After watching his son Inigo Pascual make his Hollywood debut as part of the US series Monarch two years ago, Piolo Pascual admitted he couldn’t be a prouder parent. In his latest series Pamilya Sagrado, Piolo plays father to Grae Fernandez, who is around the same age as his real-life son. It also stars young actor Kyle Echarri.

During the presscon for the show, Piolo explained the real reason why Inigo was not considered for casting in the series.

“He’s busy in the US. He’s doing some work in the States, so I think that’s his priority for now. But siguro, given the chance, we’ll cross the bridge when we get there,” he said.

“Because even my son is not comfortable working with me. Magtatawanan lang kami siguro. We love to sit together, pero to act together sabi ko it will take a really good script.”

Following in the footsteps of his dad, Inigo has been in showbiz for almost a decade after making his big screen debut in the 2014 teen film Relay’s, It’s Just Pag-ibig, which was directed by Antoinette Jadaone and Irene Villamor before starting a music career.

Piolo shared that he and his son have maintained a close relationship despite Inigo not living with him. Inigo is Piolo’s son with former non-showbiz girlfriend Donna Lazaro.

“He didn’t grow up with me. He grew up with his mom,” he admitted. “So he would just come to me occasionally before pag wala akong trabaho. When he went to the States, nadadalaw ko siya once or twice a year. So wala kami masyadong physical relationship or contact. But now, he’s almost 30. He’s turning 27.”

Despite living in different countries at the moment, Piolo shared that Inigo still consults him for a lot of things going on in his life.

“He was like texting me the other day, ‘Pa, I want to do this business, who can I partner up with? How do I start with a business? Who’s your contact for this and that?’ Sabi ko, ‘Son, that’s adulting. Gather it all. Write it down. And then we’ll discuss it when I see you next month.’ So nandun na siya sa point na yun,” he shared.

Piolo also gave an idea of how he is as a dad.

“Growing up, how I was as a father, hindi naman ako tolerant pero I’m the cool dad. I’ve always been the cool dad. I’ve also never had the chance to live with him so pag may oras na puwede kami magkasama, I make it appear as if, you know, it’s the last day of the world,” he shared.

“But now that he’s become an adult, mas marami kaming oras. Nag-tu-tour ako and he comes to my tour. During break nagkikita kami and then we just spend father and son time together. And that’s the best feeling. So me as a father, I’m a cool dad. I’m a friend. I can be a friend.”

Watch Piolo Pascual in the new Dreamscape family thriller drama Pamilya Sagrado which also stars Kyle Echarri, Grae Fernandez, Tiro Cruz III, John Arcilla, Mylene Dizon, Aiko Melendez, Shaina Magdayao, and Joel Torre. Directed by Andoy Ranay and Lawrence Fajardo.