Acting is in his genes.
So it comes as no surprise when, at 16, Diego Loyzaga returned to the country from Australia, and entered showbiz.
His parents are Cesar Montano and Teresa Loyzaga, both brilliant actors.
And Diego on his own has been steadily gaining recognition for his acting métier.
But who exactly is Carlos Diego Loyzaga behind the reel? Get a load of the actor's highs and lows here.
HIATUS AND COMEBACK
In 2020, after a two-year hiatus from showbiz, Diego resumed acting.
Amid the pandemic, when entertainment projects were scarce due to strict safety protocols and the shutdown of his home network ABS-CBN, Diego was very busy.
In 2021 alone, he did the teleserye Encounter on TV5, as well as the movies Death of a Girlfriend, Bekis on the Run, House Tour, More than Blue, and Dulo.
For his first movie—The Wife—this year, the 26-year-old star made a bolder move in his career, and agreed to a butt exposure.
Year 2020 was also the year he and Kapamilya actress Barbie Imperial became a couple.
Diego and Barbie dated for over a year, but just recently, controversy surrounding their relationship surfaced online.
Diego left for the States without Barbie, who confirmed on February 9, 2022, they had parted ways.
DIEGO'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS father
Diego has a longstanding feud with his dad Cesar.
In 2017, Diego ranted about his father in a series of Instagram posts that was apparently triggered by Cesar threatening to haul Diego off to jail supposedly for drug use.
The younger actor was roaring mad in the now-deleted post bannered by the word "hypocrite."
He wrote, “Ito ka @cesar_montano #sakaypa!!! Padamputin mo na ako lagyan ako ng karatula diba iyan ang sinabi mo?
“Kaming dalawa ng kapatid ko? Magmalinis ka na sakay ka na sa kanila pero sariling mong anak di mo ipagtatangol. Sarili mo lang! Magaling. Best actor ka nga! Ano pang gusto mo? drug test? DNA test?
“Ako ba talaga anak mo? Ilan ba talaga kaming anak mo? Baka hindi ka pa sigurado.
"Pinapalayas mo pa ako sa bahay na iniwan mo para sa akin. Samantalang wala ni isang piso hiningi ko sa iyo mula bata pa ako.
"Pang-limang drug test na ipinagawa niyo sa akin LAHAT negative pero lakas pa rin ng loob mo na pagbintangan akong adik.
"Ano pa ngayon? Ano pang intriga gusto mong gawin? Ramdam na ramdam ko nga na mahal mo ko. Salamat.
"Makadyos ka pa? Panay simba ka nga pero wala kang ginawa kung hindi gumawa ng kasalanan. I think I speak on behalf of all my siblings.
“SANA LUMABAS LAHAT NG BAHO MO. Duwag!! - written by the UNGRATEFUL child who was denied by his father.
"So really am i an UNGRATEFUL 'CHILD' because to him i am not even his child.”
Cesar made no comment on Diego's post, which had been read by many before it was deleted posthaste.
He said in July 2021 at the presscon of his teleserye Encounter, "I miss my Dad. It’s been a while since we’ve talked.
"I hope to see him soon so we can let bygones be bygones."
On March 3, 2022, the father and son finally patched things up.
Diego posted on Twitter a photo of them taken after their basketball game.
In his caption, he said, “7 years is a long time for a son not to see his father.
“After seven years, after mistakes, God made a way to bring us together again.
“I apologise for the impulsiveness of my youth.
“If we could take back the words and the distance and the time wasted, i would.”
DIEGO'S BOUT WITH depression
In November 2018, Diego was hospitalized.
The reason was unclear, but ther hush-hush in showbiz circles was: he attempted to commit suicide.
Neither of his parents, Cesar nor Teresa, spoke about it.
But the actor was said to be depressed.
Reportedly, his depression was caused partly by his breakup with girlfriend Sofia Andres.
Diego and Sofia were linked in 2017 when they both starred in the ABS-CBN prime-time series Pusong Ligaw. They never directly confirmed the rumors,
But Sofia admitted to being afftected by what was happening to Diego, "Sobra, I cried, but I didn't try to call anyone.
"It's not my responsibilty anymore. Mahirap ding ma-involve kasi dati sobrang gulo," she said in an interview by PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal).
On February 10, 2019, PEP.ph had a chat with Diego's mother, Teresa.
Asked about Diego's condition, she said, “I think, depression in general, everyone has a certain depression in their own individuality…
"What makes a person depressed, only they can tell, really.”
What then would she tell her son?
Teresa said, “You know who you are. You are better than that. And look, you have lived so far in your life.
"You don’t need somebody to tell you who you are, what can you do or what you cannot do."
(To those who are going through depression or any mental health issues, you may contact National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline:1553, Landline (02) 7-989-8727 or cellphone number 0917-8998727)
DIEGO'S HALF-SIsters
Aside from her mom, Diego has found a family in his half sisters—Angelina, Sam, and Chesca—his dad's daughters with ex-wife Sunshine Cruz.
The four siblings regularly bond with each other, and, based on their exchange on Instagram last January 17, are planning to tour the U.S.
It began with Diego's post, which he captioned with, "NY/NJ i fell in love. Im gonna miss you. It isn’t goodbye, its see you later."
Sam, one of her half-sisters, commented, "lets all go soon together pls :)"
Diego replied, "I am so game!!!," and tagged Sunshine, "Tita ok lang."
Sunshine said "of course," and even Teresa threw in, "Teka sama ako..."
After working so hard in 2021, Diego is now in the U.S. doing anything "therapeutic: Long drives, Music, Sunsets, Chillin..."