THIS Father’s Day, Perry Ellis, the renowned men’s casual wear label, takes a look at the different lives of four different dads and sons, and reveals how, despite their unique differences, they all share an unbreakable bond.
Troy and Hunter Montero
With his chiseled good looks, charm and towering height, actor Troy Montero is every girl’s dream guy. But to his young son Hunter, Troy is very much his everyday hero.
“I love playing with him, or even just sitting on the couch watching movies!” says Hunter, sharing that he and his dad often set play dates to shoot Nerf Guns or play Lego.
“My dad is fun, playful, very nice and very smart. And did you know, he knows how to make movies!”
“I wouldn’t say that Hunter favors me over his mom, but we are very close. I do think he is a daddy’s boy,” says Troy. “Hunter always wants me to tuck him in at night, read him bedtime stories, and he usually comes to me and gives me morning hugs. It’s funny and cute. When it comes to me, he doesn’t want to let me down.”
As he tries to become a good role model to his son, Troy thanks the many great men in his life who have shown him what it means to be a good man and father, starting with his own dad.
“I was actually a mama’s boy. But my dad and I were very close. My dad is also a very kind, good-hearted and emotional guy like Hunter, which I think has helped nurture the bond that Hunter and I have.
“As a parent, I try to incorporate my own style and everything. I know with Hunter, hopefully he will appreciate the things I am teaching him and, hopefully, [when he has his own son and family] it will be the same thing for him.”
Philip and Luca Cu-Unjieng
As the father of three boys, Philstar columnist Philip Cu-Unjieng can write the book on how to raise good men. But Philip, even with his years of experience, is quick to admit he is far from knowing everything about parenthood.
“With my dad, he came from a generation where it was more, ‘I’m here, I’m the father, and you just follow.’ But that won’t work anymore, especially with this generation,” he says.
So, while he does get inspiration from his own childhood and from his own dad, Philip has had to figure out what works and what doesn’t work as a parent on his own.
“With my family and in my case, I try to accept each of the kids as unique individuals, because they are all different. I’ve learned that what works for one doesn’t necessarily mean it will work with another. At the end of the day, you just have to discover and see which works, whether it’s by coercion or slavery!” he says, laughing.
Luca, the youngest of Philip’s three boys, admits he and his dad don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye on every matter. “I understand that he has to be strict when he has to. He sticks to his ideals. He stays true to what he believes in, and he shows that to us. Sometimes our relationship is a love-hate relationship, but at the end of the day, he is still my father.
“What I love about my dad is that he is funny. He always finds ways to share a side comment. He’s really clever and quick on his feet.”
Philip describes his youngest as “incredibly spoiled.” “Well it’s my fault too because I spoil him. I’m his slave, because whatever he wants, he gets. We argue, we fight, we sort of discuss it, but in the end he wins!”
On fatherhood, Philip says: “Each kid will come out differently. You can’t expect them to be carbon copies of you, and you just have to let them learn how to make mistakes. You can’t expect them to just follow what you say. As a parent, you do the best you can and pray that it all works out.”
Conrad and Kenji Onglao
Architect Conrad Onglao and photographer Kenji are two very creative minds with a strong visual aesthetic. And their signatures can be seen in each of their works of art —Conrad in architecture, Kenji in photography.
From their work down to the clothes they wear, there is a common thread—both have an appreciation for the finer things.
“My dad’s got amazing taste. He’s the kind of guy that likes the good stuff. This is all because he has such high standards and has amazing attention to detail,” says Kenji.
“I guess it all started because when we were growing up he would buy me shoes and he dressed me up. It’s ironic, because the way I dress now is closer to how he would dress me up when I was a kid. I suppose you can say that I’m growing into his tastes more, and that’s a great commonality we have now.”
For Conrad, shopping for his kids was one of the simple acts he liked to do to show his affection.
“My own father was very busy; I couldn’t recall if we had much of a father-and-son relationship. He was always working,” explains Conrad. “Though my brothers and I admired my dad for his discipline and dedication, I wanted to be a little different when I became a father. I remember when Kenji was born, I had such a good feeling. I thought, ‘Gee, I wish I had become a father sooner.’ It came naturally to me to be a father.”
Conrad, no matter how consumed he is in his profession, finds time for family. “When they were growing up, I purposely didn’t get any sport and didn’t have any barkada, so that my weekends could be for my kids. I was very conscientious of time, because I knew that time flies by so fast. Before you know it, they all have a life of their own.”
His kids live with him, and Sunday has become the mandated sacred day of family. “To this day, I tell them, Sunday is MY day. It’s something we have to maintain.”
Parenthood, to Conrad, is a blessing.
“There was a time I had asked my other son, ‘What’s your measure of success?’ And to my surprise, he answered, ‘If I can give the same comfort and luxury to my family that you were able to give me and my brother, I’d consider myself successful.’ It touched me; that was the best compliment I ever got from anyone.”
Alvin and Angelo Patrimonio
Basketball’s Alvin and Angelo Patrimonio have a bond that goes way beyond their sport.
With a father who has become a PBA legend, Angelo admits it’s hard to live up to expectations.
“When we were playing basketball and all eyes were on me, I could definitely feel the pressure. There was the weight of expectations, and it was hard to avoid the comments from people.”
But Angelo understands. His father was driven by excellence and was very passionate, which is why people assumed the same for him.
These expectations have not dampened Angelo’s spirits; rather, they inspire him to become better, not just in his chosen career but also in life.
Alvin, who has always been supportive of Angelo’s choices, is a proud father and describes his son as “very obedient, responsible and hardworking.”
“Angelo is such a great brother as well. With his sisters, talagang gusto niya maayos din ang life ng sisters niya and maging successful din.”
Angelo admires his dad because “he’s such a hard worker. He always gives his 100 percent. Even when he was busy as a basketball player and team manager, he would always have time for us.”
Today, both enjoy the simple family time they share, whether it’s eating out, watching a movie or going to the beach.
If there’s one thing Alvin would like his son to learn and remember him by, it would be “to be good and do good to those around you. I remind them often to do what’s right and know what’s wrong. But thankfully all my children are very kind-hearted and generous. I’m blessed to have them.”
Perry Ellis is the fifth largest men’s designer brand in the United States, with 39 stores in the United States and 13 worldwide.
Introduced to the Philippine market in 2009 by The Anthem Group, Perry Ellis currently has five boutiques in the country: SM Aura Premier, SM North Edsa The Block, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia and Glorietta 5.