As one of the most popular Pinoy content creators today, Cong TV (real name Lincoln Cortez Velasquez ) has grown his following as one of the more veteran content creators in the country since creating his YouTube channel in 2008. Apart from vlogging, Cong TV also has his hands full with leading the highly successful Team Payaman, which also includes his wife Viy Cortez. During the Mega Prime Foods’ 50 Mega Years anniversary event last June 6, Cong TV talked about his role as a father to his two kids, Kidlat and Tokyo Athena.
“Hindi ko alam eh, ang ginagawa ko lang po parang naka-auto pilot pagdating sa bagay na ’yan. Although hindi po totoo na ang busy ko sa vlog and all; mas priority ko talaga ‘yung pagiging tatay ko. Kasi bagong panganak din ‘yung asawa ko, so ’yun po ‘yung pinagkakaabalahan ko,” he told PUSH ABS-CBN in an exclusive interview at the event.
Cong TV shared that everything he learned about being a father also came from what he learned from his own father, Marlon.
“Ganun din. ‘Yung ina-apply ko sa anak ko, galing lang din sa tatay ko. Okay naman ako nung lumaki, so feeling ko okay lang din ‘yung ginagawa namin kay Kidlat,” he said.
He went on to share what kind of a parent his father was to him and his siblings.
“Siguro nakita ko kasi sa tatay ko na maraming times na muntik na siyang sumuko. Pero pinili niyang lumaban. Wala siyang choice kundi lumaban kasi andun kami, mga anak niya. Paano kami pag nawala siya? So ’yun yung pinaka-importanteng lesson na tinuro niya, maybe indirectly,” said Cong TV. “So ayun. Shoutout sa papa ko! Sana mag-enjoy ka this Father’s Day sa bakasyon diyan! Pinadalhan ko siya ng ano eh (laughs).”
READ: Cong TV, Viy Cortez welcome second child Tokyo Athena
Ever since becoming a parent, Cong TV says he has had to rethink the way he does things, because now he always has to consider his children’s thoughts and feelings.
“Yung unconditional love na hindi mo ma-explain. ‘Yung mga magulang, alam niyo ’yan — ‘yung pagmamahal na hindi mo ine-expect na may ganun kalalim,” he said.
Cong TV shared how strongly he feels whenever his kids get sick, and how he feels the weight of the responsibility of raising them.
“Lalo na kapag may sakit ‘yung anak mo, ‘yung care na ganun ka-grabe, kaya mo palang i-provide para sa isang tao, sa anak mo. Pinaka-challenging kapag may sakit sila. Yun yung pinakamasakit sa damdamin every time. Tinanong ko nga, kahit daw 18 o 20 na sila, gano’n pa rin ang pakiramdam. Also, ‘yung pagpapalaki sa kanila. It’s a trial-and-error process. Hindi mo alam kung tama ba talaga ‘yung ginagawa mo. ‘Yung way mo ng pagsasalita, pagdidisiplina. Si Kidlat, three years old, parang sponge yung utak. Lahat na-a-absorb nila. Kaya bawat asal namin sa bahay, iniisip namin kung ano yung tama. We try our best, and we try to learn every day,” he explained.
For Father’s Day this year, Cong TV says his plans will depend on what his kids want to do.
“Wala naman. Sa ano lang, ‘yung mailabas ko lang ‘yung mga anak ko,” he said. “Kumbaga ‘yung Father’s Day para sa akin, hindi siya more on sa akin but more on sa pagiging tatay ko sa mga anak ko. So ayun, ‘yung mga anak ko ‘yung pinaka-importante.”