ROBIN PADILLA: FATHER KNOWS BEST OR PAPA DON'T PREACH
MANILA, APRIL 10, 2011 (STAR) CONVERSATIONS With Ricky Lo [PHOTO - Robin shows his macho side on top of the Kawasaki motorbike that he is endorsing — Photos reprinted from StarStudio magazine's special issue devoted to Robin Padilla]
Does Papa know best? Or is it, Papa don't preach?
With his ex-wife Liezl Sicangco remarried (to a New Zealander) in Australia, Robin Padilla is tasked to look after their two grown-up daughters, Kylie (with GMA) and Queenie (with ABS), whose entry into showbiz makes fathering double challenging to Robin who has found new happiness in Mariel Rodriguez. The ex-couple's two younger children are with Liezl in Australia.
It is said that if you're a ladies' man, you graduate into a strict and over-protective father. Is Robin that type of a dad?
Since they found their respective new partners, Robin and Liezl seem to clash every now and then especially where Kylie and Queenie are concerned, with their clash getting serious when their daughters decided to be actresses. They can't help nor avoid it. Showbiz is in their genes.
During the recent launch of Robin as endorser of Natasha's Idol sa Pag-Asenso campaign (that works through a network of dealers, also known as members, who sell products person-to-person using a catalogue), Robin faced the issues squarely even as he promoted Tum: My Pledge of Love (rated B by the Cinema Evaluation Board), his first movie with Mariel (now showing nationwide) shot in India (with the Taj Mahal as setting of some scenes, where they got married in Muslim rites in August last year) which he himself co-directed with an Indian director. The movie also stars Queenie with Ejay Falcon as her love interest.
Wasn't it hard directing your wife?
"No. Magalang si Mariel. Hindi siya nagpapa-spoil sa set. She followed instructions at hindi niya ako inaaway kapag pinagagalitan ko siya. Sometimes, she got confused kasi may instructions ako sa kanya at may instructions din sa kanya 'yung Indian director. One time, na-high blood ako. I told her, 'Sa akin ka makinig'."
You've been married for almost nine months. How are you at home? Are you still in the adjustment period? What are you discovering about each other?
"A lot! Napaka-lambing ni Mariel. With her, taking care of me is a 24-hour job. She treats me like a baby. I must admit that I am moody and there are times when I don't want to be disturbed, lalo na kapag nagme-meditate ako."
And, like other Muslims, you pray four times a day, right?
[PHOTO - Even as he adjusts to a new life with wife Mariel Rodriguez Robin Padilla has to deal with the growing-up 'pains' of his daughters.]
"Sumasabay siyang magdasal sa akin."
Isn't she converting to Islam?
"I want her to study first the Catholic religion very carefully before she thinks of looking at other religions. Dapat pag-aralan mo muna ang relihiyon kung saan ka namulat."
So, no pressure from you?
"No, none at all."
No conflict where food is concerned?
"You know, when I was just proposing to Mariel, I told her na hindi na siya puwedeng kumain ng pork. Bawal sa aming Muslim, eh. Otherwise, hindi na kami puwede maghalikan."
Even if she brushes her teeth thoroughly?
"Not even. I told her, 'Patawarin mo ako, pero kasama 'yon, eh. I'm not forcing you not to eat pork, pero hindi na tayo puwede mag-kiss.' What kind of a married couple would we be kung walang kiss-kiss?"
How did you solve the problem?
"No more problem. Mariel doesn't eat pork anymore. So, tuloy ang kiss!"
What about bedtime habits? Who sleeps on which side?
"I have to be on the side near the door for security reasons. Siempre, we can never tell if bad person, a thief or whatever, breaks into the room. Ayoko naman na siya kaagad ang makikita."
What about bathroom habits? Do you take a shower together?
[PHOTO- Kylie and Queenie who have joined the messy world of showbiz]
"At first, it was a problem with me. Si Mariel kasi, napaka-sweet. Gusto niya maski nakaupo ako sa________, pinanonood niya ako. Ang hirap! Naiilang ako. I'm getting used to it. Taking a shower together, okey 'yon. Sino ba naman ang ayaw makita ang isang maganda at seksing babae na naliligo?"
Mariel has gone back to work (as co-host of the ABS-CBN noontime show Happy Yipee Yehey). Did she ask your permission?
"Actually, she didn't want to work anymore. It took time for me to convince her. I told her, 'Kung ako hindi na magtra-trabaho, okey 'yan. Wala tayong gagawin kundi mag-honeymoon na lang.' But where would we get the money? I told her, 'While I'm still working, you should also work.' I don't want her to get bored waiting for me to come home."
Are you strict with Kylie, 17, and Queenie, 19, especially where boys are concerned?
"I'm an actor so I know that on the set, madaling ma-develop ang magka-partner. All I'm reminding them is that they are too young to have boyfriends. Ejay has an obligation to his family and it won't help if he goes into a serious relationship. Si Queenie naman, ngayon pa lang niya nag-e-enjoy 'yung kalayaan na matagal niyang hinintay. We granted her independence when she turned 18. So paano 'yon, gusto mong maging independent pagkatapos magbo-boyfriend ka. Parang kumuha ka n'un ng security guard. I'm also like that with Kylie."
Are you more strict with the girls than you are with your son (Ali, who is with Liezl)?
[PHOTO - With son Ali: 'I wouldn't say I'm strict with my daughters; nami-misinterpret lang ako. Ang pagka-strict ko ay dahil lamang sa Muslim kami. Mayroon kaming pinaniniwalaan na pananampalataya and they have to follow that.']
"I wouldn't say I'm strict; nami-misinterpret lang ako. Alam mo, rebolusyonaryo ako sa pagkatao, so I believe in freedom. Ang pagka-strict ko ay dahil lamang sa Muslim kami. Mayroon kaming pinaniniwalaan na pananampalataya and they have to follow that."
Any limitations lalo na sa pakikipag-boyfriend?
"Yes. Bawal talaga 'yon."
Hanggang anong age hindi puwede mag-boyfriend?
"Ay, walang age 'yon. A girl should commit herself only to the man that she's going to marry. You follow the teachings of Islam not because you want to please your father and mother but because lubos ang iyong pananampalataya. I believe that my children are devoted Muslims. They told me that they are."
What's the role of Liezl in raising the two daughters who are with you?
"We have no more communication. She's married, I am married. Siguro naman, bilang respeto sa mga asawa namin, eh, huwag na kaming mag-usap. Kylie and Queenie are old enough and I think it's enough that we just talk to them."
Now that they are in showbiz, which is full of temptations, what's your constant reminder to them?
"Just this: You are too young. But if you think you are already at the right age, ako ay sumusuporta sa inyong paniniwala na 'yan. Pero, remember, nagsisimula pa lang ang tamis ng inyong buhay. Kalalaya n'yo pa lang sa amin, huwag kayong kumuha ng bagong security guard."
(Postscript: Robin and Mariel have decided to scrap their plan to get married in church in June after they learned that, since Robin is a Muslim, he cannot get married in Catholic rites.)
----------------------------------------------------------
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
----------------------------------------------------------
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet
This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.
To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------
