Anyone who has ever lived with his dad knows that despite their intimidating exterior, dads are mushy on the inside. It’s true that the only unconditional love most people will ever experience in this world is parental love – not just a mother’s, but a father’s love, too. Think about it. Most men, especially with their firstborn, are reduced to becoming big cooing, baby-talking balls of mush once they become fathers. What were once things they didn’t dream they’d be doing they suddenly become adept at. They change diapers in the middle of the night, spend thousands on toys for their kids, drive to and from pastel-painted elementary school buildings, attend PT conferences in the middle of a workday, volunteer to be the watch-out parent during field trips, organize barbecue cookouts, attend outrageously themed children’s parties and other bizarre parental activities.
Being a dad is a tough job that takes a lot out of a man. It’s not just the whole mental and emotional aspect of it that’s tough, it’s also a physically demanding role that requires them to keep up with their little ones. In this light, dads have to have clothes that are comfortable enough to wear all day and fashionable enough to take them from babysitting duties to business meetings. And because they don’t have a lot of time to walk around in malls to shop for themselves, dads need a one-stop shop for cool, comfortable and hip clothes – like Esprit.
Esprit is an international, youthful, lifestyle brand offering smart, affordable clothes. It brings newness and style to classic pieces, and keeps up with up-and-coming fashion trends. Established in 1968, it has earned the reputation of delivering the best goods in the industry. Esprit has revolutionized the Philippine fashion scene over the years by introducing to the local market cutting-edge brands with definitive styles.
Check out the on-the-go yet very loving and dedicated fathers who swear by Esprit.
— SCOTT GARCEAU
Editor and columnist, The Philippine STAR
For Esprit Collection
The world of publishing is a crazy roller-coaster ride. With a slew of constantly-there deadlines and late hours in front of the computer, getting into the groove of being a father can make your schedule a little neurotic. But somehow, writer Scott Garceau, father to pretty daughter Isobel, manages beautifully.
"In the mornings, I’m free," Scott says. "I wait till the afternoon before I go to the office. And basically my daughter Isobel has kind of gotten used to that. At first I thought, ‘Oh, no, she’s never gonna let me go to the office,’ but now she understands. Isobel is adorable. Being a father is a life-changing move and there’s no turning back. You suddenly have a larger life, you suddenly have something else in your life beyond being a couple. It gives your life more dimension. And suddenly you have someone you love in a way you never thought you were capable of. Besides that, it’s been sort of an education because she’s a girl. I never grew up around girls, I had brothers – two brothers."
His wife, Therese Jamora-Garceau, also an editor at the STAR, says she admires the kind of dedication Scott puts into his role as a dad. "He’s like a kid himself. I think he plays with Isobel more than most fathers do with their kids."
For Scott, being a dad is a whole new chapter in life, with many more to follow.
— BRENT OMDAHL
Commercial Attaché, US Embassy
For Esprit Collection
Working for the US embassy is tough and juggling fatherhood with the job is no easy feat. But according to Brent Omdahl, it’s all worth it.
"I love being a dad," Brent says. "It’s the second best thing I ever did. The first is getting married to my wife. The children are the most unifying factor in our marriage, they bring us closer together. My job can be demanding, even after office hours, since as a commercial attaché I help American companies launch their products in this market and we do a lot of evening events, which tend to take time away from home. On the flipside, I do spend on the weekends a lot of time with my family. Furthermore, we’ve created a family mission statement based on our last name O-M-D-A-H-L. O for only One, meaning we put God first. M for Muscles, muscles of faith. D for Do the right thing. A for Always together. H for Honoring one another. L for Love and Laughter. We also have family night every Monday night. Whatever schedule we have, everybody just puts it aside. So I don’t go to receptions on Monday nights."
— DOMINI PRIMERO
Promoter of Good Vibes, Big Fish
For Esprit Casual
Anybody who has ever heard of Big Fish or is into the nightlife scene and club music knows Domini Primero. The main man of Big Fish is often the life of the party himself and he knows how to have fun. This party guy is also father to three kids.
"I work hard, I play harder, but family always comes first," Domini says. "My life really changed when I had kids. I used to go out a lot before – it’s the nature of my job – but now, I would much rather go home early and spend time with my family. Things change as you grow older and so do your priorities. When you have kids, you want to work harder and be a better person. You want to give your children a good life. You want to give them the best you can have."
— LUIGI TRILLO
Professional coach, part-owner of Fiamma
For Esprit Casual
Luigi Trillo knows his sports. He coaches professionally for the PBA and basically has his schedule set. And although he is constantly surrounded by the toughest of the tough, things are not the same at home – he is the father of Rocio, the apple of his eye, and he’s a very affectionate dad.
"You know, everything changes when you have a kid," Luigi says. "Now that Rocio is here, our priorities have changed and it’s very gratifying. You really feel like you’re accomplishing something. When you don’t have a kid, you tend to put yourself first and now everything revolves around her – any free time I have, I spend with her. I cannot say no to her and it’s hard to draw the line between being her friend and being a disciplinarian. And our mornings are really reserved for Rocio. This one takes a lot of our time. No more late nights out."