Marc Leviste: Cool, cool dad

The warmth of Marc Leviste’s love for his children is found in his being a cool dad.

Marc, the 35-year-old vice governor of Batangas, proves his being cool to his three children in many ways. Last month, he brought his eldest son Ronin, 14, to MOA Arena to watch the concert of Avicii. Together, father and son were singing Levels and Fade into Darkness as they both enjoyed the concert. “It’s more fun to be the son of Marc Leviste! My dad is super cool,” says Ronin.

Almost always, Marc is the shopping buddy of his only girl Arielle, 12. “My dad is cool because he chooses my clothes. I always trust his fashion sense,” she says. “He is also a funny dad; he makes us laugh all the time.”

And for his youngest child, C2, a precocious six-year-old, Marc is the template of a model dad. “My dad is a cool dad because he gives me everything that I want. I love him,” C2 says while showering his father with a thousand and one kisses during a father-and-kids shoot for Bergamo.

Marc confides that Bergamo is his favorite brand for Barong Tagalog and formal suits. That day, Marc and his two sons breeze easily before the camera as they don different variations of Filipino formal wear as created by Dennis Lustico for Bergamo. “I truly feel comfortable wearing Bergamo in my everyday routine,” says Marc, who also helps his family in their real estate development projects and property management company. They so enjoy the shoot that Ronin and C2 declare at the end of the day that they also want to become Bergamo models like their father.  

Marc melts as his kids verbalize their love and adulation for him. “My children are my jewels and I’m very proud of them. They inspire me and give me joy. Because of them, I strive to be the best father that I can be. I also try to be a good provider, a responsible mentor and their best friend,” he says. He admits that he is separated from his wife Anne “but that does not change the fact that we are still supportive of our family especially on matters that concern our children.” He and his kids also say that they are well adjusted to the breakup of their parents. “Because we feel loved despite the situation,” says Ronin.

His children can recite from the bottom of their hearts the many lessons they have learned from their father: to be God-fearing, to always love each other and watch each other’s back, and to be caring and kind to other people.

Marc says he prays with his children at night. On his own, he has two short prayers. The first one is “Basta ikaw, Lord,” which he learned from his religious group called Days with the Lord. “That prayer says it all — total surrender to God and having a grateful heart for Him.” His second short prayer is “Never shall we fail,” which learned from La Salle, where he finished Marketing Management. “That prayer reveals the optimist in me. I always do my best. Failure is not an option.”

Indeed, failure is not an option for Marc who won in the last election his third and last term as vice governor of Batangas. Marc recalls how his eldest Ronin campaigned for him in some of the 34 towns and cities of Batangas. “I feel proud as a father that my son was able to represent me in the places where I couldn’t campaign due to simultaneous schedules,” says Marc.

“I also felt proud that I was representing a decent man, my father, during the many times I delivered my campaign speech on stage,” says Ronin. “I don’t know yet if I will follow his footsteps in the future. If ever I will, I will be like him when it comes to public service. I also want to be as cool as he is.”

“Because he is a cool dad, I will give him a hug and a kiss on Father’s Day,” C2 says as he melts in the embrace of his father.

Ronin and Arielle follow suit as they also gravitate towards their father. That day, at the Bergamo shoot, there is an overflow of love. Both Marc and his children display their joy knowing how cool it is to be loved by one another.

Photography by FILBERT KUNG â€¢ Grooming by NOEL FLORES â€¢ Designer: DENNIS LUSTICO â€¢ Styling by ROLAND MAGALANG â€¢ Shot on location at MEL M. MEER’S RESIDENCE in Dasmariñas Village, Makati City