By ROBERT R. REQUINTINA
Former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) legend-turned-actor Benjie Paras has said that he would support his sons Andrei and Kobe should they decide to raise a family one of these days.
“Syempre unang reactioin ko mabibigla ako. Pero darating eh. Siguro sa akin hindi masakit kasi mga lalaki,” said Benjie, when asked a hypothetical question if he is ready for his children to settle down, during an interview on “Tonight With Boy Abunda” on ABS CBN.
Asked if his sons Kobe and Andrei have girlfriends these days, Beniie said: “Nagkakaroon eh. Very vocal naman sila pareho. Pero sa ngayon, wala pa naman yata.”
Benjie said that he and his sons are vocal when they talk about having a girlfriend. “Nakasanayan na namin especially (pagkumpleto kami). Minsan na lang kami makumpleto eh. Pag-umuwi si Kobe or pumunta kami run. Para pagnag sama-sama, andun na lahat.”
But Benjie admitted that it is hard on his part to be far away from son Kobe who is based in the US.
“Mahirap especially nung unang beses s’yang pumunta sa America na usually ako yung naghahatid sa kanila kasi;
“So every morning, binubuksan ko yung kwarto nya. Mahirap pagtinging mo malinis yung kwarto, wala ng tao;
“So it’s a good thing maganda na yung technology natin na nakakapagusap kayo, nakikita n’yo ang isat-isa;
“Pero minsan bigla na lang sya magpapadala ng picture na may dugo. Tinamaan. So ‘ano’ng ginawa mo?’ Nagwo-worry ako dapat tinahi kaagad. Kaya nga pag nag text ako mahaba. Kung ano yung naalala ko na gusto kong sabihin, na mabigyan sya ng advice, yung mga vitamins, lahat,” the former athlete said.
Benjie, 49, is married to Lyxen Diomampo, former teach and commercial model. They have two children Riley and Sam.
Kobe and older brother Andre are children of Benjie from previous marriage to actress Jackie Forster.
Benjie also revealed five things which many people do not know about him.
- I can watch TV from morning til night;
- I have television sets in my room, sala, dining, kitchen and in my car;
- I personally bring my four boys to school since pre-school until the present;
- I live by my own since I was in fourth year high school;
- I’m good in bathing my kids, change their diapers and dress them up.