Moms and Dads
Every Dad Needs a DadBud: Meet Joey Ong, Founder of DadBudPH
We’ve got our mumshies and thanks to Joey Ong, now, dads have DadBuds
If you asked a group of parents if they’ve ever joined a Facebook community, chances are, most moms would say yes. But for most dads — who wouldn’t dare ask for directions, let alone ask another dad if their four month-old is finally sleeping through the night — joining a Facebook group might be the furthest thing on their mind. But not Joey Ong — DadBudPH’s founder.
You’d think being a creative director/home chef/content creator/new dad would be enough hyphens for the 42 year-old dad of one, but being in the advertising industry has well-prepped him to be a jack of all trades. His latest career move? Creating DadBudPH, a Facebook community for Pinoy dads. The growing community has amassed over 14 thousand members — all dads from all kinds of backgrounds, supporting each other and giving each other the virtual fist bump they’ve always needed.
The birth of DadBudsPH
Last year, Joey and his wife, Ciara, had their first child, Joselito. To prep for fatherhood, Joey would ask advice from friends and didn’t get much help, except for the usual warning about the sleepless nights. “Pinoy guys aren’t really the type to talk about these things, so I started DadBudPH in 2019 with mostly just friends and titos in it, sharing advice on how to be a Dad.”
Fast forward a year later — Ciara gave birth and everyone was ordered to stay home. “Suddenly there were more dads at home and the community started growing. It actually was a support group at the start of the pandemic. I had dads there, clueless of what to do during labor during the time of COVID. We had conversations on where to go, what to pack, things to remember, etc. It started off well and I noticed that dads or guys became more and more comfortable sharing stories, sometimes too much but I do screen posts so this way I curate the topics,” Joey shares.
How it helps dads
As a hands-on dad (Joey and his wife don’t have a yaya for their son), Joey cherishes his quiet, early mornings with his son. He admits that being a part of DadBuds helped eased him into the role. “New dads benefit so much from this group because they get loads of tips. The first thing they do (when the baby is born) is share it with the community. The emotional support is amazing. As a dad, there isn’t much you know — it’s not your body so you’re clueless,” says Joey. “Plus, you get good baby shopping tips.”
There are lots of dads with older kids too. “Top topics in the group are on doing household chores, flexing that laundry is done and folded. The Girl Dad topic is also really popular — what a dad would do if their daughter has a boyfriend. This one is funny because it always involves shooting someone with an imaginary gun.” says Joey. And it doesn’t stop there — DadBudsPH also has a handful of gay dads, who are more than willing to share their side of the dad-story.
It’s a fun bunch — everyone is game and ready to share their opinion, dole out helpful and sometimes not-so-helpful advice. To start conversations, Joey throws in controversial topics. He talks about subjects like dealing with circumcision, in-laws, giving wives salaries, and the guys don’t hesitate to comment.
“There is a certain level of maturity but almost 60 percent of the content are dad-related jokes or funny videos too,” Joey Ong reveals. In a time where everyone’s feeling isolated, it’s comforting to know that Facebook communities like DadBudPH exist. Dads need a place where they can be themselves, hash out how to deal with stuff like potty training or which diaper brand is the most sulit — and not feel judged. Yes, even if we may not think it, dads do care about this stuff. Thank goodness for DadBudPH for being the new nexus for Pinoy dads who just want to be better dads to their kids.
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