Richard Gomez talks about disciplining daughter Juliana

MANILA, Philippines- Richard Gomez said discipline is very important in raising his daughter Juliana.

Juliana is his unica hija with 4th District Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez.

“Definitely,” Richard replied when asked if he is a strict dad. “Kailangan talaga ‘yong disiplina.”

Even when Juliana was just a kid, he and his wife started instilling discipline in her, like in buying toys.

“Dati noong bata siya kapag pupunta kami ng toy store sasabihin ko, ‘lumibot ka na. Pumili ka ng isang gustung-gusto mo. Hindi puwede lahat ng gusto mo kukunin mo, pumili ka lang ng isa.’ Basta in the end of the day, isa lang ang kukunin niya,” he recalled.

But now that his daughter is 14 years old, they’re now imposing a curfew to her when going out with her friends.

“May curfew, 10 ng gabi. Minsan lumalabas na siya kasama ang kaibigan sa gabi, manonood ng sine, dinner. Kaya kapag ano sinasabi ko, ‘manood ka nang maaga para matapos kayo agad,’” he said, laughing.

Yet he clarified that they never make Juliana feel too restricted.

“Magkaiba, magkaiba ‘yong pagka-strikto namin. Depende sa sitwasyon,” he said about their way of discipline. “Ang iniiwasan lang natin maging feeling ng bata ayaw lagi. So give and take kami.

“Minsan alam mo na magpapaalam sasabihin ko [kay Lucy], ’hindi ko papayagan ‘yan, ha. Kapag lumapit sa iyo ‘yan sabihin mo lumapit sa akin.’”

“Ngayon malalaman na niya,” he said, laughing, referring to the write ups on him. “So para ‘yong bata hindi niya maramdaman na para siyang inaapi. Pero minsan naman sinasabi ko, ‘Paalam ka sa mommy mo. Kapag pinayagan ka, okay na ako.’”

Although when asked about Juliana having suitors, Richard shared a way on how to somehow delay that from happening. “Inaaliw ko sa sports. Kasi kapag wala kang ginagawa kung sa’n-sa’n napo-focus, e. Siyempre, kasi kahit paano baka may nanliligaw na.”