Franco Laurel a father thrice over

Franco Laurel, noted singer-theater actor-host- and restaurateur, is only 31 and only recently did he realize he has been a father thrice in his life. Franco, the young torchbearer of the legendary Laurel clan, has always been a devoted padre de pamilya.

Franco grew up in a balanced environment. Looking at old family pictures, one would think that Franco’s parents were staunch propagators of the family planning program of the Marcos administration.

"My parents had this unique way of having a four-year gap between each of us children. Coincidentally, I was born during the Munich Olympics in 1972. So every time the Games are on, my mother was giving birth. As if a year before the Olympics was to commence, they got so motivated and planned on something. I don’t know if the rings in the Olympic logo mean anything to them. And so it follows that our youngest was born in 1988, the year it was held in Seoul. Then again, none of us became interested in having a career in professional sports," said Franco who, as a young schoolboy, participated (and won medals) in national age-group swimming competitions.

Franco became a surrogate father to his four younger siblings when his parents separated. Barely 25 then, and just like any other carefree bachelor whose main focus was to have a successful career in his chosen endeavor in entertainment, Franco’s definition of "responsibility" was still very limited.

Being the big brother, he had to attend to special school activities for his brothers and sisters. Giving pieces of advice about juvenile problems was also among his responsibilities.

"When my father left us, the weight was on me, being the eldest. I learned early how to be responsible for other people. When I earned something, I was not only thinking about myself. I had a sense of purpose. Eventually, I’d completely familiarize myself playing dad."

Good thing Franco was already armed with a college degree from Keio University in Japan and coincidentally, his thesis, "The Incarceration of the Japanese-American during WWII and the Psychological Impact on the Nisei School Children," had something to do with a special kind of child-rearing, besides its major focus on history.

"Let’s say, my life then was like a soap opera. After knowing that our father had really abandoned us, we were enraged. Luckily, there was my grandfather who pacified us. He gave us strength. I used to be angry with my father but I realized that anger would take me nowhere. I’ve made peace already with my past. I’ve forgiven him a long time ago. Am much happier and settled now."

The second time he took on the role was when he married Ayen Munji. Ayen, former princess, had two children before marrying Franco: a son, Kiko, nine and daughter, Mariella, 13, both from previous unions. Franco and Ayen met on the set of Rama at Sita. Ayen was producer while Franco was among the lead actors. Sparks flew and the rest is history.

"Yes you can say it’s the second time I took on the role f a father," Franco says, smiling. "I used to be Tito Franco to the kids. Ayen and I have always been good friends even during the time she was married to her prince. So it was pretty easy for the kids to eventually call me Daddy Franco. I was close to the children already. They were at ease with me and delighted to have me as their new Daddy. Back then, Mariella was only seven while Kiko was three."

After becoming a husband, the natural process was for him to be a biological father. And so Maria Yllena Angia Munji Laurel, now 20 months, was born. Coincidentally, Angia was conceived a little bit after the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

"It’s an entirely different feeling. I mean, I was there right from Day One. When Ayen gave birth, I was in the delivery room. I even requested to cut the baby’s umbilical cord," recalls the proud father. He even took still-pictures of the whole process, like a photo-journalist would on a crucial coverage.

Angia can now speak a few words, which delights him more. And the little girl is showing signs of being a future musical star. Franco would let her watch DVDs of The Sound of Music, Annie and Finding Nemo. Angia would be silent and consistently focused on the TV screen. Sometimes the doting dad would catch her humming a tune or two.

Says the beaming Franco, "If I had a sense of purpose since the first time I became a father, now it’s three times more. I am now totally focused on the future of my family.

This August, the century-old Olympic Games returns to where it started; Athens, Greece. Could Angia be having a brother soon?