Moms and Dads
Paco Arespacochaga Shares How Being a Dad Made Him a Better Person
Introvoys drummer Paco Arespacochaga recently made an appearance on Magandang Buhay and shared how being a dad, especially after the arrival of his daughter, changed him.
Introvoys drummer and singer Paco Arespacochaga recently returned to the Philippines. One of his guest appearances was on Magandang Buhay where he discussed his life in the US and being a father of five children. He got candid about how his daughter made him a better person.
Paco on the impact of his conflict with son Heaven
During the interview that aired on January 19, the Introvoys drummer got real about the challenges he went through as a father. “I have five kids. Si Cassidy, siya ang wake up call ko. I have four boys and one girl,” he said.
“Nag-away kami ng panganay ko,” he began referring to his son Heaven with ex-wife Geneva Cruz. “Sabi niya, ‘Masama kang tao. Wala kang kwentang ama. Kami, nilabas mo lang kami para iyabang – trophy kids. So I don’t want any part of this.'”
He then shared that he welcomed the idea of Heaven living on his own and recalled how he was orphaned at the age of 22 and had to do things by himself even if he had siblings.
“I want to see him fly. May mga pride pa kami. Isang taon kami hindi nag-usap. In the course of that time, I had my girl, I had Cassie. And si Cassidy yung unang anak na inalagaan ko. Kasi yung mga boys, nanay nila or yaya nila nag-alaga.”
“I was looking at this little fragile girl and sabi ko, I never felt this way. Parang doon ko lang na realize na yung sinasabi ni Heaven na trophy hindi ko pwede trophy ito. Kasi gagawing trophy ng mga lalake ito. So kailangan ko magbago.”
Paco on saying sorry to his boys
Paco then revealed that he apologized to his sons. “Sabi nga madaling maging tatay. Isilang mo lang lahat iyan, bigyan mo ng child support. Pero yung maging ama, yung maging dad na, ‘Hey I want to talk to you,’ napaka fulfilling nun.”
He added that swallowing his pride and having his daughter changed him completely. “It changed me completely—having a daughter. Yung patience mo matetest, you will have to get through their head without you using your hands.”
Paco’s statements were not new. Back in an interview in 2021 with Janelle So, he mentioned the same scenario and that it woke him up to be a dad to his children.
“All these years, it would be their moms, grandmoms, or nannies who would take care of them. But when my daughter was born, I realized, this is what I have missed out on and it was around that time when I said, ‘Lord, now, let me just offer every child I have to you beginning with this last one.’ I prayed that He gives me an opportunity to give me time, not only to this infant but to the other four that came before,” he said.
Paco along with Introvoys members Jonathan Buencamino, JJ Buencamino, and Vic Carpio rose to fame in the 90s with songs such as “Line to Heaven” and “Kailanman.” The group is now based in the US.
Paco recently got to visit Geneva whom he has remained friends with.
Check out stories from celebrity dads!
Joaquin Domagoso Gives Insights on Life as a Dad
Marc Pingris on Forgiving His Dad: ‘Nakaramdam Ako Na Buo Ang Pagkatao Ko’
What Martin Nievera Learned About His Son’s Autism
