We arguably abhorred them because of the ruthless, wicked roles they portrayed in the teleseryes they starred in. However, these actors are actually great family men in real life. Let’s get to know them in this feature!
Richard Gutierrez
Being in the industry for over three decades, loyal Kapamilya viewers were only able to witness Richard’s acting chops on television through his stint in La Luna Sangre – his first-ever project after becoming a certified ABS-CBN talent in 2017. There, he was immediately bestowed the challenging role of Sandrino Villalobo, a.k.a. Supremo, the main antagonist and the leader of the heinous vampires.
It was then succeeded by his current portrayal of the cunning Angelito “Lito” Valmoria in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano, who’s the main reason behind the tragic death of Alyana (Yassi Pressman) and the struggles of Cardo (Coco Martin) and his troop.
But in real life, the 37-year-old actor is actually a playful and loving dad to his beloved “rascals” Zion and Kai with actress Sarah Lahbati.
Tirso Cruz III
Among the most sought-after actors to play father characters in teleseryes, not to mention mean and domineering, Tirso has never failed to compel us with his every performance. These include his roles in Kapamilya series It Might Be You (2003), Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin (2005), Only You (2009), Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw (2013), Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala (2013), A Love To Last (2017), Wildflower (2017), The General’s Daughter (2019), Starla (2019), as well as his current character Arturo M. Padua in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.
At the same time, the 69-year-old veteran actor also has his share of kindhearted daddy roles, such as in Budoy (2011) and Ikaw Lamang (2014).
He may be in his senior years already, but he has remained groovy and social media-savvy! In fact, he has his own Instagram account where he shares some of the most important events in his life, including his bonding moments with his beloved kids and wife Lynn. His page actually somehow turned into a public journal as he used this as his way of talking to his late son TJ.
Geoff Eigenmann
From teeny-bopper roles, we’ve witnessed how Geoff has grown into becoming a seasoned actor. Ever since joining ABS-CBN again in 2018, he has impressed us with his teleserye performances, such as in Precious Hearts Romances Presents Los Bastardos (2018) and The Killer Bride (2019), through which he’s able to showcase his dramatic chops.
It was in in his current character P/Maj. Albert de Vela in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano that he’s able to exhibit not only his skills in action, but in being a kontrabida as well.
He may be hated by the avid viewers of the action-drama series, but you’ll surely love him once you see how a hands-on and endearing dad he is to his children Arabella, Angus, and Pepper and a loving husband to his wife Maya Flores.
Cris Villanueva
One of the most in-demand character actors in the local entertainment scene, we’ve seen Cris a lot in various teleseryes playing different roles. But among his most remarkable portrayals are those that he is a father, such as Rocco Amarillo in Mula Sa Puso (2011), Henry Chavez in Budoy (2011), Paeng Corpuz in Halik (2018), and Ian Veradona in Bagong Umaga (2020).
He goes on to touch many hearts as he depicts a drug addict father, whose life suddenly changed when he got reunited with his daughter (Maris Racal) in the two-part Father’s Day special of Maalaala Mo Kaya last June 12 and this coming Saturday (June 19).
The veteran actor may have been a dad to several young artists, but he’s the one and only popshie for his five beloved children. In his guesting in Magandang Buhay in 2020, his beauty queen anakshie Zara disclosed that they regard him as a barkada, since he’s very much supportive, close to everyone in the family, and chill.
Nonie Buencamino
Being tapped to play antagonist roles in majority of the teleseryes he starred in, there’s no doubt that Nonie is one of the prime male kontrabidas in Philippine TV. But other than that, he’s also known for his notable father roles.
Among those were in Saan Ka Man Naroroon (1999), Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin (2005), Prinsesa ng Banyera (2007), Kambal Sa Uma (2009), Tanging Yaman (2010), Carlo J. Caparas’ Dugong Buhay (2013), Honesto (2013), Ningning (2015), The Greatest Love (2016), and Asintado (2018). He currently portrays a corrupt mayor-slash-manipulative grandfather in the primetime series Huwag Kang Mangamba.
The 54-year-old actor may be a baddie most of the time, but he’s actually a doting father to his children with wife Shamaine and a caring grandpa to his adorable apo named Haraya – as seen in the photos that he posted on IG.
Jhong Hilario
From being a member of the iconic dance group Streetboys in the early years of his career, we’ve seen how Jhong has transformed into becoming a seasoned actor. We have already seen him act in a number of teleseryes, but it’s his performances in Emil Cruz Jr.’s Mara Clara (2010) and FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano (2017) that arguably stood out the most.
His characters Gary and Homer may be both antagonistic fathers, but we all know how a hands-on dad the It’s Showtime host can be, as seen on the photos and videos of him with his firstborn Sarina Oceania that he and non-showbiz partner Maia Azores post on IG.
Christopher De Leon
Throughout his four decades in the industry, Christopher has already appeared in numerous teleseryes in which he’s able to bring life to various significant father roles. And we’re able to see those via his stints in Kapamilya dramas Maging Sino Ka Man (2006), Pangarap Na Bituin (2007), Kahit Isang Saglit (2008), Lovers In Paris (2009), Dahil Sa Pag-ibig (2012), Muling Buksan Ang Puso (2013), The Legal Wife (2014), Ikaw Lamang (2014), Sana Dalawa Ang Puso (2018), and Love Thy Woman (2020).
He may have played different characters both on TV and film, but the most important roles he’s ever assumed is being a great dad to his 10 children and a loyal husband to his wife Sandy Andolong.
Romnick Sarmenta
Last, but definitely not the least, is Romnick Sarmenta who won the hearts of many girls in the 90s as a dashing matinee idol. He slowly got out of that image in the 2000s as he portrayed mature roles in the teleseryes he starred in, such as being a dad.
Among his most notable performances were in the 2017 action-fantaserye La Luna Sangre, where he compelled us as the strict and disciplinarian father Tonio Torralba, and in the 2018 romance series Halik as the domineering dad Mauro Montefalco. He also appeared as cunning Juan in FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.
His characters may not be so admirable, but he’s such an awesome father to his children. According to his daughter Zeke, who’s a self-confessed daddy’s girl, she regards him as her best friend who’s always there for her no matter what.
These actors may be either feared or hated as villains, but they’re indeed adored as dads off-cam. Happy Father’s Day!