Janno and Melissa Gibbs Share What Ronaldo Valdez Was Like As a Father

Veteran actor Ronaldo Valdez, who sadly passed away last Sunday, has portrayed numerous roles on both the small and big screens in his over five-decade career. One character that cemented his place in the industry was that of a father.

Before he charmed audiences as the playful and witty “Lolo Sir” in the hit teleserye 2 Good 2 Be True, Valdez had already played various other roles, including a doting widowed father in May Minamahal (1993); the cold-hearted grandfather, Earl of Dorincourt, in the film adaptation of the hit anime series Cedie: Ang Munting Prinsipe (1996); the powerful Mayor Miguel Villamayor in Mula sa Puso (1997); the hardworking Tatay Kanor in the movie Labs Kita… Okey Ka Lang? (1998); the devoted family man, Martin Dionisio, in the weekly family drama Ang Munting Paraiso (1999); the domineering dad in the family drama Seven Sundays (2017), among many others. 

Valdez  brought depth and vulnerability to each father role, and with his recent passing, the local entertainment industry lost one of its finest father figures.

But what was Valdez like as a father to his real-life children, Janno and Melissa Gibbs? 

In an interview on Magandang Buhay, Melissa described her father as "the best dad in the world," highlighting his kindness, fun-loving nature, and profound love. Melissa shared, “Yung nakita ko sa kanya habang lumalaki kami… family man kasi talaga siya. Inuuna niya kaming mga anak niya.” 

Melissa said she takes after her dad and considers herself a "papa's girl."

"Ito ang kakampi ko," she shared in the talk show. "Kapag may problema, takbuhan ko 'to. Talagang siya ang sumbungan ko 'pag merong umaaway sa akin."

Their family setup is quite liberal, Janno said in another interview with the same show. Both his parents—dad Ronaldo and mom, Maria Fe—communicated with their children as equals, even when they were still kids. 

Valdez treated his children like a barkada, believing that instilling values is most effective through setting a positive example and maintaining open lines of communication. 

“Bihira lang siya magalit,” Janno recalled. And because she and Melissa have immense respect for their father, they would never intentionally provoke their Papa’s anger. 

One admirable quality of Valdez that left a lasting impression on Janno was his willingness to apologize if ever he hurt or wronged his children. 

In a conversation with Boy Abunda, Valdez recounted an incident where he scolded a young Janno. “I don’t remember the exact reason; we had a disagreement. “Afterward, I realized I was the one in the wrong, so I apologized to him,” he shared. Adding a piece of fatherhood wisdom, he remarked, “Just because you're older doesn't automatically make you wiser. Being a parent doesn’t mean you're always right."

Before Janno entered the entertainment industry, he would request his father to recommend him, even for minor roles, but Valdez consistently declined. He insisted that his son should earn projects based on his own merits as an actor rather than relying on familial connections.

In the Magandang Buhay interview, Valdez and Janno had the opportunity to express their gratitude for each other. “Nagpapasalamat ako na lumaki si Janno nang maayos,” Valdez said. “Thankful ako for everything… thankful ako for his being a good son, a good person.” 

Janno, for his part, thanked his Papa for being the best dad that he could possibly be. “Kung ano man ako ngayon bilang tao, bilang parent and bilang artista, I owe it all to you. Ikaw ang role model ko sa lahat.” 

Some believe that being a good parent involves sacrifice, but Valdez holds a different perspective. “Hindi sakripisyo e,” he reflected. “Kasi pag sakripisyo, kahit ayaw mo, gagawin mo. [Ang pagiging mabuting magulang] gusto mong gawin ito dahil mahal mo [ang mga anak mo.] Kaya hindi siya sakripisyo.”