A video showing a son giving his parents the "gift of a lifetime" has gone viral once again, since it first appeared on social media in 2014.
On it, Joe Riquelme, who spoke only to KIRO 7, was sitting on a couch with his parents on Christmas morning when he handed them an envelope. Inside was a handwritten note that said simply, “Your house is paid off. Merry Christmas. Joe.”
The video went viral again last week after actor Chris Evans retweeted it.
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“I was really hoping they would be like they just won the lottery, screaming up and down excited and happy I was hoping for that,” said Riquelme. “But when they started bawling I was like, 'Oh no.' I almost wanted to apologize.”
Five years ago, Riquelme was working in New York and the video editor app he founded called Videoshop was becoming so successful he wanted to do something special for those he loves.
“It felt only right to pass it to my parents because they helped me get this far,” said Riquelme.
Riquelme's parents are immigrants from Peru who he said worked long hours and multiple jobs to support their family.
Riquelme, who now lives in Seattle with his partner, still travels to see them several times a year in Northern California.
“For kids of immigrants who grew up here, we want to make sure they are taken care of because they work so hard to establish here,” said Riquelme.
Riquelme’s video on YouTube has now been viewed more than 11 million times.
Cox Media Group
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