What they got from their fathers

Manila, Philippines -  Game ‘N Go, TV5’s bet to the Sunday noontime slot, is debuting today, Father’s Day.

The Kapatid show’s game masters Joey de Leon and Edu Manzano as well as game keeper Arnell Ignacio were treated to a Father’s Day lunch last Wednesday, June 13, wherein they shared thoughts and experiences on fatherhood, and offered a glimpse into their relationships with their own fathers (and the influence they wield on their lives and careers).  

Joey began, “My father (Jose Esteban de Leon) left when I was three or four years old. We saw each other after 26 years. He got married in another country. Anyway, what I learned from my father was hard work.

“Nag-ta-trabaho yun ng mga three or four na trabaho (He was an accountant, actor, siya yung una nagdala sa Pinas ng lead at silver). Siguro yun ang namana ko kung influence ang pag-uusapan.”

“And maybe one thing more about women. Natutunan ko na basta may nahuli ka sa girlfriend mo na medyo asiwa, hiwalayan mo na. Simple no? Pero importante yun, nangyari sa kanya eh. Pilyo din yung tatay ko,” Joey mused.

His father was 89 years old when he passed away.

“He lived in Madrid. Matagal na siyang nagpupunta dun, maliit pa lang siya. Then in the 1950s, they were asked to go there to fix the inheritance-something. While he was there, he enjoyed, met another woman, married her and had kids. Tapos yung nanay ko naman dito, nag-resign na sa kanya. Pero tuwing pumupunta naman siya dito, magkatabi sila. No, I never resented my father because I understood right away,” Joey added.

Edu said that hard work was also something he imbibed from his late father, Adrian Manzano. His father happened to be a US war veteran. “Lahat kami magkakapatid after high school, we got into the military because of our father. Because he wanted us to be responsible,” said Edu, who grew up and was educated in the US.

Arnell, on the other hand, related, “Sa daddy ko, natutunan ko maging straight” — a statement that elicited laughs because Arnell is openly gay. “Ganito siya ka-straight, pag-nahuli yun ng traffic violation, he will attend the seminar.”

He added, “Nung di ko pa siya masyado kilala, akala ko parang di masyado magaling na tao, yun pala he’s one of the most respected bankers in the industry.”

“Before we were not close. Kasi iniinis ko siya lagi nung bata ako, sinasabi ko na bakla nalang ako para dadala ako ng lalaki sa bahay,” Arnell quipped.

All’s well now between father and son. “Good thing now we have the chance (to bond). Ngayon para kaming barkada.”

His father, Ed Ignacio, showed up at the lunch affair and said, “Our family is very conservative. (His orientation) came as a shock to us. But I’m still very proud of him.”

Asked what kind of father he is, Joey said that while he doesn’t want to brag, he described himself as “mabait na tatay” who gives what his kids want.

When his three kids with wife Eileen Macapagal wanted to pursue their studies abroad, even if he wanted them here as it is naturally cheaper, he let them be. Like Jocas, who’s now taking up her masters in London; she has two other degrees which she earned in the US (“At hindi pa nagka-boyfriend,” Joey said); Jaco graduated from Fordham; and youngest Jio is a graduate of Tisch School of the Arts in New York. Joey already has grandkids from his other kids Keempee and Chinee, and he is also taking care of the schooling of his apos.

Arnell, for his part, said in jest that fatherhood for him is complicated because he’s both mother and father to Sofia, his 16-year-old daughter (with his ex-wife), now in college at UA&P. “We practically do everything together. We run together, we travel together.”

Edu, who no longer has plans of entering politics, said he is trying to do everything to be the best dad for his kids and is now increasing the time and effort to be with them especially after what his 19-year-old daughter Andi told him recently that served as an eye-opener. “Andi told me, ‘I don’t get to see you anymore.’ That really made me (emotional),” Edu said.

Meanwhile, the three fathers who are all seasoned hosts were asked to assess how different today’s game or talk shows are from those produced in the past.

“Ang laki na’ng ipinagbago,” said Joey, noting that the audiences nowadays seem to prefer casual hosting. “Puwede na ngang kumain sa TV ngayon. (Before), bawal.”

Nevertheless, they think Game ‘N Go is going to click because they will be offering alternative programming as GMA and ABS-CBN serve up variety shows on the noontime slot.

Edu said, “If accessible sa ‘yo ang ratings, you’d be surprised to see that there’s no one clearly dominating that (time) slot. Ang laki pa ng market that you can still try to attract.”

Game ‘N Go also features Gelli de Belen and Shalani Soledad as game keepers.