A father’s ultimate affectionate gesture could be anything that reflects their unconditional love, unwavering support, and tireless protection for their children. Along with that, no matter the hardships that life brings, real fathers go above and beyond to reassure us they will always remain by our side, always ready to help us rise again.
In “Blood vs Duty,” fatherhood, whether biological or adoptive, is also an important factor that fundamentally shapes the values and personalities of the characters. Through the stories of Datu Rahman Abubakar (Jaime Fabregas), Director Emil Azuelo (Rommel Padilla), and General Manuel Carillo (Bodjie Pascua), different facets of fatherhood are brought to light, ranging from gentle parenting to tough love, but in the end it’s the one that should inspire transformation.
Datu Rahman’s unconditional love for Jalil and Jamilah
Before he was referred to as Datu Rahman Abubakar, his real name was Hassan Wadi (Nor Domingo), the right-hand man of the departed Col. Napoleon Marcelino, who was actually the first mastermind in charge of the gun-smuggling syndicates operating throughout the country.
In a past duty of his on a ship containing illegal firearms, Hassan eventually realized the extreme cruelty of his superior, who also made arrangements to destroy evidence of their group’s criminal activities, mercilessly risking the lives of innocent people on board.
Hassan then did what he could in defusing the bombs placed inside the ship. As he struggled, he encountered Victor (Rafel Rosell), the frantic father of young Gabriel (Gian Luca Geroue) and Marcus (Jacob McKenzie), who pleaded that Hassan save his family at the time of his death.
Hassan did manage to rescue Gabriel, who fell from the exploding ship, and brought him safely to the shores of Isla Damai. Despite Hassan’s desire to flee the island due to the threat of his pursuers, he was convinced to remain there, assumed a new identity, and decided to be an adoptive father to Gabriel, whose name was changed to Jalil.
Presently, both Datu Rahman and Jalil serve as protectors of their Tausug community at Isla Damai, with the Datu accused by NLEA as the prime suspect for the current network of gun-bearing syndicates. The selfless father and son went on to protect their people during the breached mission of Task Force Alpha, which led to the tragic massacre and the unjust arrest of Datu Rahman.
The impact of the Datu’s good fatherly nature can be observed in the actions taken by Jalil, who even suffered life-threatening injuries multiple times in order to free his innocent father. After enduring dangerous obstacles, Jalil meets Presidential Chief of Staff Ahman Mustapha (Robin Padilla), granting him the identity of Police Major Allan Espina to aid in exposing the systemic corruption in NLEA that always framed the Datu.
WATCH: Jalil, naluha nang makita ang kulungan ni Datu Rahman | Blood vs Duty
Datu Rahman’s daughter also inherited his fearlessness, with Jamilah (Barbie Imperial) bravely following him to Manila alone during NLEA’s press conference for the Datu’s intensely debated arrest.
WATCH: Jamillah, iginiit ang plano niyang tumulong kay Jalil | Blood vs Duty
Following Jalil’s undercover mission as Major Allan Espina, he finally retrieves Datu Rahman with the help of Ahmad. They successfully return to Barangay Surga, reuniting with Omar (Edgar Mortiz), Norhana (Malou Crisologo), and Jamilah.
As Jalil continues to fulfill his promise to clean his father’s name, it is up to Datu Rahman to save his family and his people by surrendering to Ahmad and abiding by his plans.
WATCH: Datu Rahman, nagpasiyang sumuko at ipagpatuloy ang plano nila ni Jalil | Blood vs Duty
General Carillo as a father figure for both Lara and Felix
Young Lara was liberated by a young Gen. Carillo (Karl Medina) when she lost her parents to a shootout she believed involved Hassan. She was then abducted by syndicates with the intention of sending orphaned children to factories as laborers or selling them to human traffickers. The general then raised Lara as his own daughter, always being proud of her growth and achievements as the current head agent of Task Force Alpha.
WATCH: Ang kwento ng masalimuot na buhay ni Lara | Blood vs Duty
For Felix (Baron Geisler), Gen. Carillo was also an irreplaceable father figure. Apart from dealing with bullying, young Felix (Stanley Abuloc) spent his childhood with an abusive father, whom he later killed as he was blinded with rage. Afterwards, while he was out on the streets, attacking people to get food, the general took Felix in, trained, and advised him to weaponize his anger for the greater good, a lesson he continues to value.
WATCH: Felix, gagawin ang lahat upang maprotektahan si Lara | Blood vs Duty
Regardless of Gen. Carillo’s willingness to raise both Lara (Bela Padilla) and Felix, he becomes a different man in the pursuit of power, mainly guilt-tripping the vengeful Lara, who started to question the necessity of casualties in their mission to destabilize the country by supplying illegal firearms to syndicates affiliated with them.
WATCH: Kilalanin ang utak sa likod nina Lara at Felix | Blood vs Duty
Director Azuelo reviving his principles through Kyle
Thirty years as the director of the Special Investigations Division, Azuelo then focused on working for a favorable promotion to become a general, which would also secure a good pension for his family. Although, along the way, he gets disconnected from his principles, only showing off his competence to the media whenever Task Force Alpha successfully completes a mission, which he feels will increase his chances of promotion.
Since then, Director Azuelo would frequently criticize Task Force Alpha, specifically Marcus (Richard Gutierrez), in the aftermath of failed tasks that slowly but painfully ruin their credibility.
WATCH: Emil, pinatawan ng suspensyon si Marcus | Blood vs Duty
Soon enough, Director Azuelo’s youngest son, Kyle (Miguel Vergara), reignites his long-forgotten purpose of helping others in their pursuit of justice. After being moved by Kyle defending his name, Director Azuelo decided to believe in Marcus’ findings at Isla Damai, which all proved Datu Rahman’s innocence and revealed more hints towards NLEA’s corrupt officials.
WATCH: Marcus, inilahad ang katiwalian sa NLEA kay Dir. Azuelo | Blood vs Duty
Now one of Marcus’ allies, Director Azuelo readily defends Marcus against threats, even from their suspicious superiors in NLEA. More of his protective side is shown during the shooting at Kyle’s school, East Valley Montessori. The director immediately ordered Task Force Alpha to handle the situation, saying that his son needs him more than ever.
Witness the various sides of fatherhood through Datu Rahman Abubakar, Director Emil Azuelo, and General Manuel Carillo in “Blood vs Duty,” streaming on iWant and airing weeknights at 8pm on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, A2Z, Kapamilya Channel, and Kapamilya Online Live (KOL).
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