Pancho Magno finds fatherhood an ‘overwhelming experience’

Pancho Magno with baby Skye Anakin

For Pancho Magno, being with his wife, Max Collins, as she gave birth to their first baby was a “surreal” experience—a moment that left him in awe of mothers.

“I can’t imagine how moms do it. My love for my wife and family has only grown deeper,” the GMA 7 actor said in a recent virtual conference.

Max initially planned to have a normal delivery in a hospital at the start of her pregnancy. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, had the couple opting for water birth instead, because they felt it would be a safer choice.

Last July 6, Pancho and Max, surrounded by loved ones, welcomed their son, Skye Anakin. “We attended online classes about water birth. And when the day finally came, the experience … it was something I can’t explain until now,” he related.

“Max carried our baby for nine months and gave birth without medications … she’s amazing,” the 34-year-old actor added. “I’m so proud of all the moms out there.”

Pancho didn’t expect to be as hands-on as he is now in tending to their firstborn’s needs. He tries to do everything—well, “except for breastfeeding,” he jested.

It’s the everyday baby chores Pancho enjoys most as a new father. “I wake up early and bring our baby to the balcony at around 6:30 a.m. for vitamin D. I get him to burp, I change his diapers. Recently, we just had him vaccinated,” he related. “It has been an overwhelming experience.”

While Skye is just 3 months old, Pancho is already starting to envision what he would be like when he gets bigger. “I love seeing him grow before my eyes,” he said. “I’m already imagining what he would be like in the future. Maybe he will end up being taller than me!”

The free time he had at home with Skye during lockdown is something Pancho will always cherish. “I had more quality time to bond with him during his early, crucial stages,” he pointed out.

And while television projects are now starting to come in, Pancho promised to make time for Skye, no matter how busy his schedule becomes.

His wife Max Collins with 3-month-old son

Pancho’s latest show was the pilot installment of the drama anthology, “I Can See You.” “We need to work. One of the things I have realized is that we can do this in the new normal… Everyone wears protective gear all day. This may go on for a while, but we can do it,” he said.

Luckily, Max can ask help from their families—and they’re always willing—when I’m out for taping. And it’s important because Skye is a growing baby,” he said.

Even if swab tests are conducted before and after lock-in taping sessions, Pancho errs on the side of caution and isolates himself for 10 days at the very least.

“My family’s safety is my top priority. I limit my exposure to the outside world. After the swab test, I stay at home. I don’t want to be complacent. Actually, even after more than 12 days of quarantine, I still don’t feel as secure,” he said. “Max and I call each other and she sends videos of the baby to me.”

Pancho also wears a mask when holding the baby.

It’s tough. But as a father, it’s his job, he said, to provide for his family. “We’re just lucky to be working again,” he said. INQ