Cesar Montano opens up on relationship with son Diego, ex-wife Sunshine
“Proud grandpa” Cesar Montano is excited to meet his third grandchild, the newborn daughter of his son Diego Loyzaga. He has two other grandchildren from his eldest daughter Angela. The veteran actor said during the media conference of TV5’s Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan that he trusted Diego that “he will be a very responsible father.”
“Diego is also excited (as a father), he told me. I said, mag-i-spoiled yan. Lagot ka sa akin Diego, spoiled sa akin yung apo ko,” he shared. “I’m really happy for him because I know the feeling. I know that it will make him a better person.”
Cesar just saw his granddaughter through the pictures and haven’t meet her yet in person. “Naiwan yata abroad eh. Siya (Diego) pa lang yung bumalik dito to make a film and he is going back there. Hindi pa niya dinadala dito. I’m excited to see her in person.”
When asked if his three daughters with Sunshine Cruz, namely, Angelina Isabelle, Samantha Angeline and Angel Francheska, are also ready to be in a relationship, Cesar doesn’t think so.
He stated, “They are too young. They have to finish their school first. They are still studying. All of them are in college…They are honor students so sabi ko wag mong sayangin yan. (Think of) kung papano kayo magle-level up (in life).”
“I don’t know (if they have boyfriends),” he furthered. “But Angelina, she hasn’t admitted to me yet. They haven’t formally introduced their boyfriends to me. But I trust my daughters. They have a mind of their own, they have the heart of their own, so I trust them.
“Raising them is my responsibility. Palakihin sila ng tama to be God-fearing and be a righteous person growing up. Ngayon tapos na ako dun, hindi ko na dapat isipin where they are heading.”
Cesar’s only advice to them is to “get a good job.” “I will not force them (if they want to enter the showbiz industry),” he said. “Whatever their passion is (pursue it). You know God gives each person a purpose. Every purpose comes with talent so they have to find it. And my children have found it already.”
In terms of love life, the award-winning actor shared that he is open to the idea of getting married again. “Yes, I’m (a) very hopeful person na hindi masama ang kinakasal. Masarap ang kinakasal, right?”
Although he admitted that he doesn’t have plans yet, getting married is “not a bad idea.” “To be honest, it’s not a bad idea to get married, especially when you are single and you don’t have any commitments. So it’s a good idea. But we have to pray for it.”
Cesar’s current partner is Kath Angeles with whom he has three children. He and ex-wife Sunshine’ marriage got annulled in 2013.
He never expected that he and Sunshine would get along well and become “friends” after their separation.
“I’m happy where we are right now,” he asserted. “Basta ako naman tinalikuran ko na yan, contrary to the title of our teleserye (Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan). I’m focused and head on now with our relationship as friends.
“I’m happy and I also see that she is happy. I’m very thankful. I feel blessed and that’s what is important. You’re happy, you’re friends and the people around you are happy and not suffering.”
When further queried about the memories from his past that stuck with him, he shared, “There are a lot but I always dwell on the nice, beautiful memories because that’s what makes us feel younger and gives us happiness. You don’t dwell in gloomy places of your life. Dun ka dapat sa mga bright places, sa mga ‘sunshine’ places.”
He went on to sing a few bars from the classic track You are My Sunshine, “You are my sunshine/My only sunshine... There is always sunshine. Every day there is sunshine. Iba -iba. (It) depends on how you will accept it. How you live your life with it. Iba-iba naman yan. But it’s good to be thankful always no matter what the situation is.”
Moreover, the 60-year-old thespian just earned his master in public safety administration degree from Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC).
He clarified that he has no plans of joining politics as of now and he just wants to “inspire people” that’s why he accepted the scholarship offered to him at the PPSC.
“I want to inspire some of my fellow Filipinos, especially the young people that they should never give up,” he said.
“There’s no substitute for education. With this opportunity that was given to me, they made me a scholar to take this, I said, ‘Mahaba rin pala.’ It took us little more than a year, three times a week.
“Hindi ko pinanghinayangan because I learned a lot. That’s why I urged everyone that I share this story with (to study as well). Most of my classmates are police colonel, lawyers, working for the government and firemen so it’s very important.”
When inquired about political plans, he said, “If you are going to ask me now, my answer is no because I’m happy with what I’m doing right now with my movie assignments (and) the list of movies I have to finish. So I’m not thinking about it. My mind is fixated on finishing the list of projects that I want to do.”
One of those projects is TV5’s Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan, based on the ‘80s film of the same title starring Vilma Santos, Christopher de Leon and Eddie Garcia.
The series adaptation airs Monday to Friday, 4:40 p.m. on TV5, with encore telecasts every day at 8 p.m. on SARI SARI Channel, available on Cignal TV, SatLite Ch. 3, and Cignal Play. It is helmed by Jerome Chavez Pobocan and Claudio “Tots” Sanchez-Mariscal.
Cesar said yes to TV5’s latest offering to pay tribute to Marilou Diaz-Abaya, the director of the original movie. He had worked with the late filmmaker in Jose Rizal, Muro-Ami and Bagong Buwan.
During the special screening at the Gateway Mall Cinema in Araneta City, the audience couldn’t help but get giddy with the notable chemistry of Cesar (as Cenon) with his co-star Cristine Reyes (as Helen) as shown on screen.
Cesar admitted that he also felt kilig while watching the scenes and that he didn’t expect he would receive such reaction from the audience. “And even us, we were also affected. We already know the story but we still feel overwhelmed with what’s happening. I’m glad that every scene is effective and has that impact on the audience. It goes to show that we are doing our job right.”
Cesar and Cristine previously played father-daughter roles in the movie Martyr or Murderer. In Minsan Pa Nating Hagkan ang Nakaraan, Cesar plays Cristine’s Helen’s older gentleman lover, forming a love triangle with Marco Gumabao’s character Rod.
Cristine shared they haven’t done any workshop to build that chemistry with Cesar but they did “look test and table read” to prepare for their roles.
Cristine’s real-life boyfriend Marco reacted, “Of course nakakatuwa because ang pinaghirapan naming teleserye that we’ve been working on for a few months, ito na,” and cited the beautiful scenes and shots of the series.
The viewers should watch out for “more dramatic scenes in the coming weeks,” teased Marco. “More questions will be answered about Rod’s character, on why he left. We are all excited about this journey and I hope that everybody will like it,” he concluded.
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