Male stars’ fave fatherhood moments

Father’s Day this year is more significant because after we celebrate it with our own fathers on June 19, we will welcome the new “paternal figure” of our nation, President-elect Duterte on June 30.

Of all the roles that celebrities play, being a dad is what they relish the most. I cornered some stars and asked them about their favorite fatherhood moment.

The “Papalicious Papas” of show biz come and go, but dads remain:

Ryan Cayabyab: Seeing my son Toma smile happily during his first airplane ride was a relief. It was quite a struggle to convince him to ride a plane at 4 years old. He had this notion that we might fall off from the plane when we were airborne. I hid newspaper and magazine photos of airplane crashes. This was one of those father moments—to convince a son that everything will be alright.

So, finally, on a flight to Cebu, when I tucked him in his seat and put his seatbelt on, he declared: “It’s just [like] riding a bus, after all.”

My daughter Krina came home one day from school crying. At 6 years old, she joined a singing contest and lost. For one so young, Krina had perfect pitch, but she had such a faint voice. [My wife] Emmy and I had to comfort her and tell her that her voice wasn’t good for singing contests.

Bo Cerrudo: On a stormy day in August 2003 in Boracay, I went swimming despite the big waves that almost drowned me.

Before I knew it, I was struggling helplessly and was being swept further out into the sea. I heard my then 3-year-old son Diego crying and screaming at the top of his lungs for me to come back to shore.

As I managed to get my head above water, I faintly saw that he was all alone by the shore, all wet and crying, fearing for my life.

At that moment, tired and all, I swam safely back to shore for almost 40 minutes. He didn’t leave my side till the next day.

Ogie Alcasid: I always love the Father’s Day cards that my girls give me every year. I actually have two Father’s Days, because Australia celebrates it on another date. Nate is planning a Father’s Day surprise for me this year.

Noel Cabangon: One of the more unforgettable bonding moments I had with my son was watching a concert of John Mayer at SM Mall of Asia. We were drenched, and while alternately sharing one umbrella, we sang along to Mayer’s songs.

Jose Mari Chan: I own a complete collection of Classics Illustrated comics (circa 1950s).

When my kids were growing up, I would read to them the different classic stories in these comic books.

And as we went through the pages of the comics, I would alter my voice according to the characters depicted in the stories, which helped bring the characters come to life.

I also made up enchanting bedtime stories to expose them to the songs of my generation.

Kim Atienza: When I got sick and had GBS (Group B strep, a type of bacteria) in 2013, [my kids] volunteered to take turns watching over me in 12-hour shifts at the Intensive Care Unit.

I had so much quality time with each of them telling jokes, stories, taking pics and just enjoying every minute. It was then that I realized how much my kids loved me.

Hipper ‘Tropa’

Talk ‘N Text, the prepaid mainstream mobile brand of Smart Communications, just got hipper with its young set of endorsers—April, Brent, Kelly, Ian and Renzo, or the Tropa—and its new jingle, “It’s a Tropa Thing,” written and performed by Thyro and Yumi, and rapper Quest.