Despite not being entirely present in his son Daniel Padilla’s life during his childhood, Rommel Padilla was still able to provide all his needs and form a strong bond with him as he grew up.

Through Rommel’s most recent interview on Magandang Buhay, it was revealed that the King of Hearts was still in the womb of his former partner Momshie Karla Estrada when they called it quits and parted ways without him knowing that she is pregnant with their lovechild. He recalled only being able to find out about him when she brought DJ along in one of her visits to him in the New Bilibid Prison when he was incarcerated. As he reminisced that stirring scene when he held their baby in his arms for the first time, the veteran action star was not able to hold back his emotions and expressed his gratitude to her for doing that.

WATCH: Momshie Karla, dinala noon si Daniel sa kulungan para makita ng amang si Rommel

In their first-ever interview together in 2013 via the now-defunct showbiz-oriented talk show Showbiz Inside Report, the veteran action star disclosed that during those dark times, the baby picture of their son handed by Karla became his ‘lifeline’ or source of hope and life, until he was granted his freedom that enabled to do his duties as a father.

Now that Daniel has already grown up and continues to create on his own mark in the industry as one of the most famous and sought-after leading men of his generation, he and Rommel are able to maintain, or even tighten, their bond in spite of their busy schedules. In that same Showbiz Inside Report appearance, the father-and-son tandem imparted that they truly enjoy playing basketball, music jamming, and bantering together.

Go through this gallery to behold how Rommel and Daniel has stayed close to each other through the years!