In a heartbreaking TikTok video, Asunción Estevan Chico hears her late father’s voice for the first time in 30 years.
Her granddaughter Irene Patón Reig caught the poignant reunion, showing the world Asunción crying after hearing his voice. “When I heard his voice, I recognized it immediately,” Asunción tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I put my hand on my heart and said, ‘That’s my father.'”
“I wasn’t expecting it,” Asunción says, reflecting on the unexpected occasion. “I felt immense joy, excitement, and the urge to cry, thinking I would never hear him again in my life.”
While sorting through Asunción’s belongings, Irene’s mother discovered an old recording titled “Blas Estevan.” The family was able to listen to the recording thanks to a tape recorder they had brought from Germany.
Blas Estevan, Asunción’s father, was regarded as a gentle and caring individual who enjoyed music and poetry. “He cared deeply for all of us and always loved dedicating songs and poetry to us,” Asunción told me.
Her favorite memory of him is from childhood, when he carried her on his shoulders while they went down the beach in Alicante, Spain.
The cassette had recordings of Blas singing, including “A Flor de Piel” by Julio Iglesias, a song he frequently sang to his family. Asunción began singing along as soon as she heard it, transporting herself back to those precious moments.
For Irene, who had never heard her great-grandfather’s voice before, the experience was equally poignant. “I listened to the tape before my grandmother did, and I was completely shocked because I had no idea it existed,” she told PEOPLE. “I enjoyed hearing my great-grandfather sing, and I knew my grandma would like the surprise. I sobbed beside her when I saw how emotional she was.”
The surprise triggered a flow of emotions and recollections, prompting Asunción to reveal experiences from her youth, including her father’s deep connection to music and poetry. She even has a notepad full of his notes.
“They told me they had a surprise for me, and I told them I didn’t want any surprises!” Asunción responds with a chuckle. “But when I found out what it was, I told them they had given me the greatest gift of my life.”
Many individuals found resonance in the popular TikTok video, drawing comparisons between Asunción and Mamá Coco from the Disney film Coco. The family, who had never seen the film before, has now seen it twice and enjoyed it.
“Many people say it’s the most beautiful video they’ve ever seen,” Irene says about her TikTok, which has almost 4 million views and 900,000 likes. “They share their personal stories and mention that, after watching our video, they now want to record their loved ones’ voices so they never forget them.”
Irene notes, “Many people believe that love endures in the hearts of those who remember them.”
The viral event brought Asunción and her family closer together. “It has been incredibly emotional,” Asunción reflects. “It has brought us even closer together and made me remember my childhood, my parents, and how happy we were.”
@irenepatonHemos encontrado unas cintas de mi bisabuelo cantando y le hemos dado una sorpresa a mi abuela por el día de San Blas 🤍