Janno Gibbs and Bing Loyzaga: Memories, Grief, and Gratitude for the Dads Who Raised Them
In a heartfelt conversation, celebrity couple Janno Gibbs and Bing Loyzaga open up about the fathers who shaped their lives, the joys of growing up with them, and the pain of letting go
The names Ronaldo Valdez and Caloy Loyzaga are synonymous with achievements in acting and basketball. For many batang 90s, Ronaldo Valdez was the Earl of Dorincourt in Cedie, Ang Munting Prinsipe. For Gen Z, he was Lolo Ser in 2 Good 2 Be True.
Caloy Loyzaga, on the other hand, is considered one of the country’s basketball legends. He earned the recognition of being the first Filipino to be inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2023.
But beyond these recognitions, they were dad to two people – the couple Janno Gibbs and Bing Loyzaga. The two spoke about their fathers in the vlog broadcast on September 18, where they shared stories of growing up with them and the last moments before their passing.
Bing and Janno’s Fond Memories of Caloy and Ronaldo
The celebrity couple reminisced about the accomplishments of their respective fathers. Bing proudly showed the medals he won throughout his career and a plaque from FIBA presented to the Loyzaga family. Janno displayed several awards his dad received from various award-giving bodies.
Both also wore shirts in memory of their dad – a KFC-inspired shirt signifying Ronaldo as one of the faces of the chicken brand, where he appeared in commercials, and the other, a Philippines jersey with the number 14, the number Caloy wore during his playing years.
Janno and Bing, who share two daughters, reminisced about their father’s achievements and who they were as a dad and father-in-law.
Although he was known for his dramatic roles, Ronaldo for Janno has always been the comedian, something Bing also agrees with.
“Mas komedyante sa akin sa tunay na buhay. Baliktad kami,” Janno said.
“Minsan tatawag iyan sa akin, “ Bing shared of her father-in-law. “ Ang tawag namin sa daddy ni Janno ay Pepe…”
“Kasi Pepe Ronnie,” Janno adds.
Bing continued that Ronaldo would do it many times to her on the phone. “Natatawa siya sa sarili niya joke. Pero parang palagi niya akong pinapagalitan na bakit mo ako tinatawagan.”
Caloy, on the other hand, would bond with Janno via golf. “Ang fondest memory ko of Bing’s dad Caloy was sa Australia, magogolf kami ng daddy niya, kaming dalawa lang.”
At that time, the singer said he was still a smoker. “S’yempre si daddy Caloy bawal na iyon.”
Bing chimed in, saying that she would get nervous when the two are together during those times.
“So oofferan ko siya (Caloy), para maging close kami,“ Janno continued. “Sasabihin ko na dad, gusto mo ba? Siya naman, sige na nga!”
That golf moment was so memorable because the golf cart went backward and fell.
Both express their gratefulness for spending time with each other’s father-in-law.
Life Beyond Fame
As the youngest daughter of Caloy Loyzaga, Bing said that it was only when she was growing up that she realized how popular her dad was.
“During nung grade school ko, para bang ako na bakit may issue sila sa daddy ko? Kasi, Ang attitude ng daddy ko sa bahay, parang siya pa ang hardinero naming number one,” Bing shared.
“Very conservative ang daddy ko. Habang lumalaki kami, halimbawa lumabas kami sa garden naka shorts, may issue siya doon,” Bing continued. “Saan ka pupunta? Lalabas? Hindi dapat naka-jogging pants ka.”
Bing said her dad was strict with his daughters, which included her, Teresa, and Princess. She has two brothers, Chito and Joey.
Janno, on the other hand, said that he got so many traits from his dad. Acting for one, people would say he got the mannerism.
“Actually, hanggang ngayon nagugulat ako pag nagsasalita ako or umaarte ako on screen, hindi ko namamalayan na daddy ko yung lumalabas,” he said.
“Aside from that, ang laro namin ng daddy ko ay aksyon. Kaya mahilig ako sa mga action films.”
Bing recalled the time that she came home from a taping where her father-in-law greeted her with a broom pretending to be a gun.
