10 Adoptive Celebrity Dads we Love

1. Dolphy

The late King of Comedy had 18 children, and one of them is Nicole, his only adopted daughter and only legitimate child. Gmanetwork.com quotes what he wrote in his memoir Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-isa: “Si Nicole, dinala sa akin sa Hizon’s, at gusto raw ng nanay, sa akin mapunta. She was just a few months old.” He adds, “Nakilala ko ‘yong ina. Gustuhin man niyang bawiin ang bata, hindi puwede. Legally adopted e.”

2. Ryan Agoncillo

At first, Ryan didn’t want his adopted daughter Yohan to be exposed to the public because he wanted to protect her. However, according to Philippine Online Chronicles, that couldn’t be helped when she was filmed during their wedding. So he and wife Judy Ann Santos have adjusted their way of thinking. “There will come a point na baka nga mas maganda na ma-expose pa siya,” Ryan says. “Para manawa na siya habang bata pa siya,” Judy Ann adds. In fact, when Yohan appeared on noontime TV show "Eat Bulaga" to greet her daddy a happy birthday, the country was able to witness the unmistakable love between father and daughter.

3. Oyo Boy Sotto

When his wife Kristine Hermosa found out she was pregnant, the couple wanted to be sure their adopted son Kiel wouldn’t feel left out. They asked for advice from their pastor. Philstar.com quotes Oyo Boy: "We were advised to just make him feel secure and really fill him with love. When the right age comes, we have to tell him that he’s adopted and certainly by that time, he will be secured enough by our love not to feel bad."

4. Christopher de Leon

Known to the public as Boyet, the veteran actor has four adopted children, Lotlot, Matet, Kiko, and Kenneth. Both girls followed in his and their superstar mom Nora Aunor’s footsteps and entered showbiz. A seasoned actor, he influences and encourages his children to step into the spotlight as well.

5. Raymart Santiago

Even if his marriage to Claudine Barretto is now over, the actor makes it a point to be there for their adoptive daughter Sabina. At a Green Movement fun run for Sabina’s school, Raymart joined in, proving himself to be a supportive (and healthy!) dad.

6. Francis Pangilinan

After two girls, Senator Kiko Pangilinan and megastar wife Sharon Cuneta adopted a little boy named Miguel. Kiko fondly tells PEP.ph, his little boy is “medyo pilyo, medyo minsan matigas ang ulo,” but he’s also “masunurin and mabait. Kahit anong ingat namin, isang buwan, tatlong beses pumuputok ang labi, e. Lalaki talaga ‘to!

7. Jimmy Alapag

The story of LJ Moreno and Jimmy Alapag gives hope to several couples that are having difficulty conceiving. LJ told PEP.ph that she received wonderful news right after they brought home then two-year-old Ian Maximus. “When we were matched with him [baby boy], two days after, I found out I was pregnant,” shares LJ. "It was all in God's perfect time, once na-establish yung business and si Jimmy rin towards the end of his [PBA] career, so he can be more hands-on.  So, nakita namin na, 'Okay, plano talaga ni God ito.

8. Jeroen Van Straten

When restaurateur Jeroen Van Straten and his wife Cecile took home their son Christian from an orphanage, Jeroen observed that the then two-year-old boy was operating on survival mode. “If we gave him a toy, he would hold on to it, even a piece of paper. Whatever (it was), it was very valuable to him,” Van Straten shared with Inquirer.net. “He knew how to eat by himself. In the orphanage, they’d probably give you a bowl and that’s it. You’re on your own. There was a caregiver for 30 kids.

9. Ardy Roberto

Author, speaker, and entrepreneur Ardy Roberto is now even more famous because he is the husband of former beauty queen Miriam Quiambao. He has a blog devoted to his adopted son Joshua. On it he writes, "Yesterday was a heartwarming day for me.
 Got home at 8 p.m. and had dinner with my son. 
Joshua asked me as we were washing hands,
 'Dad, where did you come from?’ ‘Oh, I had to go to the office and clean up stuff, meet people, throw garbage (clear my desk), get stuff from the condo, buy your medicine, and do lots of other stuff ...’
 Joshua:
 ‘Oh, Dad. You're kind.’ What did I do to deserve this kind of kid! Thank you, Lord!

10. Fernando Poe, Jr.

When his adopted daughter Grace was little, he used to tell her bedtime stories. She shared with PEP.ph how awesome he was as a storyteller: "My fondest memories of my dad are those times when I got to sit beside him in bed and he made kuwento, 'cause my dad, more than anything, is a good storyteller and listener." Plus, little Grace (now Senator) would know the plots of her dad’s movies before everyone else because he would narrate them to her in the form of a bedtime story.

This article was updated on April 25, 2019 at 9:43 p.m.