Even older hearts can harbor the spark of romance, right? Facundo (Jaime Fabregas) and Tindeng (Charo Santos), two souls shaped by life's trials, prove that the yearning for real connection doesn’t fade with time. Facundo, trapped in a marriage with Bettina (Tessie Tomas) that he candidly admits was more about financial convenience than love, finds himself drawn to Tindeng in ways he never expected.
Viewers are now shipping them as FacunDeng. Watch their low-key ‘kilig’ yet bittersweet moments in this Friday 5 video.
First on the list is their spontaneous palengke date. Facundo volunteered to drive Tindeng and then decided to join her, saying he wanted to reminisce about the simple joys of market days that he had long missed. In that moment, the tough and intimidating Facundo softened, allowing himself to open up to Tindeng about his humble beginnings. Tindeng, noticing the sadness in Facundo’s eyes, playfully broke the ice by asking what was with his cowboy hat and why he always wore it. In return, Facundo offered her fresh mangoes, and in that exchange, smiles became bridges that built their genuine connection.
Facundo and Tindeng found common ground in their shared love for their respective grandchildren. Both felt a deep longing for family, especially as Facundo mourned the loss of his grandson, Pablo (Elijah Canlas), while also dealing with the sadness of Katherine’s (Ara Dava) decision to move out after her marriage to Hesus/David (McCoy de Leon). Their conversations about their grandchildren created a comfortable space, allowing Tindeng to share anecdotes from Tanggol’s (Coco Martin) childhood—stories that surprisingly endeared her to Facundo. This exchange encouraged Facundo to open up about Katherine’s playful side as well, and in a moment of vulnerability, he found himself shedding tears over how much he missed her.
As days passed, Tindeng became more than just a house helper—she evolved into a confidante for Facundo, someone with whom he could express his frustrations. Feeling suffocated by his toxic marriage to Bettina, who often nags him, he found a breath of fresh air in his conversations with Tindeng. Viewers could see how this ‘friendship’ allow him to relax and be himself, a stark contrast to the tension he faces with his wife.
They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and it seemed to work for Tindeng when she cooked a simple yet meaningful dish. In one scene, she prepared ginisang sardinas, which, to her surprise, Facundo enjoyed. They exchanged smiles, especially when Tindeng mentioned that it was the same recipe Katherine loved when she first made it for her. The moment felt light, with the two sharing a quiet warmth over something so simple.
Seizing the opportunity, she gently asked him if she could take a day off to visit her family in Quiapo, admitting that she missed them. Facundo agreed without hesitation, but what surprised Tindeng even more was his decision to tag along, casually mentioning that he missed strolling around Quiapo too.
Facundo was touched when Tindeng shared a story about Katherine once joining her on a trip to Quiapo. Tindeng had noticed how well-raised Katherine was—never looking down on others despite her wealth, always kind-hearted.
This seemingly simple Quiapo trip carried a sweetness to it, with the two even stopping to enjoy some street food—a rare moment for Don Facundo, something only Tindeng had convinced him to do after all these years.
As they wandered through the bustling tiangge, he couldn’t help but watch her from afar, quietly admiring her as she browsed through clothes. She spotted a dress she liked, but the price was a little too steep for her. Little did she know, Facundo had taken note. Without making a big deal out of it, Facundo later handed her a paper bag with that exact dress inside. Tindeng, embarrassed at first, wanted to decline, but Facundo insisted it was no big deal. As soon as he turned away, she couldn’t resist peeking into the bag, and when she saw the dress, a soft smile spread across her face.
In recent episodes, Bettina kicked Tindeng and her friend Noy (Lou Veloso) out of the house. But, to the surprise of many, Facundo came to their rescue, providing them with a temporary place to stay.
Don’t miss an episode of “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,” weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, TV5, and A2Z.