WATCH: This Nurse Gave His Mom His First Salary. Her Response Is Something We All Need To Hear

Did you give your first-ever paycheck to your parents? What was the experience like? 

On TikTok, 23-year-old nurse Gelo dela Cruz from Binondo, Manila shared a video of the moment he gave his first salary to his mom.

In the video, his mom Adora "Lhot" Reyes could be seen beaming with pride and happiness for his son. "Hindi na manghihingi ng baon. Ang dami naman," she said while counting the bills.

"Unang sahod mo ito so tatanggapin ko ito. Pero ibabalik ko sayo kasi pinaghirapan mo ito. So ito, iingatan mo tong pera mo. Ikaw yung mag-ipon."

"Thank you. Balik ko sa'yo 'to. Pinaghirapan mo to anak," his mom  said. 

@gbrl.dc Iloveyou Ma ?????? #mader ? Because You Loved Me (Theme from "Up Close and Personal") - Céline Dion

Surprised, Gelo replied, "Paano yung mga binigay mo sa akin, nung mga araw na yun?"

"Unang sahod mo ito so tatanggapin ko ito. Pero ibabalik ko sayo kasi pinaghirapan mo ito. So ito, iingatan mo tong pera mo. Ikaw yung mag-ipon," his mom explained.

She assured him she will ask him for money if she needs it, but he can keep his first salary. In the post, Gelo quoted his mom saying, "Masaya na ako na makita kayong umaasenso mga anak ko."

Gelo told Smart Parenting why he decided to give his first salary to his mom, "Kahit maliit man 'tong sweldo ko, gusto ko pong makabawi sa lahat ng ginastos at paghihirap niya para makapagsustento siya sa amin at sa mga panggastos saming magkakapatid."

His video has been shared by media sites, and he said he learned a lot from this experience, especially this: "Maging mabuting tao at anak at pahalagahan ang mga bagay at blessings na kung anong meron kami ngayon."

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Should children give their first salary to their parents?

Although our children don't owe us their parents anything, this gesture of receiving their first paycheck has been a common practice in families not just in the Philippines, but all over the world. It symbolizes gratitude and respect.

"Tita, we will be like you. We never experienced that kind of treatment so pag turn na namin to be a parent, I will do what you did."

We asked Gelo about his take on children becoming their parents' retirement fund, "Grateful po ako na hindi kami inuubliga ng Mama namin pero kanya-kanya naman po tayo ng sitwasyon sa buhay kaya hindi rin po natin masisisi kung nagagawa po ito ng iba."

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While netizens reminisced that they also gave their first salary to their parents, some meanwhile says that children should not be obliged to give their first pay to their parents.

One user said, "I remember those days sahod ko kahit 4k lng maibigay ko kada kinsenas sa mama ko, ang gaan sa pakiramdam na makita siyang nakangiti."

Meanwhile, another user said, "Obligasyon namin as parents ang bigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang mga anak. Hindi kailangang suklian. Ngayon, kung bukal sa loob ang pagbibigay, eh di ok lang. Pero ang mas hinahangad ng mga magulang ay magkaroon kayo ng maayos na trabaho, maging responsible sa buhay lalo na sa bubuuin nyong pamilya. Yan ang pinakamagandang bayad na maibibigay nyo sa parents niyo."

READ ALSO: On Utang Na Loob And Respect: Why I’m Not Demanding My Kids To Recognize Me As Their Parent

On TikTok, one user said, "Tita, we will be like you. We never experienced that kind of treatment so pag turn na namin to be a parent, I will do what you did."

Finally, Gelo tells his mom, "Mahal na mahal namin po siya. Habang may oras pa, hinding hindi kami magsasawa na mahalin at bawat oras aming bibigyan ng pagkakataon na bumawi."

Suporta sa magulang, hanggang kailan? Smart Parenting celebrity editor-at-large Rica Peralejo Bonifacio weighs in. Watch: