On September 18, the president and CEO of Aficionado perfume and personal care, Joel Cruz, advised people interested in In-vitro fertilization (IVF) not to keep it a secret from their kids.
During the Luminaire: Urban Smiles Dental Clinic’s 10th Anniversary Ball and Dr. RFD’s Birthday Celebration, which LionhearTV covered, Cruz, a parent of 8 kids all-conceived through IVF, highlighted the importance of not keeping secrets from his children, citing how it may impact the relationship of the parents and their children.
“Oo definitely, kasi recently ‘yung isang kaibigan ko, tanon ko, ‘Kamusta na ‘yung anak mo, may adopted kasi siya.’ Parang masama ‘yung loob niya, kasi rebelde ‘yung bata, hindi niya sinabi kasi, nalaman na lang niya nito na lang na lumaki. Kaya dapat walang tinatago. Di ba sabi nga, walang lihim na hindi nabubunyag, so sabihin para bata pa lang alam na ‘yung ganon.”
He then detailed how he remained honest with his children about their biological mother.
“Alam nila na ‘yung Mommy nila talagang pinagbigyan lang talaga ako. Kasi ‘yung Mommy nila, may family, may asawa, may anak siya, parang negosyo niya ‘yun, career niya ‘yun, ‘yung Mommy nila, ang pangalan ay si Lilia, hindi lang ako tinulungan, maraming clients ang natulungan, French couples, iba’t ibang mga nationals, so sa akin, walong egg cells ang na-donate kumbaga, sa walong anak.”
He then highlighted the value of maintaining an honest relationship with his children.
“Kasi alam mo, ayaw kong magtago sa bata, I’m very open kasi baka magalit sila sa akin kapag nalaman nila sa iba. Eh ang galing-galing nilang mag-search eh, Google-Google. Kaya wala akong tinatago, even my sexuality, I’m telling them I’m gay. Kasi sabi ko, ‘Hindi ako nai-in love sa babae eh, sabi ko sa kanilang ganon, so naiintindihan naman nila.”
As for Luminaire: Urban Smiles Dental Clinic’s 10th Anniversary Ball and Dr. RFD’s Birthday Celebration, several celebrities and personalities attended the star-studded gala, including Vice Ganda, Claudine Barretto, Fedelin, JM de Guzman, Jillian Ward, Yukii Takahashi, Nikko Natividad, Michael Christian Martinez, Thea Tolentino, Toni Fowler, Zeinab Harake, Elijah Alejo, Francine Garcia, Rita Daniela, Marikki Stroem, and many more.
Founded by Dr. Ralph Figaroa Delas Alas (Dr. RFD) and Mr. Ruel Apostol in 2013, Urban Smile Dental Clinic a decade of excellent dental care through a grand event on September 18, 2023, at the opulent SEDA Vertis North’s Grand Ballroom.
