This is the heart-breaking moment a young woman bursts into tears at her 18th birthday party - dancing with a teddy bear adorned with her late father's face.

Aljean Legaspino was celebrating her ''debut party'' in Davo, Philippines, where the traditional custom is for a girl to have her first ever dance with her father.

But Aljean's dad Rogelio was killed in a car accident four years ago. Although sometimes an uncle or brother might step in, Aljean's relatives knew the ''daddy's girl'' would rather dance alone, than have someone try take her father's place.

The birthday girl was expecting to awkwardly give the dance a miss, but her family surprised her with a teddy bear with a picture of her dad's face.

When it came to the big moment, Aljean broke down in tears as she clutched the bear and a bundle of roses while dancing in a red dress.

Aljean's cousin Janine said all the guests were moved by the gesture and many were crying at the event on August 20.

She said: ''Aljean was so close to her father. Everyone knew it would be hard for her to reach this milestone in her life without him. We knew she was feeling sad about not being able to dance with him.

''We did this small gesture so that Aljean could feel close to him again. I am sure that he is looking down over her and protecting her. He would have been so proud.''