Dingdong Dantes in Amazing Earth Everyone is going to be busy this coming weekend. After celebrating moms last May, dads get the spotlight this June. Throughout time, fathers have always been regarded as the pillars of the home. He is expected to do as much as he can for the family: earn a living, set an example to his kids, and cherish his wife or partner.

Regular dads are already commendable in doing the balancing act of work and family. It comes now to mind how in-demand dads, such as those heading corporations or famous personalities, make the most out of their roles as man of the house.

We talk to three different dads, all busy bees in their respective fields. How do they manage their time between work and family? With their busy schedules, do they still have time for themselves and their loved ones? And most especially, how do they celebrate this day intended to give tribute to them?

Celebrity dads, undoubtedly, have more than usual on their plate.

Time is often against their side. Chef Wade Watson, the award-winning chef and owner of popular Australian grub chain Bondi&Bourke, jests about the little time he has for his daughter.

“She’s still a little young to understand the ins and outs of what I do. I’m sure some days I’m this large enigma of a person that enters the bedroom at strange hours smelling like onions and raw meat. I’m sure she knows me by smell,” quips Watson.

Chefs arguably have the most hectic time, especially in Watson’s case as the owner and head of the kitchen of three Bondi&Bourke branches, a new concept Fowlplay, and the boutique hotel The Bourke.

In fact, he has little time for celebration and, in his case, for Father’s Day, ironically, he will “forego those special occasions and opt for 35-degree heat, a lot of sweat and a truckload of stress.”

Actor Dingdong Dantes has a similar and constant dilemma. In demand as ever, the actor had been on a break after a while since the second season of Alyas Robinhood ended late last year. He is now back to the grind. On the heels of the box-office hit Sid & Aya, the actor will grace TV again with the GMA’s newest infotainment program Amazing Earth premiering tomorrow evening, June 17.

He and Marian Rivera have adjusted to parenthood after the birth of their first-born Zia in November 2015. They may have become used to being parents, but Dingdong says they continue to struggle with time management.

“There was a time that we both had a show. We had a talk before and said to ourselves that we hope we don’t have to do a soap that is airing at the same time. But, of course, duty calls and we need to do it,” the actor relates.

His wife was doing Super Ma’am while he was taping the second season of Alyas Robinhood at the time.

“But we’re grateful to GMA that we were given a little leeway like she [Marian] was given time when she could go home earlier than the usual practice where tapings could go on for 24 hours. Those were the times when our schedules were overlapping. But we were able to find ways. Imagine this was us; however, there are also young couples who have a baby and they both work at the same time, have nine-to-five jobs, and they need to leave their baby behind. So we had the same problems as other first-time parents. It really depends on how resourceful one is,” shares Dingdong.

Although he strictly follows his duties as an actor, Dingdong Dantes’ priority has always been his family. Anything he does, his family is topmost of his many considerations.

In fact, he and Marian are known to be hands-on parents. They had requested their home network to work on a schedule where they will not have to be physically apart from their daughter for a long time.

It is now paying off, says Dingdong. He is most proud of his daughter’s communication skills. Followers of Dingdong’s, Marian’s and even Zia’s social media accounts have been witnesses to the toddler’s communication skills. At three, she can already form coherent sentences.

“She’s able to communicate what she likes well to us. She’s able to talk about the things that she did for the day. For now we’re teaching her both English and Filipino. We like her to be well-versed in both, especially Filipino because we’re Filipinos,” beams Dingdong.

Similarly conscious of the basics that he learned from his dad “Big Al”, Chef Watson says that he is an old-fashioned cook. He is known for his love for fuss-free and unpretentious Australian comfort food. And he thinks the same in the way he wants to raise his child. Just like how his Big Al taught him, he aims to teach manners and respect to his tot — a style of parenting that he thinks has become “underrated” these days.

Both men agree that they could not do that much if not for the women in their lives. Dingdong shares that among the amazing things that happened in his life was meeting Marian. He compliments her like he is still in love with her after almost a decade of knowing each other, amidst a world known for fickle relations.

Chef Wade also thinks highly of his partner Hannah, who helps in the marketing and public relations of their business, while also taking care of their little one.

Similarly, another in-demand dad thinks the world of his lady love. Restaurateur Lloyd Lee can heave a sigh of relief because he can focus on the operations of their growing business empire. He is one-half of the growing business empire that comprises 12 restaurants under three food concepts — Pedro ‘N Coi, Kamayan ni Pedro, and Scotts Burger by PNC. The newest addition is their smallest branch of Pedro ‘N Coi located at the fourth floor of the Newport Mall in Resorts World Manila, Pasay City.

The other half is 2011 Miss Universe Philippines Shamcey Supsup. The infanticipating Shamcey also thinks the world of her partner who she describes as the more cool and calm between them.

In the three years that they’ve put up their food empire, the parents of two-year-old Nyke and an upcoming baby boy reveals the success of their working partnership in life and business.

“I always say that it is quite similar to parenthood. You need to be patient and nurturing. How you take care of your family should be how you take care and focus on your business,” shares Lloyd.

All three are in agreement that since today is a special day for them, they are going to celebrate it in the way they feel best.

Lloyd and Shamcey have always loved travelling and taking in their fill of the local delicacies of the place they are visiting. But since they are expecting, they will just be at home and probably do something “impromptu” like they always do.

Dingdong wants to take a break from the spotlight just as they always do on special occasions occur. “We’re going to Palawan. Relax a bit. We hope to be there for three days. I just want to lie down, read, talk and have beer,” shares Dingdong.

Ever-straightforward yet humorously charming, Chef Wade “laments” he has other things in mind as he will be in the kitchen chopping away.

He adds, though, that he has a treat for dads coming in at Bondi&Bourke. He quips, “Just complimentary dessert and a beer for dad. It’s a very red meat kind of day.”

Previous articleMegaworld to launch P80B projectsNext articlePostmodern Jukebox to perform in Manila Kathleen A. Llemit, Senior Writer