Why the Philippines is Home for Hamilton Cast Member Winston Hillyer
Filipino-Australian actor and Hamilton cast member Winston Hillyer sits down with Modern Parenting about taking his family to the Philippines and the lessons people can learn from the show.
An actor’s life is unpredictable especially when you travel to locations thousands of miles away from home. But for Winston Hillyer, the Philippines is already like home. The Filipino-Australian actor said that he’s fortunate to bring his family to Manila from Australia to do Hamilton which is currently running in Solaire until November.
“I brought my whole family. The agreement was we all go on tour or we don’t do the tour. As a father, I don’t want to miss out on anything and I want to be there for my children as they grow up,” he told Modern Parenting during an exclusive interview at Solaire.
Speaking of his two kids ages 2 and 6 years old, Winston added: “There’s a bit of an age gap there but it’s nice to be able to spend time with them and share the experiences.”
Talking about his Filipino heritage, Winston said his mom was from Angeles City and that he has a number of uncles and aunts. He also has a niece who is trying showbiz. “My daughter is actually getting to meet that side [of] the family.”
Thankful for a supportive family
Although he’s busy with the production, Winston tries to make up for the time away from his family and gives his wife Aryna time by herself. Communication, he pointed out, is very important.
“It’s really being able to communicate with our partners. My wife, to me she is Superwoman because she does a lot of the heavy lifting looking after the kids because of the work hours we have here,” Winston said.
“But when she needs time for herself, I would take the kids in the morning and she would go to the gym or to the spa. It’s really being able to look after your partner,” he said.
While some families need adjustment to the setup, Winston happily shared that his kids love staying in the Philippines. “The kids love the food. My son in particular loves rice.”
Education is also very important for Winston. He shared that his daughter is currently doing a homeschooling program back in Australia. He also said that they would take her out to places in Manila like street markets and museums.
Winston Hillyer on parenting while on a suitcase life
Since the family is constantly on the move from one country to the other, Winston explained that the one thing he’s grateful for is that the production allows their kids to be with them. His daughter has actually been able to see the set many times.
“I think bringing her to work has been the biggest thing. She has seen the show a few times, she has come backstage, [and] has seen the set. She’s able to understand things we’re doing and when she sees all the people coming out at the end of the show, she’s like, ‘Oh, I kind of understand why people want to see it,'” he shared.
He also added that his daughter is aware of the different characters he plays on the show. Although he admitted there were some adjustments in the beginning. But since his daughter has grown up around theater, she has been very open-minded.
When asked what’s been the most fulfilling about his career so far, Winston answered, “It’s just being able to tell the story. I think the biggest thing about performing is being able to connect and share these incredible stories we get to tell. Whether it be Hamilton or other shows, it’s just that connection.”
Another advantage of performing in different countries is the memories made. Asked what has been his favorite so far, Winston shared that it’s really surrounding themselves with people who care.
“As a family, the most beautiful thing we have seen and are able to experience is the community we built as a company. My wife and I are able to go out together without the children because they are looked after by the rest of the company. We all take turns and it takes a community to raise these children.”
Another memory for Winston is the reunion with his Filipino family. “I haven’t seen my family in 28 years. So seeing aunties, uncles, and cousins and introducing them to my wife and my children [is great].”
What the new generation can learn from Hamilton
With a diverse cast, Hamilton has become a platform showing different cultures and being proud of different roots. For Winston, this is one of the things he has learned through the years.
“Growing up as a child in Australia, I was very shy about my heritage,” he recalled. “And I really didn’t want to connect with it. But being part of this show surrounded by different and beautiful cultures has been a beautiful journey. And for me to be here is sort of a start to rediscover where my roots are from, which is really big.”
For Winston Hillyer, a lot of people, particularly today’s generation, can learn a lot from the story of Hamilton. “There’s a lot of things we can learn from Hamilton, particularly history. Especially now with everything that’s going on in the world.”
“I think it’s hard to put it in a single moment or a single thing that you think would be better for your people or for your children. I think everyone walks away with different experiences and learn something [from it].”
Photos by Kieran Punay
Special thanks to GMG Productions
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