Diego Loyzaga promises to be a present father to daughter Hailey

Diego Loyzaga is not the type who would simply ride on the popularity of his celebrity parents Cesar Montano and Teresa Loyzaga. He’s been working hard to earn his success through his talent and dedication to the craft.

“The one thing Mama teaches me is modulation of the voice, which is something I sometimes forget about dahil nadadala ako kung sino ang kausap ko. Sometimes, I’m too high-pitched or too low-pitched. So, she taught me that whenever I do scenes, I should tone my voice accordingly,” shared Diego about her mom’s acting tips.

“With my Dad, I just finished a movie last year, it’s an action film, and I made him watch it. He said, ‘I like your acting, you did good but you lack depth.’ He wants me (to act) deeper because when Dad immerses in a role, he completely becomes the character,” he added.

Diego can’t blame people for expecting him to measure up with his Dad and for some time, he tried to fill up those big shoes to be Cesar Montano. “But recently, kumalas na rin ako. I don’t wanna force myself to be Cesar. Gusto ko na lang maging ako. Of course, I wanna achieve what he has become as an actor but one day at a time.”

The young actor felt most proud when he received praise from his dad for his acting performance in one of their movies together. “Hindi ako iyakin na tao pero naiyak ako when, for the first time, my dad told me that he liked my acting.”

“Everyone knows my story. I didn’t grow up with my dad but I’m not blaming him or anything. What I wanted to say is, it’s a nice feeling to get affirmation from him.”

Diego now constantly communicates with Cesar not just about acting but also his being a dad to Hailey. The grandfather, Diego said, is so in love with his baby daughter.

Fatherhood has made Diego see life in a different perspective. He is delighted to learn new things every day.

“It’s not all about me anymore. After 12 years of being in showbiz, I was finally able to put a down (payment) for a house and I’m fixing which one to become her playroom. My theme is a man cave but her bedroom is all pink,” said Diego on how he’s planning to finish Hailey’s room. “I don’t know. It feels different but at the same time, it’s the same. I can’t say naman na in an instant nagbago ‘yung buhay ko.”

Diego also revealed his excitement about preparing for Hailey’s future, including the school where he wants her to study. This early, everything is all set for his child’s birthday party in May.

“I want to be a present father. In the back of my head, I always have this thinking that it’s not just about Diego anymore. It’s about Diego and Hailey and of course, my baby’s mama also,” said he, referring to Hailey’s mother Alexis Suapengco.

Part of Diego’s story was his stay at the rehabilitation center. He admitted that he’s in touch with his counselors for guidance every single day.

I asked how he would explain this to his daughter 15 or 20 years from now, Diego said, “I guess, I’d say, ‘Anak, in life, people make mistakes. I think when you don’t make mistakes, you don’t really grow.’

“‘I hope you don’t judge me for my past. I hope you don’t look at me differently for the mistakes I’ve done and maybe, might still do in the future. But just know that I love you and I promise that I’ll give you a life that I never had.’ I know my parents did the best they could for me pero ako for myself, I will do everything in my power.”

Whatever people might say about him, Diego can only promise one thing: he will never be an absent father.