Cesar and his girls
Filmdom’s ultimate action star has learned to take it slow and savor the quiet life with his three daughters. By Romelda C. Ascutia

We reached the farmland of Cesar Montano more than an hour before the scheduled interview with the multi-awarded actor, director and producer. So I took advantage of the moment to admire the view--and what a view it was! Entering the huge Montano farm located in Pandi, Bulacan, was like taking a stroll in Fort Santiago, with its Spanish era-style lampposts lining the long pathway leading to the two-story family rest house. The bucolic scene was completed by a lone horse grazing on one side, farm hands raking fallen leaves, and bursting clumps of green mangoes hanging from trees scattered all over the terrain.

But dead giveaways that we were not caught in a time warp and would not bump into Jose Rizal or Crisostomo Ibarra around the bend were the two parked cars and the swimming pool at the back of the house.

A bit later was another delightful scene: Cesar's three little daughters by wife Sunshine Cruz--Angelina Isabelle, almost 5, Samantha Angeline, nearly 2, and baby Angel Francesca, 6 months--taking an early morning stroll with their yayas.

No wonder that in these idyllic surroundings, time seems to have stopped as Cesar reveals his thoughts on topics close to his heart: his family, his parents, his plans, and his deepest dreams.

Playing Papa
HT: You have three adorable girls. Are you planning to have more, especially since you have no son yet?
Cesar: No, not right now. After the third one, medyo pahinga daw muna kami. Masyado nang magulo ang bahay. 'Tsaka si Shine 'di papayag 'yun ... ang hirap-hirap [daw] magpapayat!

Are you a hands-on dad? Can you change a diaper?
[Laughs] I do! Ako ang naghuhugas. Minsan sabi nila: "Daddy, can you wash me?" "No, yaya will do that." "No, you wash me."

What's your favorite activity together as a family?
We watch movies together-inside the room or a movie house in the mall. I saw [Ice Age 2] with my eldest. One week before [a movie showing] nakatutok na kaming dalawa, kaya 'pag opening day, afternoon pa lang nandun na kami. And syempre 'pag lumabas ang DVD, kukuha kami ng kopya and we'll watch it again and again.

Ay naku! Kaya ako, namemorya ko rin 'yung Barbie movies at Dora [the Explorer]. Isipin mo ha, [nag-a-action ako pero] naging well-versed ako sa Barbie movies.

How do you keep yourself and your kids grounded in reality?
I try to live a normal life. As I said, I still go to movie houses, to the mall. Of course may nagpapapirma, nagpapa-picture. I accept it as part of my job. I'm so happy about it because I know someday it will stop. All you have to do is enjoy it because people still love you.

Now you seem to have everything you could ask for. Any dreams you'd still like to reach?
Of course, my ultimate dream is to see my kids have a nice life, have their own beautiful families. 'Yun ang ultimate dream ko ... na masaya sila and an asset also to this country, not a liability.

You've been married nearly six years. How do you keep your marriage with Sunshine hot, so to speak?
Ah, I don't know. We enjoy laughing, conversing, and we don't treat life too seriously. Ako, ngayon lang nagseseryoso sa 'yo. [Laughs]

For more on this story, read the June 2006 issue of HealthToday. Grab a copy now!