Zanjoe not in a rush to be a dad

MANILA, Philippines - Despite being single, Zanjoe Marudo has no qualms about portraying daddy roles on the big and small screens. He was a responsible dad Guido Querubin in Annaliza, a role model dad Baste Javier in Dream Dad and his portrayal of Natoy Villadolid was equally memorable in Tubig at Langis. In Maria Leonora Teresa, the Kapamilya actor impressively displayed great love for his daughter as Julio Sacdalan.

No wonder being a dad already feels like second skin to him as Jude de Jesus in My Dear Heart which is now on its last four nights of airing. During the fantasy drama series’ thanksgiving presscon held recently, Zanjoe even claimed that he is ready to take on the responsibilities and challenges of being a father in real life. But he cannot exactly tell yet when it is going to happen.

“It seems to me that when you plan things like that, chances are, it would not materialize,” Zanjoe said. “So, I’m not giving myself a deadline. You just have to trust that it will happen in God’s time. Doon ako sa kung kailan N’ya ibigay sa akin.”

After the presscon, Zanjoe further discussed the matter with The STAR. He said that at his age — turning 35 on July 23 — he certainly has an aspiration to be an active and energetic father. Problem is, he cannot force it to happen soon. “Gustuhin ko man ngayon, parang ayoko naman puwersahin ang sarili ko na mag-hanap (ng bagong mamahalin) o bumuo ng pamilya kung di pa naman ‘yun ang nararamdaman ko.

But I do believe that the time will come when I am ready to raise a family and I’m sure when that day comes, everything is going to be perfect.”

Off-cam, he has been showering his nieces and nephews with his “daddy kind of love.’’ That’s why he feels he would be a spoiler dad “because I am the type who finds it hard to say no to other people. What more to my child? But I hope I will learn to balance everything when I become a dad.”

The thought of running around with three children excites him no end. “Whether they are boys or girls, the gender does not matter to me. What’s important is they come out healthy and normal.”

That said, he gushed about Jude, his character in My Dear Heart, whose daughter Heart (played by Nayomi Ramos) is fighting for dear life. Zanjoe admires fathers who go through the same dilemma in real life.

“Si Jude, di nawawalan ng loob sa mga pagsubok na dumarating sa kanya. I admire fathers who possess that quality. I can say that Jude and I share the same trait when facing life’s many challenges. Jude remains positive in spite of the hardships; na kahit ano pa yan, dadaan lang yan at malalagpasan yan.

“I think all the characters that I have portrayed showed an admirable trait of giving everything they’ve got for their child — tunay man na anak o hindi. In a way, I have learned a lot from my roles.”

With his My Dear Heart co-stars including veterans Coney Reyes (third from left, front row), Rio Locsin and Robert Arevalo (third and fourth from left, back row) during the thanksgiving presscon for the primetime fantasy drama series.

Apart from taking care of sick daughter in My Dear Heart, Zanjoe’s Jude is handling the issue between his wife Clara (Bela Padilla) and Doc Gia (Ria Atayde). If you are tuned in night after night in the primetime series, then you already know that the latter is Jude’s former girlfriend and the mom of Heart. “If and when that happens to me in real life, I will do what is right. S’yempre paninindigan ko kung sino ang asawa ko at di ko hahayaan na maapektuhan kami ng mga pangyayari bago kami naging mag-asawa. We promised each other to stick together in bad times and in good so we have to be together in whatever circumstance we are in.”

With only a few tapings left to complete the drama series, Zanjoe looks forward to playing golf again “because I really missed the outdoor fun of it and look (pointing to his skin) I’m beginning to turn white, hahahaha.”

(My Dear Heart, directed by Jojo Saguin and Jerome Pobocan, also stars Coney Reyes, Robert Arevalo, Rio Locsin, Joey Marquez, Eric Quizon, Susan Africa, Loisa Andalio, Enzo Pelojero, Mark Oblea, Sandino Martin, Hyubs Azarcon and Rubi Rubi.)