“Lalabas siya na may walis at biglang, ‘Hala!’ Gaganunin niya ako. So, pagbukas ko ng gate, ninerbyos na akong pumasok,” she laughed.
It was all out of fun, she said, which Janno agreed with. “My dad was really fun, but aside from that, very sweet.”
One of the common memories they had of their dads was that they would always be picked up from school. Bing even recalled that she brought her dad when she got late, and the school administration would have photos with him.
The Pain of Letting Go
The two didn’t shy away from the challenges of taking care of their dads as their health deteriorated. Bing believed they were fortunate to spend as much time as they could taking care of them.
“Hindi madali pero I would not have had it any other way,” Bing choked.
“Kasi maaring hindi na sila as energetic or hindi na pareho ang pag-iisip or hindi na pareho yung pananalita. Pero when they needed us, that’s one thing I’m proud to say tungkol sa ating dalawa. Andun tayo for them.”
The two shared how they took care of Caloy, who suffered a stroke in 2012. Caloy died in 2016.
“Sana napahaba pa pero hindi naman kaya,” Bing said of her dad’s final days.
Before his dad died on December 17, 2023, Janno said that he was fortunate to have spent the last two years bonding, something he’s grateful for.
“Yung araw-araw na kuwentuhan namin, yung lalabas kami kakain…at anong mga kalokohan, I will forever cherish that.“
Although his dad’s death was difficult due to how he died, Janno said his dad left on his own terms.
“When that happened, I stayed with him for a good maybe 15 minutes bago siya dalin sa hospital. I got to say my goodbyes, and I kissed him a lot. I said, ‘I love you.’ But not a lot know that you were the only other person to have seen him in his worst state,” referring to Bing.
Bing said she was grateful to say goodbye to Ronaldo and that hours before his death, she was still in touch with him.
A Reminder to Kids About Their Parents
While Caloy and Ronaldo may no longer be around, Bing and Janno said that they’ll remember the bear hugs and morning breakfast moments they had with them.
“I’ve learned a lot from my dad kung paano magpalaki ng anak, which tinatry kong gawin sa mga anak natin,” he said.
While it’s acknowledged that children are closer to their moms, they reminded the kids to spend as much time with their dads.
“Don’t forget your dad kasi pareho ang pagmamahal nila sa inyo,“ Janno said.
Bing has this to tell today’s kids. “When we were taking care of our parents, when we were taking care of my dad… lagi kong sinasabi na ang kulit ni dad, ang kulit ni mom. Sana pagpasensyahan ‘nyo rin kami. Sana pagpasensyahan ‘nyo din yung mga magulang ‘nyo kung makukulit. Minsan dala din ng karadaman.”
“So sana, bigyan ‘nyo ng kaunting pasensya ang mga magulang ninyo.”
She also reminded that regardless of the problems children may face, it’s always the parents who are ready to listen and lend their shoulders to cry on.
Janno, meanwhile, said, “Spend as much time as you can with them. Minsan nakakalimutan natin kasi nandiyan naman…hindi, we forget that they won’t always be there.”
Trying to hold himself together, Janno added: “ Ayokong mangyari sa inyo na sasabihin ‘nyo nagkulang ako. Sana ginawa ko ito.”
He concluded by repeating that it’s best to spend as much time with the parents while they are around, and that they’ll always love their dads wherever they may be.
More stories of dads
Bam Aquino: Guided by Faith, Grounded in Family
Erik Cua, GP Reyes, and Kevin Tan: Transitioning From Night Life to Family Life
Alvin Miranda and Jappy Reyes: A Love That Doesn’t Give Up
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Caloy Loyzaga is considered one of the Philippines’ best basketball players. He was a two-time Olympian and led the Philippines to a bronze finish in the 1954 FIBA World Championship.
In 2023, he was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame as the first Filipino player. His children received the recognition on his behalf.
Known for his dramatic prowess, Ronaldo Valdez, or James Ronald Gibbs, is known for films like Banaue, May Minamahal, where he earned several awards, and Cedie, Ang Munting Prinsipe, where he played the Earl of Dorincourt.
Before his death, he appeared alongside his son Janno in a movie called Itutumba Ka ng Tatay Ko and the KathNiel teleserye 2 Good 2 Be True.
