Wala po kaming communication. Actually kaya nga ako nag-Manila – para mapatunayan kay Mama na kaya kong mag-isa and gusto ko rin siyang makausap [We have no communication. Actually, that is the reason I came to Manila – to prove to my mother that I can make it on my own. I also want to talk to her],” an emotional Soltones told ABS-CBN back in May 2015.
Soltones revealed in an article written by Mark Escarlote of ABS-CBN Sports that her parents separated when she was an incoming Grade 3 student.
Last year, when she won her first MVP award, Soltones said that she hopes that her exposure on national TV, dailies and social media would prompt her mother to make the first move of approaching her. She also disclosed that she had no clue where her mother is.
“Actually hindi ko po alam. Ayoko pong manawagan kasi gusto ko siya ang lumapit sa akin [Actually, I really don’t know. I don’t want to publicly call for her because I want my mother to approach me],” she said.
In a more recent interview, Soltones emotionally reiterated her hope to be able to speak with her mother again.
ABS-CBN, through the help of the National Statistics Office (NSO), was able to locate Soltones’ mother, Marilyn Mollena, in East Rembo, Makati.
Gretchen Ho, a Filipino volleyball player and television host, visited Molleno in her home and then arranged for the latter to be present during the NCAA Season 91 Volleyball tournament awarding ceremony where she surprised her daughter who received her second MVP accolade.
Watch the emotional mother-daughter reunion below:
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