In an exclusive interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), former actor Jigo Garcia recalls the chats that he had with daughter Jenica Garcia, who has just followed her parents' footsteps in showbiz. Jigo always make sure that he gets to spend time with his daughter, especially on Sunday nights, so that they could catch up and bond as father-daughter.

Jigo used to be a mainstay of That's Entertainment, where he met Jenica ‘s mom, actress Jean Garcia. Jigo has been the chairman of Barangay Doña Josefa in Quezon City since 2002.

For Jenica's upcoming 18th birthday celebration, Jigo was surprised by what his daughter wanted:

"‘Papa, sa birthday ko gusto ko mag-mission.'

"'Anak, debut mo.'

"‘Papa, sayang e. Sayang lang.'

"Nagulat naman ako. So sabi ko, ‘Anak, kaya natin ito. I-organize ko 'yan, tutulungan kita. O, sige. Ipagpaalam mo 'yan sa manager mo. Tapos kumuha tayo ng petsa na open ka, lalo na ang December.' Very busy para sa mga artista 'yan. E, ang kailangan ko kasi minimum of four days. Anak, sige... we will get a team. Tapos ikaw yung maghu-host," narrates the excited father.

"Siya yung mangunguna, tutulungan ko siyang mag-organize. Para suportahan ko yung nasa puso niya. We will get a team na medical at dental. Isa 'yon sa mga pinagpe-pray namin na matuloy. Kasi, kumbaga, nakita na niya yung buhay ko sa public service. Tapos nakita na niya yung takbo sa show business. Ngayon, gusto ko rin makita yung pagiging Kristiyano."

The former actor also remembers how Jenica asked his permission to join show business.

"Nung mag-graduate siya ng high school, ‘Papa mag-aartista na ako.' Bakit anak? ‘Pinayagan na po ako ni Mama. Sana payagan n'yo na rin ako,'" he tells PEP.

"Yung una talaga, nung nag-aaral pa siya, lagi kong sinasabi sa kanya, ‘Anak, mas gusto ko mag-aral ka muna hanggang sa kolehiyo. Tapos, gawin muna yung gusto mong gawin after mo mag-aral.'

"Pero hindi mo talaga maiaalis yung impluwensiya. Yung Mommy niya artista; yung Papa niya, artista rin. Siyempre, nakita niya ang Mama niya. Yun yung kinalakihan niya. Nakikita ko rin sa puso niya na gusto maging artista. Siyempre bilang tatay, hindi 'yon yung gusto ko talaga para sa kanya."

Jigo admits that he was a bit apprehensive about letting his daughter join the world where he used to be. But he understood that he could not stop her from doing what she wanted.

"Ang gusto ko lang mangyari, e... 'Kung gusto mo mag-artista, sige papayagan kita. Pero heto ang tandaan natin, okay sa akin kung ang trabaho mo ay show business. And anak, mag-focus ka diyan. Anak, bibihira yung pagkakataon na maging isang artista. Nakita mo naman yung mga artista ngayon, pinipili. At ikaw nandiyan ka na, please stay focused sa trabaho mo. Okay 'yan. Ang trabaho mo ay show business. Pero tandaan mo ang buhay mo, ayoko maging show business,'" Jigo advised his daughter.

Jigo also says that he trusts his daughter in whatever she does.