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Hanging out with the kids. Gio Alvarez (in red) and his partner Jayvie (in black on Gio's left) with Ramon (left), Gio's only son, his daughter Bella and Jeorgina, Jayvie's daughter.PHOTO BY courtesy of Gio AlvarezAs one of the stars of the 1990s youth-oriented show, Ang TV, and its big-screen spinoff, Ang TV: The Adarna Adventure, Gio Alvarez played Prinsipe Juan, the youngest among the three sons of the king, who sets out looking for the mythical and magical adarna bird that can help restore his father’s failing health.
“My thoughts while watching the film again were: Wow! It never occurred to me that I would be able to see this film again with my kids,” the actor told SmartParenting.com.ph via email when he attended the screening of the movie’s digitally restored and remastered version last September 20, 2019. “And at the very least, show them that I was once a prince! Haha!”
Gio, 43, a father to four girls and one boy, became a dad for the first time 23 years ago with the birth of Kaylene, who now lives in Las Vegas in the United States. Then, his son Ramon, 19, came along and followed by another daughter, Bella, 16.
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The youngest, Matilda, is only 7 months old. Matilda’s mother is professional golfer Jayvie Agojo, the current partner of Gio. He counts Jayvie’s older daughter, Jeorgina, 9, as his own, too.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW“Seven members in a family is already a great blessing,” he said. “Our family is perfect.”
Gio and Jayvie came to the movie’s screening with Ramon, Bella, Jeorgina, and Matilda.
Gio and Jayvie have decided to be hands-on parents to their bunso. “Because we couldn’t find anyone that we trusted enough even to hold Matilda, hehe,” he explained. “But after some time we found it fulfilling being the only two people responsible for the health and growth of a person.”
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/> Kaylene (seated, left) is Gio's panganay who is now based in the United States.PHOTO BY courtesy of Gio AlvarezGio is sad he was unable to do the same with his older kids, but he’s learned his lesson. “Now that the other kids are big na, and they already know how to take of themselves half of the time, makes it easier to be hands-on with Matilda,” he said. “So, when I need to work, Jayvie takes charge of her (if they can’t come with me). Jayvie hasn’t been playing golf lately because of an injury. It’s hard to manage time, but we work it out.”
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWHe admitted that the other challenges of being hands-on parents “are a bit selfish,” such as missing out on date nights watching movies or having a nightcap after a long stressful day. But he pointed out that those things “aren’t real challenges to us because there is no comparison.”
When it comes to shared parenting duties between him and Jayvie, Gio says, “We both can do almost everything that Matilda needs in a day except nursing syempre. But on a typical day, Jayvie feeds and gives her a bath (she is a lot better than me), and I’m the one who makes her drink water after eating and rocks her to sleep. Of course, my favorite time is fun time learning. Like with toys and videos. Especially now that her attention span has increased.”
His advice to would-be hands-on parents? “If you are going to read up on research for your baby,” Gio replied, “please imagine how it will be in real life when executing para hindi masyado ma-shock ang kalooban ninyo, hehe!”
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWThe actor believes that his four daughters and son are all Daddy’s children. “I would say that they like attention from me and telling me stuff about themselves,” he said. “And if they don’t, I make sure that I ask them anyway, haha!”
Though he thinks his “super talented kids” will inevitably follow in his footsteps in the entertainment industry, Gio wants them to finish school first, which he failed to do. “I want a better life for them than I ever got, and if I could repeat something in my life, it would be my education,” he said.
Gio was 17 when he first appeared in the movie Hihintayin Kita sa Langit in 1991. The following year, he joined the pioneering batch of Ang TV, along with his sister Guila Alvarez and other teen newbies like Jolina Magdangal, Claudine Barretto, and Angelu de Leon. While doing Ang TV, Gio was also in the cast of sitcom headlined by Comedy King Dolphy (now deceased), Home Along da Riles, until it folded up in 2003.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWGio hasn’t stopped acting. Just last September 2019, he won the best supporting actor award at the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino for his role in the entry, I’m Ellenya L. He played the father of lead star Maris Racal in the millennial movie that also starred Inigo Pascual.
The actor has also ventured into small businesses. “I have experimented in doing multiple small businesses over the years,” he said. “Perhaps the biggest I have ever gotten into is now I am part of AgostoDos, a production company that creates films and TV shows. Partnered up with Paolo Contis, KC Montero, and Dingdong Dantes. And we will be seen soon.”
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