Parenting, they say, is not for the faint of heart. It is, at its core, a lifetime commitment reaffirmed by love and duty. For Batangas Vice Governor Marc Leviste, they were excited to know that their firstborn would be a boy. “Before Ronin, my brother already had two daughters.
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On our side of the family, [my son] was the first male. Everyone, especially my father, wanted a grandson. My entire family was excited for the birth of Ronin,” he shares. Leviste remembers waiting in the delivery room with his mother, brimming with excitement. When the baby arrived, she immediately told him to check their baby’s hands and feet. “Akala ko nagbibiro, so binilang ko (I thought she was just kidding, so I counted). Ronin was born with 11 fingers and 12 toes. I thought I was hallucinating!”
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From then on, that was the very first thing the excited dady would do dupon seeing my newborns. “My only daughter, Arielle, who came after Ronin was normal and uber-big, while my youngest, C2, had an extra finger as well. So there you go! I vividly and happily remember those precious moments at the hospital.” Arielle is a millennium baby who was born in 2000, the year of the golden dragon.
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“At that time, everyone wanted to have a millennium baby. They say that those born that year are lucky, hardworking, and will be affluent or prominent,” he reveals. “My initial reaction when she was born was cuteness overload! She was so adorable.” Lastly, Conrado (or C2, as they call him) is the “victory” who was born during an election year. “Right after his birth in February, I won in the May elections.
That was my first vice gubernatorial election and it was one of my tightest, most controversial elections. I was 29 [years old] at that time,” he reminisces. “I consider C2 as a good luck charm.” But what the seasoned politician does know is that he takes fatherhood “very personally.” As a single parent, Marc takes great pride in taking care of the children. “So the biggest challenge is trying to do everything. Not only do I try to be the best father to my children, but I also exert the effort to fulfill other roles—as mother, brother, friend, ‘frenemy,’ adviser, leader, inspiration.
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Another is balancing my responsibilities to the province,” he shares. “I want to give quality time to everyone. Sometimes, even if I’m exhausted from work, pipigain ko pa (I exert whatever leftover energy I have) to enjoy quality time with my family.” Ronin points out that while they do share their time with the province of Batangas, he and his siblings completely understand. “My dad is most fulfilled when he is with the communities of Batangas. We know that’s where he is happy.
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On our end, I guess, it sometimes comes at the cost of our time with him. Despite everything, he would always find the time and make sure to be present in the most important events of our lives.” NUMBER ONE SUPPORTER Apart from time with his children, Leviste also stresses the importance of setting aside time for yourself. Self-love, he points out, is also important. “I’m still a young parent at 43 [years old].
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I also want to enjoy my life and I want to enjoy my lifestyle with them,” he points out. The family enjoys travelling together and Leviste often encourages his kids to try out local cuisine. Another passion of his is golfing, which he is glad to share with his eldest son.
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He and his youngest son, C2, bond over basketball. While his only daughter is always game for experiences. “I think both of us are very adventurous,” she reveals. “We got tattoos together and we like riding roller coasters, skydiving, bungee jumping, just exploring new things.” “We have a saying in Batangas, ‘Ibigay ang hilig nang walang ligalig (Give them what they want without fuss).’ Allow them to do what they want and express themselves,” he says, which he applies to Parenting, they say, is not for the faint of heart. It is, at its core, a lifetime commitment reaffirmed by love and duty. For Batangas Vice Governor Marc Leviste, they were excited to know that their firstborn would be a boy. “Before Ronin, my brother already had two daughters.
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On our side of the family, [my son] was the first male. Everyone, especially my father, wanted a grandson. My entire family was excited for the birth of Ronin,” he shares. Leviste remembers waiting in the delivery room with his mother, brimming with excitement.
When the baby arrived, she immediately told him to check their baby’s hands and feet. “Akala ko nagbibiro, so binilang ko (I thought she was just kidding, so I counted). Ronin was born with 11 fingers and 12 toes. I thought I was hallucinating!” Our Father BY HELEN HERNANE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MANUEL GENEROSO This Father’s Day, we ask Batangas Vice-Governor Marc Leviste how he manages to be a father of 3 children, and of 3-million constituents. 32 LEAGUE alive, spend time together),” he stresses. If there’s one thing he’d like to debunk about fatherhood and fathers is that men can be just as loving and nurturing as mothers. “Fathers can be emotional and sentimental, too. Traditionally, dads are known to be ‘providers.’ It is not expected that (we) be fully-present and support the emotional life of our children. However, I am very expressive towards my kids. Cheesy or corny as it may seem, I find joy in showing my affection for them.” But like every parent, one thought scares the father of three—and that’s becoming an empty-nester and being alone. “As a single parent, I still cannot imagine being alone and away from my children when they start having a family of their own since they lived with me all their lives.
