Actor John Estrada is not fond of attending big parties. Don't expect him to go out of his way to organize an event from scratch to finish.
That's why eldest daughter Inah was surprised by her father's effort to make her 18th birthday extra special last January 23 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City.
John, who personally chose the event's Hawaiian theme, organized the affair together with good friends Apet and Marilen Nuñez of L.E.N. Plus Inc.
Inah, whose real name is Czarina Isabella, recalled talking to her dad a few days before the party and was intrigued by John's unusual display of interest throughout the entire planning period.
"I was shocked. I actually didn't expect kasi my dad, hindi siya mahilig sa ganito," Inah told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other entertainment reporters during the party.
Though not entirely a modest affair, the occasion can be described as intimate and was well-attended by relatives and close family friends.
"THEY'RE GOOD PARENTS." Growing up was never easy for Inah and her siblings following the separation of John and her mother, Janice de Belen.
She described her relationship with both mom and dad as "erratic." But she never denied that the unusual family setup coupled with John and Janice's stormy relationship post-annulment had also affected her bond with them.
John got most of the flak from the public since the separation was blamed largely on him. Inah defended her dad against critics, saying that John has been trying very hard to make up for his shortcomings.
"They're good parents," Inah said about John and Janice. "Sometimes may issue lang ako sa kanila but we talk it out naman."
Janice did not attend Inah's debut party. According to Inah, her mother had work that time.
As for her relationship with John's current girlfriend Priscilla Meirelles, Inah has nothing but good words for the stunning Brazilian model.
"I love Ate Pri! She's very friendly and down-to-earth. Honestly, she's not like a tita to me but an ate," she said.
How about her mom and Priscilla?
"They're okay," replied Inah. "They don't have a conflict or anything."
ON SHOWBIZ AND LOVE. Inah used to be part of the defunct teen magazine show, Candies, alongside Allyna Asistio, Andi Manzano, and Wynwyn Marquez. Rhian Ramos eventually took Marquez's place. The show lasted from November 12, 2005 to June 17, 2006 and was aired by QTV 11.
"I don't know why it [Candies] stopped, pero I'm glad kasi while I was doing the show, I was also juggling my studies and my grades weren't good. So it's good na rin na I'm not working."
Inah added, "My mom, to be honest, ayaw niya talaga ako mag-showbiz kasi magulo and not everything is private."
Janice used to have a similar stance on her daughter's lovelife. Inah's boyfriend was present at her debut party last Saturday.
"When I first told my mom, she was shocked pero she said just take it slow. Okay naman na sa kanya."
John, on the other hand, went "mad," according to Inah. "My dad is very protective but he controls it naman."
Pressed for comment on his daughter's revelation, John said, "I'll be plastic if I say that I'm not hurt. How you wish lahat ng anak mo maging pari 'tsaka madre. But when you're there already and you see your daughters and sons falling in love... Alam mo, 10 years old pa lang 'to si Ina, sinasabi ko na I'll be a harsh father, meaning I'll be strict. But nung naging 15, 16, 17 at wala naman siyang tinatago sa akin, I came to realize that I just really have to understand my children."