Cesar Montano on meeting his third grandchild and returning to school

Montano finished his master’s degree in public safety and administration in July.

Being a father will surely make him a better person,” said actor Cesar Montano when sought to react to the news that his own son, Diego Loyzada, now has a baby daughter and that he has recently become a grandfather of three.

“While this is not my first time to become a lolo, I still feel excited. I have two grandkids with my eldest daughter, Angela. I’m also very happy for Diego. I trust him. I know he will be a responsible father,” Cesar told reporters during a media gathering to promote his latest drama series “Minsan pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan” on TV5.

Cesar said he only saw his granddaughter through a photo that Diego has sent him. “She’s abroad. It was only Diego who came home recently because he had to make a film. I can’t wait to see her in the flesh,” he said. “Diego is very excited as a father. I can tell by how animated he gets whenever he tells me stories about the baby. I told him, ‘I will spoil that child.’ She can call me lolo or grandpa. It doesn’t really matter.”

Cesar also has three daughters with actress Sunshine Cruz, named Angelina, Sam and Chesca. “My Tres Marias are still too young to start families of their own. They should all finish school first. All of them are in college now and are consistent honor students. I told them not to put all their efforts to waste. They have to think of ways to constantly level up,” the father said.

Diego Loyzaga, Montano’s son with ex-partner Teresa Loyzaga, carries his first child.

Pursuing their passion

Cesar also let on that none of his daughters have “formally presented” their boyfriends to him just yet. “I really don’t know if they have any, although I suspect that Angelina already has,” he pointed out. “I trust my daughters. They have minds of their own. My job as their father is to raise them well, to help them become God-fearing and righteous individuals. I can say I’ve done my part.”

While Diego and Angelina are already dabbling in acting and singing, Cesar said he is not the type of father who would force show business to his children. “I just tell them the importance of being financially independent, but I never stop them from pursuing their passions. I believe that God always assigns a purpose to each of us, and each person is given a specific talent that enables him or her to achieve that purpose,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Cesar said he finished his master’s degree in public safety and administration in July because “I wanted to inspire people, especially the youth. I kept telling them not to give up because there’s no substitute for education.”

It took Cesar more than a year to finish the course. “I had to go to school three times a week. I had no regrets. I’m glad I finally finished it. Most of my classmates there were policemen, firemen, colonels, and those who work for the government,” he said, adding that he has no intention to run for public office any time soon. “If you’re going to ask me now, my answer would be ‘no.’ I’m happy with all my movie assignments right now. I still have to finish them all, and they’re all I can think about.”

He also said that while he is more comfortable doing films, he couldn’t turn down the offer to do the TV adaptation of Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s 1983 masterpiece. “You all know how close I was to Direk Marilou. We did ‘Jose Rizal,’ ‘Muro Ami’ and ‘Bagong Buwan’ together. This is my personal tribute to our late National Artist for Film,” he declared.

Montano (right) with Marco Gumabao and Cristine Reyes in “Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan”.

‘Humbling experience’

“It was a humbling experience and a great opportunity for me. I did my last TV series some six years ago and, to be honest, I really had a hard time adjusting to TV work today. My coactors know this,” he admitted. “I’m just lucky that I have their support, especially Cristine’s (Reyes, his leading lady).”

Cesar plays the rich and influential Cenon Aurello in “Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan.” He gets married to Cristine’s character, Helene, who is half his age. Cesar claims Cenon has qualities that will make local TV audiences empathize with him. “He is very thoughtful and sensitive, especially when it comes to his wife Helene’s feelings. He also values his career as an engineer and he is a good mentor,” he began.

“I took up civil engineering in college before I shifted to mass communications so I am able to relate to Cenon in that sense. What’s great about him is that he helped Helene and Rod (Marco Gumabao)—her high school boyfriend—because he saw their talents even at a very young age,” Cesar added.

‘Beautiful artwork’

During the special media screening of the show’s pilot week, Cesar commended his directors, Jerome Pobocan and Tots Marisal, “for coming up with this beautiful artwork.” He added: “They were very effective when it came to making the audience feel the kilig between Cenon and Helene. They made me look and feel young on the show. It was a challenging task, but they’re hardworking and dedicated, so they were able to pull it off. Jerome is really a good director. I’m excited to work with him in a movie someday,” Cesar declared.

“Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan,” produced by Sari Sari Network in partnership with Viva Entertainment, premiered on July 25 and airs Mondays to Fridays at 4:40 p.m. on TV5, with encore telecasts every day at 8 p.m. on Sari Sari Channel.