Good thing my kids are still young, so I think I’ll just cross the bridge when I get there,” he chuckles. He ends the interview with wise advice to his children: “Trust, Honor, and Loyalty are key; you can’t go wrong with these. It’s what my dad taught me, it’s what I live by, and it should help my children in the future,” he ends. “I think it’s a good idea to also show compassion to your constituents. That way, mararamdaman nila na galing sa puso ang iyong ginagawa. his parenting approach. “It’s not my style to force anything [onto] them. I encourage them to try something at least once. But whatever it is that they want, I support them 101%. And if I can, I will even join them.” A prime example is when he supported his daughter’s dream to study abroad.
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Arielle is currently studying at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. The vice governor admits the decision had to be thought through since it posed certain challenges as they all reside in the Philippines. But he understood why she felt she needed to study abroad. It was probably her way to make a name for herself outside the family and be independent. “Usually, with only girls, parents are very protective.
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You don’t want them to get hurt. But I allowed her to explore and be independent, and try it out there in the world,” he shares. Describing his parenting style, Leviste shares, “I walk it like I talk it. I don’t really dictate how my kids should live. I simply do what I have to do, and let them watch me do it. As a father, I want to give my children a good chance at everything that they aspire for.” Fortunately for Leviste, his children always keep his advice in mind. C2 shares that one particular lesson his father taught him is to always have confidence in himself. “[My dad said that] I need to manifest self-confidence so that when I grow up, I won’t struggle with making choices in my life,” he reveals. To the three children, their dad is the textbook definition of support and compassion.
These two qualities seem to color the politician’s way of living, not only as a father to his three children but also as the father of the province of Batangas. “I learned that becoming a father and Vice Governor means you have to be a role model for your children and your constituents, and be someone they can look up to. So I guess the Spiderman principle is true: ‘With great power comes great responsibility’,”Leviste says. “Naturally, I have a deep emotional attachment to my family. But I think it’s a good idea to also show compassion to your constituents.
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That way, mararamdaman nila na galing sa puso ang iyong ginagawa (they really feel that what you are doing is genuinely from the heart).” Sincerity, he points out, is something everyone wants to see in their leaders. “I think ang isang panghuhugutan [ng compassion] ay ‘yung kung anong ginagawa mo, anong pangarap mo sa iyong sariling pamilya, sa sarili mong anak ay mararamdaman mo rin para sa extended family mo (one source of compassion would be to think that what you do or what you dream for your family and children is also what you want for your extended family). In my case, my constituents.” CARPE DIEM With his energetic personality and wide smile, it is no wonder that his mantra is the famous quote—“Seize the day!” For Leviste, the bottom line is learning to think long-term while also making the most out of every day.
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The pandemic especially solidified this approach to life. “Today, you can be healthy. Tomorrow, only God knows what will happen to you and your family. Hangga’t malusog ka at buhay ka, gawin niyo na (As long as you are healthy and LEAGUE 33 alive, spend time together),” he stresses. If there’s one thing he’d like to debunk about fatherhood and fathers is that men can be just as loving and nurturing as mothers. “Fathers can be emotional and sentimental, too. Traditionally, dads are known to be ‘providers.’ It is not expected that (we) be fully-present and support the emotional life of our children. However, I am very expressive towards my kids. Cheesy or corny as it may seem, I find joy in showing my affection for them.” But like every parent, one thought scares the father of three—and that’s becoming an empty-nester and being alone. “As a single parent, I still cannot imagine being alone and away from my children when they start having a family of their own since they lived with me all their lives. Good thing my kids are still young, so I think I’ll just cross the bridge when I get there,” he chuckles. He ends the interview with wise advice to his children: “Trust, Honor, and Loyalty are key; you can’t go wrong with these. It’s what my dad taught me, it’s what I live by, and it should help my children in the