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Dingdong Dantes on being a father of two: ‘I’m also a work in progress’

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Rhea Manila Santos

<p>It’s already been seven years after he first became a parent to eldest child Zia and actor Dingdong Dantes admitted being a model dad is not an easy job.</p><p>With the arrival of his second child Sixto with wife Marian Rivera in 2019, Dingdong said he is still learning about parenting every day.</p><p>“Still far from it. I feel like I’m also a work in progress. Iba yung expectation versus reality, totoo yan. Pero ang mahalaga ay hindi ako tumigil sa mga bagong mga natututunan ko. Not just as a parent, but also as a person in general.</p><p>“Kasi lahat naman na natututunan ko i-a-apply ko din sa kanila. So maganda na parating andun pa rin yung desire and urge mo to evolve always as a person. Kaya parating fresh at bago at maganda at mabuti ang palagi mong ibibigay sa mga anak mo,” he told PUSH during Kiko Milano’s The Little Mermaid collection launch held in BGC earlier this month.</p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CvbdW9Gyd_X/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A909932.1999998093%2C%22ls%22%3A909600.0999999046%2C%22le%22%3A909604.4000000954%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="623" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2023/7/31/marian-rivera-and-dingdong-dantes-daughter-zia-wins-6-medals-at-swimming-competition-2024"><strong>READ: Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes’ daughter Zia wins 6 medals at swimming competition<br/></strong></a></div><p>Dingdong said he is grateful to his wife Marian Rivera for taking care of their children when he is busy working, especially as their eldest child Zia is growing up fast.</p><p>“Sa totoo lang, yun talaga yung sagot dun. Parang, ‘Oh my God, parang ang bilis’ (laughs). But then again, I’m not worried. Because I know that she’s in very, very good hands with Marian. Especially when it comes to matters that deals with girls, yung mga ganung bagay.</p><p>“Alam mo, meron ngang lumabas sa social media, may nag-drawing ng Zia 20 years from now, may parang ganun na interpretation. Sabi ko parang ayoko muna ma-imagine (laughs). Pero ang galing nung artist. Pero it’s true what they say that they really grow up so fast. Kaya mahalaga na we’re there in every very special moments, in every milestone nakasama natin sila para wala tayong ma-miss,” he added.</p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvbuFofgmCN/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A909949.6999998093%2C%22ls%22%3A909600.0999999046%2C%22le%22%3A909604.4000000954%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2023/6/21/dingdong-dantes-marian-rivera-headline-abs-cbn-films-co-produced-movie-rewind-1435"><strong>READ: Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera headline ABS-CBN Films co-produced movie ‘Rewind’</strong></a></div><p>While attending the Kiko Milano makeup event, Dingdong also shared why he finds no issue after discovering that Zia has started sharing her mother’s interest in makeup.</p><p>“Definitely she sees it from her mom ‘di ba? Kung paano si Marian hindi lang sa pag-me-makeup, kundi sa lahat ng bagay. Kasi si Zia talaga very observant. That’s why si Marian is very, very mindful na ginagawa niya yung modeling way sa kanyang mga anak, lalo na si Zia dahil babae rin. So ngayon na may interes siya, siyempre si Marian is there to give her tips and advice on what’s good for her age at ano yung hindi.</p><p>“Pero ang mahalaga is lahat ini-explain niya kung bakit. Kasi sometimes puwede tayo ma-overwhelm sa dami ng mga nakikita natin. Pero yun yung role ng magulang eh. Kailangan ini-explain nila what it’s for. And what’s necessary according to the age and the situation. So ako I’m happy she finds interest in a way kasi para sa akin, parang medyo similar din siya sa arts eh because you get to create, you get to create shapes, colors, and gumagana pa rin yung brain mo. So it’s just also a matter of redirecting that energy properly,” he explained.</p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CvbrFwaAxj-/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A909964.1999998093%2C%22ls%22%3A909600.0999999046%2C%22le%22%3A909604.4000000954%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>As one of the country’s most in demand celebrities, the 43-year-old actor said he is thankful that Marian lets him play the good cop when he is at home.</p><p>“Since I’m mostly not at home, most of the time I’m at work, so si Marian talaga ang nakatutok sa kanila. If we’re talking about yung ngayon, yung mga latest na nangyayari sa amin. Kaya pag andiyan ako, puro play time muna. Sa ngayon.</p><p>“At home, I’m very playful, funny at times. Basta tumatawa sila, okay na. Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako ka-corny pero tinatawanan nila yung ka-corny-han ko. So yung mga ganung bagay. Actually I am just myself when I am with them. Kumbaga walang iniisip na kahit ano. Ano lang, g lang ng g,” he said.</p>

Actor Dingdong Dantes talks about life off camera with his wife Marian Rivera and their two children.