It’s always refreshing to include dads in parenting conversations. After all, they are just as important as moms in raising kids and building a happy home. Check out these parenting insights straight from three fathers with different stories to tell – Nyoy Volante, Kean Cipriano, and Paco Arespacochaga.

First, they looked back on their careers as musicians. As the story goes, Paco and his band Introvoys were at the peak of their popularity in the ‘90s when he left for an international career. Documentation problems, unfortunately, halted his supposed signing with a music label in the US. To save face, he decided to stay in the US even if he had to work as an ordinary carrier, store cashier, and toilet cleaner.

“Nilamon ko ‘yung pride na ‘yun talaga. Doon sa electronic store, six hours kahero, one hour tagakolekta ng push carts, isang oras tagalinis ng bathroom. Habang naglilinis ako ng bathroom, may mga Pinoy nakita ‘yung nametag ko, sabi, ‘O, si Paco Arespacochaga pala to!’ Sabay umihi sa sahig, ‘O, pre! Linisin mo ‘to ah,’” he narrated. The “Line to Heaven” singer went through hell in America, and it’s a heartbreaking story to tell. Find out more in the podcast!

Interestingly, Nyoy first met Paco during his show abroad. Paco was in the audience, and seeing one of his original idols cheering for him convinced Nyoy that he was navigating the right career path. Meanwhile, Kean shared that he started with a campus band until they signed with a music label.

The next portion was a little sentimental with the gentlemen talking about their kids. From an ‘astig’ rock star, Kean transitioned into a hands-on dad. He’s now a completely different person who prioritizes his family above anything else.

The transformative power of fatherhood is also evident in Paco’s story. From having a troubled relationship with his eldest Heaven, his son with singer-actress Geneva Cruz, Paco got his wake-up call when he became dad to his fifth child and only daughter Cassidy.

“Si Cassidy ‘yung unang anak na inalagaan ko. Kasi ‘yung mga boys, nanay nila or yaya nila nag-alaga. I was looking at this little fragile girl and sabi ko, I never felt this way. Parang doon ko lang na-realize ‘yung sinasabi ni Heaven na trophy [kids]. Hindi ko pwedeng trophy ito kasi gagawing trophy ng mga lalaki ‘to. So, kailangan ko magbago,” he opened up.

With his realizations as a girl dad, Paco decided to swallow his pride and apologize to his sons. “Sabi nga madaling maging tatay. Isilang mo lang lahat ‘yan, bigyan mo ng child support. Pero ‘yung maging ama, ‘yung maging dad na, ‘Hey, I want to talk to you,’ napaka-fulfilling nu’n.”

Raising a girl truly melts a man’s heart. For Nyoy, whose daughter is now officially a teenager, it’s important to protect them but also let them go out into the world and experience it firsthand.

In the next part of the interview, the guest ‘popshies’ revealed more of their parenting styles and stories via fun Q&A game. They divulged the greatest values they passed on to their children, the negative attitude they regret their kids got from them, how they model good behavior, and their greatest fear as a father – read: “yung Nanay!” Humor aside, Nyoy, Kean, and Paco offered fresh perspectives that will help dads settle further in their role, plus they also expressed their lifetime resolutions as parents.

Listen to the full episode of Magandang Buhay The Podcast hosted by Regine Velasquez, Jolina Magdangal, and Melai Cantiveros.