JC de Vera —MARINEL CRUZ
Now that JC de Vera is a dad to two girls, the actor said it has now become his personal mission to change the image of Filipino fathers from pa-macho to “soft.”
JC does this by actively posting photos and reels of his growing family on his Instagram account. He is husband to Rikkah Cruz and dad to Lana, 5 years, and Laura, 3 months.
“There are a lot of dad stereotypes that need to change. I want to show a different side of being a father; that’s why I often post about my family,” JC told Inquirer Entertainment during a recent media gathering to promote Book 2 of the drama series “Nag-aapoy na Damdamin.”
“It’s not true that dads only care about their work or prefer to go out on gimmicks than stay home. Not all dads are so pa-macho that they wouldn’t be caught babysitting their own kids,” he pointed out. “This is what the previous generation presented to us through movies and TV shows. What I want is to show the soft side of being a dad. I obey the women in my house. I don’t make them follow me.”
JC said he had no hesitations about sharing with his followers some of Laura’s personal milestones. “I’m proud to be her dad. Every experience is so special for me. I grew up in a family dominated by males. With two brothers and my dad, my mom was the only female in our house. In my home now, it’s the opposite. I’m the only male and I’m learning every day, specifically in terms of how to take care of and raise young females. It’s good that my wife guides me all throughout.”He also makes sure to attain a work-life balance, said JC. “I will always have time for my family even if I have work. These days, my life is so simple. I have no vices. I also have no interest in gimmicks anymore. I’m happy that I’m past that stage now,” JC declared.
“When there’s an important occasion in the family, or if there’s a planned trip, I’m always present. That’s my priority now: To be present at all times. In fact, when I don’t have work, I bring my eldest to school.”
JC also claimed that being a dad has given him greater acting depth. “I’m learning so much at work every day. The emotions I feel for my kids and how I manage my own emotions during challenging times are helping me so much as an actor. I bring all these to television,” he began. “Now, I am able to empathize with my character easily. As an example, there are scenes in the show that require me to take care of ailing children. Just by imagining that these are my kids, I am able to cry with very little effort. That really makes work easier for me.”
JC as Philip in “Nag-aapoy Na Damdamin”—YOUTUBE SCREENGRAB
‘Life isn’t all roses’
However, life isn’t all roses, observed JC. “We’re not saying that we’re a perfect couple. We experience misunderstandings, too, but the beauty of our relationship is that we’re open to understanding each other’s situation. My wife is the most supportive, ever. We’re very grateful about our family’s situation right now; I guess that’s why you see genuine smiles on the faces of my wife and daughters in the photos I post,” said JC.“Nag-aapoy na Damdamin,” directed by FM Reyes, is a coproduction of ABS-CBN and TV5. It also features Jane Oineza, Tony Labrusca and Ria Atayde. JC admitted to feeling pressured to make sure that this collaboration does well, but claimed he doesn’t want to measure its success based on ratings.
“Honestly, what gives me so much pressure is how to outdo my previous performances in the show. If the audience thinks that you’re all performing well, then I believe that everything will fall into place,” he explained. “This is why, going into this project, my costars and I chose to make sure we come up with great performances rather than think of ways we can help increase the ratings. This is also why we’re having so much fun on the set, even though work is really tiring.”
Complicated struggle
“Nag-aapoy na Damdamin” follows the lives of two well-established families as they get embroiled in a complicated struggle rooted in grief, anger and a passionate desire for revenge. Four people—JC as Philip Salazar, Jane as Claire Salazar, Tony as Lucas Buencamino and Ria as Melinda Buencamino—set their elaborate plans in motion as they fight for their loved ones and their own desires.
“As Philip, I’m still searching for the truth in relation to the death of my father, who was a role model to me. I will never have peace of mind until I find out who was behind his death. I’m still planning to avenge him, especially because his former business partners, the Buencaminos, have stolen from our family the one thing that he worked really hard for—the hospital. This is why in the latest episodes, you will always see me angry and frustrated,” explained JC when asked for an update on his character’s story development.
“Nag-aapoy na Damdamin,” a production of JRB Creatives, airs Monday to Friday, 3:50 p.m. on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, iWantTFC, TFC, A2Z and TV5.