Nadine Lustre’s dad enters spotlight: Is he the next stage father?
Daddy Dong maintains he’s just in the background to guide his daughter
Nadine Lustre was already studying last year and about to give up showbiz. The young actress thought she reached a dead end of what could be a lucrative career.
Little did she know that she’s up for a great surprise early this year when she starred in the hit movie, “Diary ng Panget” with James Reid.
Morale boosters
Two hit rom-coms, a top-rating show and several new endorsements have become great morale boosters for the 20-year-old actress.
And it seems Nadine’s success is her family’s, too. That’s why it’s no surprise that she’s sharing the spotlight with her father, Daddy Dong, who appears with his daughter in a TV commercial for local fast food giant Jollibee.
“I'm very happy for what she is right now. All the hard work and the time na talagang nag-antay, na talagang nagwo-workshop, is paying off. I'm very happy for her na everything is falling into place,” the proud dad said.
Family support
Nadine is back in the game, with an arsenal of family members to back her up.
Her dad, a mechanical engineer, shared, "Every member of the family, kahit 'yung mga titos and titas niya, very supportive so everyone is contributing to the wholesomeness of her image."
Daddy Dong, however, clarified that he's just in the background to guide Nadine and to keep her values in check.
"I’m not (a stage father). I’m just here to observe tapos sasabihin ko sa kanya kung anong naoobserve ko. From there, napapabuti niya 'yung kanyang craft," he told Yahoo Philippines.
He continued, "And I think it’s much better kung parents ‘yung nandyan sa background, kasi mas maganda yung rapport and kung parents talaga yung nagga-guide.”
Next Sarah G?
This early, Nadine dismissed possible intrigues tagging her dad as a stage father —the same speculation that came Sarah Geronimo’s way.
“With Ate Sarah naman, look at where she is now. She’s been guided well by her parents din. Ako naman si Papa whenever he goes to taping or kapag may schedule, he’s just in the car. If I need anything, kukunin lang niya.”
The supportive dad also said they're open to criticisms about his daughter.
“Tinitingnan din namin yon, kino-consider din namin. Ibig kong sabihin, we don't normally see our flaws. Yung mga tao na nasa harap o nasa likod, sila ang nakakakita [ng flaws]. We don't take it negatively, we look at the positive side.”
Daddy Dong believes he and his wife, Myra, taught their daughter well. And the values they instilled in her would keep Nadine on right track.
“Most of the time, I remind her of the values na itinuro namin sa kanya. Kung ano man ‘yung nakikita niya sa labas, dun pumapasok yung, 'Ah, hindi pala ito tama.’
He added, “Ang sa akin lang, just to remind her na ito, kailangan ganito. Pero I don't insist. I just remind her para wala namang pressure.”
