‘Please come home to me’: Mother clings to hope as search for missing 17-year-old Sofia continues

‘You are my absolute world, my life and my greatest joy,’ Jeanette says as days of uncertainty stretch on

SAGADA, Mountain Province — Every passing day without her daughter brings another wave of pain for Jeanette B. Magalgalit, but the mother of missing 17-year-old Sofia Isabela Magalgalit Oria refuses to let go of hope.

Sofia has been missing since August 8, 2026, leaving her family desperate for answers as authorities, rescuers, local guides, barangay officials, community organizations, and volunteers continue searching for her.

For Jeanette, the days have been filled with uncertainty.

She does not know where her daughter is or what happened to her. But amid the fear and heartbreak, she continues to hold on to the hope that she will see Sofia again, safe and sound.

In a Facebook post, Jeanette opened up about the pain of longing for her only daughter, describing how the uncertainty has left her heart “heavy and broken.”

She said she continues to miss Sofia deeply and longs for the moment when she can finally hold her daughter in her arms again.

“My one and only anak, you are my absolute world, my life and my greatest joy. My heart feels so heavy and broken without you, aching every single moment just to hold you tightly in my arms again. Please come home to me,” Jeanette wrote.

‘Please refrain from posting theories or rumors’

While the search continues, Jeanette is also appealing to the public to be careful about information being shared about her daughter.

She asked those who do not have verified, firsthand information to refrain from posting theories or rumors that could further add to the family’s pain and anxiety.

For the family, every piece of information matters—but so does making sure that information is accurate and can genuinely help the search.

“As we continue our efforts alongside authorities, we kindly ask the public to keep the following in mind. If you do not have verified, firsthand facts, please refrain from posting theories or rumors. Please treat it with humanity and respect. Avoid sensationalizing this situation. We want the focus to remain strictly on verified leads and coordinated search efforts. We practice our culture and beliefs too, anything that is possible,” she added.

Her appeal comes as the search continues across difficult terrain, where unverified information can potentially distract from coordinated search efforts.

Search continues across Sagada

Since Sofia was reported missing, authorities and volunteers have been checking various areas of Sagada for possible clues to her whereabouts.

Search teams have been deployed to mountainous areas, thick vegetation, steep terrain, and waterways, with local guides and community members assisting in the effort.

Recent rains have added to the difficulty of the search, but responders continue to coordinate and examine possible locations where Sofia may be found.

As of the latest update, no discovery has established Sofia’s whereabouts. For Jeanette, however, the search is not simply an operation. It is a mother waiting for her child to come home. And as rescuers continue searching, she continues to ask the public to pray with her family for Sofia’s safe return.

Anyone who may have seen Sofia or has credible and verifiable information about her whereabouts is urged to immediately report it to the authorities.

For a mother whose only wish is to hold her daughter again, every credible lead could bring them one step closer to the moment she has been praying for Sofia to come home.