Actor Zanjoe Marudo has finally addressed public curiosity about why he and wife Ria Atayde have chosen not to show their baby boy’s face on social media—months after their son, Baby Sabino, was born in September 2024.
In a candid interview with Ogie Diaz on ‘Ogie Diaz Inspires’, Zanjoe shared that their decision is rooted in their desire to protect their child’s privacy and well-being, especially in today’s online landscape. “Baby pa naman ‘yan, eh. Ano bang mapapala niya sa social media, ‘di ba? Parang wala pa rin naman siyang muwang,” he explained.
Zanjoe also pointed out the risks of early exposure to digital platforms. “At ‘yun nga, social media. Toxic din, ‘di ba? Ang daming puwedeng mangyari. Unang-una ‘yung safety ng baby,” he said.
Contrary to speculation that they are hiding their son from the public, the actor clarified that they are not being overly secretive. “Maarte man kung sa maarte pero hindi ko siya itinatago. Never namin siyang itinago,” he emphasized. “Inilalabas ko siya. Pumupunta kami ng mall, nakabalandra siya. Sumasakay kami ng plane, nilalakad ko siya sa aisle.”
He also noted how people they encounter in public have been respectful. “Kapag may kaibigan akong nakita o fans or ano, ‘Uy, kumusta baby mo? Patingin naman.’ Pinapakita ko sa kanila. Hindi ko siya tinatago,” he said, adding, “Imbes na kunan nila, lalaruin nila. Makikipaglaro sila imbes na kunan ng video.”
The couple plans to wait until their son is old enough to communicate and understand before making the decision to show his face online. “Gusto naming antayin, siguro ‘pag one na siya or two, ‘pag marunong nang makipag-communicate ang bata… ‘Pag marunong na siguro siyang mag-yes or mag-ano, tatanungin namin unti-unti kung okay lang ba sa kanya,” Zanjoe shared.
For the actor, it’s about giving their child a voice early on. “Kasi, gusto naming i-exercise na sa kanya na may freedom of choice sa pamilya natin. Hindi ka namin pipilitin sa ayaw mo dahil gusto ko lang. Kaya dito pa lang sa pagpo-post ng mukha mo, ikaw na ang magdedesisyon niyan, hindi kami.”
Zanjoe and Ria’s stance highlights a growing conversation among celebrity parents about digital boundaries and raising children with mindful privacy—especially in an age where oversharing is the norm.
