Vhong Navarro gives Father’s Day message for dads who lost jobs amid COVID-19 pandemic

MANILA, Philippines — If there was one thing that actor Vhong Navarro could be thankful for during the lockdown due to novel coronavirus disease 2019 (2019) pandemic, it would be having more time to spend with his family.

“Siguro may dahilan kung bakit nangyari ‘tong pandemic. Siguro ang pinaka nagustuhan ko rito ‘yung quality time para sa anak ko at sa asawa ko. Siguro alam naman natin na lahat tayo naging busy sa trabaho. Ito ‘yung time na kakain ka ng tanghalian, hapunan, sama-sama kayo,” he told Philstar.com during a recent teleconference for the “new normal” debut of his noontime show “It’s Showtime” on the Kapamilya Channel.

“Ngayon, mas nakikilala ko na ‘yung mga anak ko. Malalaki na sila eh, mga kasing-edad ko na sila. Nakakausap mo na sa mga ‘di lang pang-(bata). Dati naaalala ko, mga toys pa pinaguuspan namin. Na-miss ko na pala ‘yung ganun. Ngayon iba na, mga crush na nila… Lumalalim na usapan na na-aapreciate ko.”

What he cannot forget the most from the lockdown, he said, was indulging in conversations with his kid from night until the next morning.

“Na ang sarap, na ang sabi ko, ito ata ‘yung isa sa mga mamimiss ko pero kailangan natin kumayod eh.” 

For dads like him, especially those who lost their jobs due to the pandemic, he advised them to stay strong and continue to become a beacon of strength for their families.

“Gusto ko lang po sabihin sa mga tatay na napakahirap ng mga hinaharap nila dahil sila ang haligi ng tahanan at ‘di ba sila ‘yung laging lumalabas, sila ‘yung nagtratrabaho at ngayon ay talagang maraming nawalan ng trabaho, especially ‘yung mga jeepney drivers, ‘yung mga nasa construction at marami pang iba na I’m sure na maitatawid natin ‘to, malalagpasan natin,” he affirmed.

“Alam ko kasi ‘yang mga tatay sa loob nila umiiyak na ‘yan. Sa loob nila iiyak na ‘yan pero ‘di nila pinapakita sa mga anak nila dahil alam nila sila ‘yung pinagkukuhanan ng lakas ng asawa, mga anak. Basta kapit lang tayo, mga tatay d’yan na katulad ko. Gusto ko lang sabihin sa inyo, Happy Father’s Day.”

In addition, his “It’s Showtime” co-host, Jhong Hilario, reminded dads to lead their families in bouncing back from the pandemic.

“Mas lalo ngayon, mas kailangan natin ipakita ‘yung pagka-ama natin sa mga nangyayari ngayon. Kailangan natin ipakita na matatag tayo at kaya natin bumangon at kaya natin buhayin ang pamilya natin kahit ano pang pandemic ang mangyari dahil ang mga Pilipino ‘di naman agad sumusuko ‘yan at gagawa at gagawa ng paraan para mabuhay ang pamilya,” Jhong said in the same teleconference.

“Sa lahat ng mga tatay, dasal ang ibinibigay ko sa inyo at sana’y gawin natin ang pagiging tatay natin sa mabuting paraan.”

“It’s Showtime” airs at noon from Mondays to Fridays on Jeepney TV and Kapamilya Channel (SKYcable channel 8 on SD and channel 167 on HD, Cablelink channel 8, G Sat channel 2, and most cable operators under the Philippine Cable and Telecommunications Association (PCTA) nationwide.

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