JK Labajo, known for his musical talent and open approach to his personal struggles, recently discussed his long-time search for his biological father, a journey that started when he was just a young boy.
In a candid conversation with Karen Davila on her YouTube vlog, singer JK Labajo opened up about his emotional journey to find his German father. This search, which began during his childhood, has been a deeply personal experience for him.
JK shared that it was his grandmother who provided the initial clues about his father. "The only reason why I was able to find out at least what he looked like, my lola gave me whatever details that she had," he recalled. His grandmother had given him old love letters exchanged between his parents and a photo from his father’s trip to Bohol. These were the only pieces of information he had.
At just 10 years old, JK attempted to reach his father by calling an international number for Germany. "We did all these different things we could do in order to contact that phone number," he said. He recounts his first call, where a woman answered the phone, and he and his grandmother spoke to her briefly.
"The very first thing I remember, I was around 10 when this happened, only able to find the number and contact it, may sumagot," JK said, describing how the woman told them his father, Oliver, was not home and took a message. "Sabi namin May, which was the name of my mom," JK explained. After that, there was no further communication. "After that wala na. Hindi na sumasagot."
What caught JK’s attention was the sound of children’s voices in the background. "Natuwa ako ng todo kasi especially growing up I always wanted to have sisters kasi I really grew up in a household dominated by female energy, with my lola," he explained.
Fast forward ten years to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now 20 years old, JK tried again, this time using social media. "Cut to ten years, why don't I try to look for my dad but on a more public scale since we have a following online, we have like the social media presence," he shared. His followers helped him obtain a contact number for his father.
JK messaged his father on WhatsApp: “Hello, my name is Juan Karlos. Ang hirap kaya mag-compose ng message sa tatay mo na di mo kilala.” He introduced himself as the son of May Labajo and shared his wish to connect with his father, while also informing him that his mother had passed away in 2013. "Grabe 'yung kaba ko nung time na 'yun," he admitted.
However, after receiving his message, JK was blocked on WhatsApp within a few hours. "A few hours later, it was seen... and then a little bit after that I was blocked on Whatsapp," he said, describing the emotional toll it took on him. "It felt like the world fell upon me."
Despite his disappointment, JK didn’t give up. "I tried reaching out a little bit more after that, I tried calling... I tried emailing," but still received no response.
When asked why it was so important for him to find his father, JK explained: "Aside from all of the things I want to know about, I want to get to know my mom more from his perspective and I also want to get to explore that other side of the world, that huge, big part of me."
As for whether he plans to continue his search for his father, JK shared that he had come to terms with the situation. "Not anymore because after that, it was really painful. I was a 20-year-old boy, crying during the pandemic because of that whole thing but at the same time it was kind of a closure," he said. "I am still here 20 years in, I can do the next without him."
Short Biography of JK Labajo:
-
JK Labajo: Known for his soulful voice and musical talents, JK Labajo first gained attention as a contestant on The Voice Philippines and has since built a successful career as a singer and actor. He is also known for being open about his personal life, including his efforts to search for his biological father, which has been an emotional and challenging journey.
The Story of JK's Search for His Father: JK Labajo’s quest to find his German father began at a young age, armed with little information but a deep desire to understand that side of his heritage. Despite numerous attempts, including using social media to reach out to his father, the search ultimately led to emotional challenges. However, he found a sense of closure in realizing that he can continue his life, with or without his father.