Fatherhood is no easy feat, even more so if you have to be both mom and dad in your kids’ lives.
These celebrity dads are not just raising their children well while providing for their needs, but also juggling their own steady careers.
Because of their amazing powers, these real-life, everyday superheroes deserve more than just a pat on the back this Father’s Day.
PAOLO BALLESTEROS
Actor-comedian, impersonator, and longtime Eat Bulaga co-host Paolo Ballesteros has a 13-year-old daughter, Keira Claire, with ex-girlfriend Katrina “Kaye” Nevada. Born on November 29, 2008, Keira Claire was welcomed to the world on her father's birthday.
In previous interviews, the 39-year-old celebrity dad once talked about the challenges he faced as a single parent—just a year after his daughter was born.
Read also: Paolo Ballesteros faces the challenges of being a single father
Years later, Keira Claire turned 7 years old in 2016. In that same year, Paolo bagged Best Actor awards for his lead role in the award-winning film Die Beautiful.
His daughter was one of the people who congratulated him when he bagged an award at the 2016 Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF). She said, “Congratulations, Daddy, on your new movie, Die Beautiful, for Best Actor! I love you, I miss you! Mwah!”
In 2020, before Keira Claire turned 13, Paolo divulged that his daughter also knows about his sexuality, stating that Claire "gets it."
He said in an interview, "Hindi na nagtatanong, alam na niya, alam niya yun,” when asked if his daughter ever asked him about it.
As a dad, Paolo has been very open to his daughter. Their bonding sessions even consist of making dresses for her, doing her make-up, and watching the American reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race together.
Read also: Paolo Ballesteros designs first-ever dress with daughter as his muse
WOWIE DE GUZMAN
Dancer-actor Wowie De Guzman portrayed Christian Torralba in the original '90s version of Mara Clara—the on-screen partner of Judy Ann Santos who then portrayed the lead role, Mara.
Their love team became widely known and eventually transcended to real-life when the two developed feelings for each other. However, their reel-to-real romance ended when Judy Ann and Wowie broke up around the year 2000s.
Still, despite their split, Judy Ann and Wowie found love in their respective marriage partners—actor-host Ryan Agoncillo and the late Sherryl Ann Reyes, respectively.
In 2014, Wowie’s late wife passed away only a month after their child, Alexandra Rafealle “Raff” Camangyan, was born.
He said on his social media account, “Hindi ko alam kung nananaginip lang ako [because] gusto ko na magising, or kung isang eksena lang to sa isang taping ko dahil gusto ko na tapusin para makauwi na ako sayo....”
Since then, Wowie took care of their child, Raff, and raised her as a single father. In an interview, he confessed that his daughter is his source of strength.
He said, “Mahirap talaga, kaya lang suwerte ko nandiyan ang anak ko, e.”
Throughout the year, Wowie has starred in several ABS-CBN and GMA Network teleseryes including Meant To Be (2017), Dear Uge (2016-2022), and La Luna Sangre (2017). The former member of the Universal Motion Dancers is also active in teaching dance and holding zumba classes.
ALBERT MARTINEZ
Veteran actor Albert Martinez started his career in film, before taking on the role of Glenn in the '80s teleserye, Anna Liza. He has since played several character roles in both film and TV, including father roles.
In 1985, Albert Martinez got married to former child star and actress Anna Lissa Muhlach Sumilang, better known as Liezl Martinez. The two have three children: Alyanna, Alfonso, and Alissa.
Both parents have been juggling showbiz, their massage therapy clinic business, and raising their three kids until Liezl Martinez was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and lung cancer in 2011. Liezl was put to rest on March 14, 2015—a few days before her birthday.
In an interview, Albert cited Liezl as someone who “can never be replaced” in his heart. Since then, Albert has been a single dad to their three children who are now all happily married.
He also once talked about his wish for his kids to follow his footsteps, “pero walang may hilig, e.” Aside from Alfonso, who tried acting for a bit, his two daughters lived private lives.
Currently, Albert Martinez is still active on-screen portraying protagonist and antagonist roles in teleseryes such as ABS-CBN's Kadenang Ginto (2018) and The General's Daughter (2019), and GMA-7's Las Hermanas (2021-2022) and its upcoming series Voltes V: Legacy.
MARVIN AGUSTIN
Marvin Agustin and Jolina Magdangal’s tandem is well-known among many '90s babies. Active in showbiz since 1994, Marvin Agustin has since showcased his versatility in acting as he takes on both protagonist and antagonist roles in films and teleseryes.
In 2005, Marvin became a father to twin sons Santiago “Santi” and Sebastian”Seb,” but did not marry their mother, Tetet Dy.
Although they are known to be “co-parenting” their sons, the two already separated back when the twins were still one-year-old infants.
Their set-up may be unorthodox, but Marvin assured, “Ang importante sa amin, at least dalawang pamilya ang nagmamahal sa kambal.”
On their 15th birthday back in 2020, Marvin gave a heartfelt message to his boys.
He said, “I don't know what's best for you boys, kasi ang buhay niyo ay laban niyo. Nandito lang ako sakaling meron kayong tanong o laban na kailangan niyo ako… Mahirap ang pinagdadaanan natin ngayon pero masaya ako sa maliliit na bagay na napagtatawanan at ikinaliligaya pa din natin.”
Marvin is also open to the twins about the hardships he encountered in his life. He said in an interview, “I share with them what I go through. Kasi yung mga nakikita online, that’s just the result of hard work, determination, and sacrifices that we do.”
Right now, Marvin is both a successful actor and entrepreneur. He also studied culinary arts at the International School for Culinary Arts and Hotel Management, and owns several restaurant chains.
PIOLO PASCUAL
One of the Philippines' most well-known heartthrobs, Piolo Pascual has done several films and teleseryes as leading man. The actor has won various acting awards, solidifying his career as one of the country’s A-list actors.
Piolo is the father of Iñigo Pascual, who is also in show business as an actor and singer-songwriter.
The unico hijo of Piolo and ex-girlfriend Donnabelle Lazaro was born in 1997, and lived a private life in the United States before entering showbiz in the Philippines. Now, he is making a name for himself and even has a hit single titled “Dahil Sa ‘Yo.”
Piolo Pascual has been showing his support for his son’s career since the start of his showbiz career. When Iñigo's song "Dahil Sa 'Yo'' became a part of the Billboard Philippines Top 20 Charts, Piolo couldn't hide his excitement when talking about his son.
He said in an interview, "I’m so happy, grabe! This kind of milestone, it’s gonna go down the history books of the music industry.”
Now, at 45-years-old, Piolo is still at the top of his game. The actor will soon star in the Philippine adaptation of the South Korean drama Flower Of Evil.
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