A father first

Dolphy did it. So did Joey de Leon. So Benjie Paras doesn’t see why he can’t climb the comedy ladder without kissing and love scenes with his leading ladies.

That’s how seriously this former PBA player takes his real-life role as single dad to Andre and Kobe. Benjie would rather be tagged conservative than shatter his little boys’ (by ex-wife Jackie Forster) image of him as their idol.

In the few times they spend together at Enchanted Kingdom, Benjie politely turns down requests for his photos to be taken with others. His reason: this is my private time with my kids. So please understand.

Others walk away and murmur what a snob Benjie is. But the star of QTV 11’s Family Zoo just shrugs his shoulders. You can’t please everybody, he tells himself. Besides, his sons mean the world to him. Now that Encantadia has gone off the air, Benjie can play basketball with his boys more often and watch more movies (the latest of which was Ice Age 2) with them.

The doting dad has also adjusted to his grade schoolers’ dismissal schedule.

"I no longer sleep behind the wheel when I bring and fetch them from school," he crows.

The seasoned athlete in Benjie has made him do what some young stars will never dream of doing: wake up and stay alert early in the morning after staying up late for his tapings on GMA sitcoms.

"With Encantadia out of the way, I just tape Lagot Ka Isusumbong Kita on Wednesdays, and Family Zoo on Fridays," reports Benjie.

Parenthood is now a breeze, with the boys earning a lot from their father’s rewards system.

"I give them salaries when they do chores, like giving the dog a bath, hanging newly-washed clothes on the clothesline, buying something from the store," he describes his fathering style.

This has allowed the boys to buy a toy they’ve been eyeing in the display window for months, or a bike they yearn for with all their heart.

Even on the Family Zoo set, Benjie can’t help but show his loving father side to his reel-life children in the QTV show (which premieres Tuesday, May 2 at 8:30 p.m.)

"I treat Paul Salas and Ana Danielle (who play his twin children with wife Ara Mina) like my own," reveals Benjie.

Benjie’s role is so close to life. He is hardworking, diligent and well-liked Lorenzo, the zoo caretaker. The family has made the zoo their home.

Unknown to their parents, the children can talk with the resident animals. Throw in a meddlesome mother-in-law (Nanette Inventor) and you have a sitcom reminiscent of the long-running John en Marsha.

With more time in his hands, Benjie finds fulfillment coaching amateur basketball players thrice a week.

"Basketball is my life. Showbiz was incidental. So it gives me a lot of joy helping young athletes play the sport," explains Benjie.

He’s not downgrading the big boost showbiz has given him, though. In fact, Benjie looks at it as a long-ranging career, unlike sports, where athletes past their prime just fade away.

"I can do fantasy projects, but not straight drama," the 37-year-old Benjie says. Serious roles are not for him.

Which is just as well. Can you imagine Benjie with the shiny pate (his hair fell out after a bout with h-fever) and wacky ways making people break down in tears?

Not in your wildest dreams. Especially now that he is starting anew in love after finding a nonshowbiz girl who gets along with his sons.

"The year-old relationship is a quiet one," says Benjie, who refuses to get into details (read: he wants everything hush-hush).

Finally, things are falling into place this time.