Kean Cipriano’s Family is His Top Priority
Former Callalily vocalist Kean Cipriano recently talked to TV host and talent manager Ogie Diaz about the importance of his family, and managing musicians.
Kean Cipriano is known for his rock and roll onstage personality as a singer and actor. After leaving Callalily, he has since focused his energy on his family and his new project OC Records, which he and his wife, actress Chynna Ortaleza handles. Kean recently sat down with TV host and talent manager Ogie Diaz. He talked about family life and why being a father is very important to him.
Kean Cipriano on family and losing his dad
During the interview, Kean shared that when he was at the height of his career, it was always music, arts, and passion. That changed when he and his Chynna got married and had children.
“More than anything, I choose my family. Kahit ano pa yan. I wanna give my full time and attention to myself. Kasi alam ko na pag ibinigay ko yung attention sa sarili ko at inayos ko yung sarili ko, mas maalagaan ko yung pamilya, di ba?” he said. “Kasi ang hirap kung ako yung nawawala eh.”
While Kean admits he was lucky to have his parents and siblings, he saw the importance of it, even more, when he and Chynna married and lost his dad months before the arrival of their daughter Stellar.
“March 2016, namatay ang daddy ko. Biglaan talaga,” he said.
Kean found out about his dad’s death while shooting for Dolce Amore. “Tapos pag-uwi ko ng mga 6 am, 7 am, bigla akong nakakuha ng tawag from my brother na iba yung tono.”
Following the death of his dad, Kean and Chynna welcomed the arrival of Stellar in April. “Alam ko na yung daddy ko sobrang gustong-gusto niya magkaapo. Tapos nung malaman niya na babae yung magiging anak ko, sobra niyang excited.”
“Parang roller coaster yung pakiradam. Yung emotion na nawala yung tatay mo na pinakamamahal mo na biglang may isa naman na dumating na parang nagpalaruan yung emosyon ko ng mga bagay-bagay,” he added.
He admitted to feeling guilty often that he could have spent time with his dad. But Kean knows he had to make it work and be a father to his children.
On spending time with his kids
Kean shared that he chose to be with his family despite the work inquiries he was getting during the pandemic. He did not regret declining the offers.
“Na-feel ko lang na hindi kayang mawala sa kanila ng matagal. Kasi alam kong kailangan nila ako lalo na pandemic pa,” he said.
“Kung hindi ko man tanggapin ang mga projects na ito pagdating ng panahon, alam ko sasabihin ko sa sarili ko na sila yung best choice ko,” he said. “Masasabi ko na ano ginawa mo nung 2020, 2021, 2022? Kasama ko ang pamilya ko.”
He also mentioned that while he can, he’ll spend most of his time with his children.
“Gusto ko lang ma-experience ng mga anak ko na pag dumating man yung panahon na wala na ako, masasabi nila na kasama ko si daddy palagi. Kumbaga, binigay niya sa amin yung oras niya.”
Moreover, he shared that probably one of the reasons he wants to spend as much time as he can with his family was the death of his father-in-law, who became a father figure to him after the death of his dad. He wasn’t able to grieve well because he decided to get busy, thus he reminds everyone to acknowledge the pain and sadness.
Kean recalled the time when Chynna was about to give birth, he sought the advice of his dad.
“Ano bang ma-aadvice mo sa akin? Hindi ko alam eh. Hindi ko alam,” Kean shared. “Basta madaling maging ama pero mahirap magpaka-ama sabi niya…it makes sense.”
Kean Cipriano on embracing talent managing and forming OC Records
These days, in between spending time with his family and his other projects, Kean runs OC Records, the recording company he and Chynna run in partnership with Viva’s head Vic del Rosario. He co-manages some of today’s rising artists, too.
Of managing talents, Kean said that he and the band he handles were under previous management but left. It was his late father-in-law who said he should give it a try.
“Bakit hindi ka mag-manage? Bakit hindi kayo mag-manage ni Chynna,” he said of the conversation. “Papa, sarili ko nga ko nga hindi ko ma-manage, magma-manage pa ako ng ibang tao? Ang hirap naman.”
But after that conversation with his father-in-law, he met a band which would be the start of his other skill. Another talent, Unique Salonga, who he previously helped co-manage when he was still in another band also went to him.
“Nung si Unique na yung minage ko, ah seryoso na ito. Magbibigay ako ng panahon at atensyon sa tao na ito. So might as well professionalize it,” he said.
Regarding OC Records which he is co-CEO, Kean admitted that there were a lot of back-and-forth discussions when Vic del Rosario told him that maybe they can form one.
“Nag-isip talaga kami. Nag-consult talaga kami, hanggang sa hindi, maganda ito na gawin ‘to. Kasi merong naniniwala sa amin.”
Although he was afraid and worried from the start, Kean knew he was going to sacrifice a part of his career to concentrate on running the company. “Nung sinimulan namin ito, wala kami talagang alam pero nagkataon nakgaroon ng mga hits, naka-sign kami ng mga artists na nag-hit din and the rest is history.”
Kean is set to perform alongside Unique and Adie in a concert called Pulso on November 29 at the New Frontier Theater.
Check out more stories about fatherhood from your favorite male actors!
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