A Filipino worker returning home for the first time in two years surprised his father by pretending to be a customer in the old man's store.

Jefferson Naraga, 30, had been away in Japan since the start of the Covid-19 travel restrictions but was finally able to go back to Laguna province, the Philippines on December 15.

The homesick son thought of keeping his arrival from Tokyo a secret so he could make their family reunion extra special through a surprise.

Footage shows Jefferson wearing a mask and sunglasses to hide his face while posing to buy snacks. His father Julian finally recognised him from his voice so he went out of the store.

Jefferson, known as an OFW or Overseas Filipino Worker, said: 'Because of the pandemic I was not able to come home so when I had a chance, I kept it a secret especially from my father to surprise him.

'I did not expect him to be so emotional and I felt like he missed me so much.'

In February, the Philippines officials announced they were slowly reopening its borders to fully-vaccinated travellers including tourists as long as they met requirements such as negative Covid-19 swab tests.