Joko Diaz was among the celebrities who watched the first bout of the Pinoy Mano-Mano Celebrity Boxing Challenge last week. It was said to be a sign of Joko’s return to showbiz, but he also denied that he had quit showbiz. Joko is the son of former character actor Paquito Diaz.

“My daddy retired. My dad just settled down, so now, just focus on business,” Joko began in an interview with PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).

According to Joko, his parents are based in Bicol. His mom and siblings are from there. His uncle and aunt are the distributors of a famous beer throughout Bicol, so it would be better for his parents to be there first.

Paquito Diaz had a serious illness. Joko’s news about his father’s condition: “My daddy’s body is not half-dead. He can talk. He’s normal, but his memory is a bit backlogged. It took him about two years to walk, stand. That took a long time.”

The former action star continued, “My mommy took care of him because I already have a family and I’m based in Batangas City. I’ve been in Batangas for seven years. Actually, I enjoyed Batangas because my family and relatives were there. They had no problem with what happened to me before. They were open there.

“Then the politicians there became friends, they became friends. They offered me during the last election. I said, I’m not ready for Batangas yet. So, Governor [Armando] Sanchez, the one Vilma [Santos] replaced, that was my boss there,” he continued.

PRIVATE JOKO. Joko also had a barber shop in Batangas, but he now runs his aunt’s restaurant that has been open for 40 years. Joko also works here in Manila. “I once worked in the U.S. for five months. My boss asked me if I was going home. I said, ‘Yes. I can’t go here.’ I became a headlight technician there. I installed lights in L.A. [Los Angeles],” Joko said.

Why did he decide to work in the U.S.?

“Nothing! Just to change the atmosphere,” he replied. “Well, my wife’s cousin, Abby [Abigail], lives there. Then my cousins ​​there, they pick me up every weekend, I go out. Because I only work Monday to Friday.

“My visa is tourist so I have to go back to the Philippines. Before, we were thinking of migrating, eh, it didn’t seem like anything, I wasn’t happy. I’m far from my parents. You’re used to having a car. You’re used to having someone at home. ‘Tsaka if we ever migrate, I’ll choose a good job, not the light technician. It sounds good, but when I work, it’s tiring.”

ANGELU DE LEON. Now that Joko is going back to showbiz, will he be willing to work with Angelu de Leon (the mother of their daughter Nicole) again?

“Maybe the family will talk about it. I’ll talk to my family first. I’ll ask my wife, my in-laws, if my parents are okay with it,” Joko said.

“Because of course, we’re used to being quiet, eh. We’ve been quiet for years. I’ll come out, she’ll bring up [the past], so she’ll bombard me. Well, it’s my habit not to answer.”

Does his son with Abby, Ashley, know that he has another sibling?

“He’ll find out too. But actually, he doesn’t understand yet, so later on. Right now, he’s still clueless,” Joko said.

Joko clarified that he has no intention of keeping it a secret from Ashley that he has another sibling.

“Of course, we’re parents so we have to be open to our kids. When she’s the right age, maybe. We can’t hide it. Maybe before she’s seven or eight, she’ll know, huh.”

NICOLE. How are they with Nicole?

“Actually, we don’t talk,” he admitted. “We don’t have any communication with her mom [Angelu]. Because that’s what scares me because when I go back to showbiz, there’s nothing else to talk about but that, huh.”

Is he aware that Jojo Manlongat is the father of Nicole’s sibling to Angelu?

“I’ve known about it for a long time,” he replied. “I’ve heard it from friends. But it’s not my problem. It’s her, because she wanted that when we broke up. So, she must take full responsibility about it.”

Is it okay with him if Nicole becomes an artist too?

“I don’t have the right to do anything, to choose her life. That depends on her. I hope she makes good in every decision she makes. Because I know she has a broken family, her mommy and I are not together, she lacks guidance. So, I hope she thinks carefully. Actually, I don’t have the right to speak, to advise her, because I’m not there, I’m always not there,” Joko admitted.

Joko is aware that Nicole will have a birthday on Wednesday, November 7, but he said he won’t be able to personally congratulate her child.

“I wish her a happy birthday and I miss her too,” Joko said. “Because I haven’t seen her for two years. I miss her, of course, she’s my daughter. I wish her the best. Sooner or later, we’ll talk too. Because I also have plans for my kids outside.

“Nicole isn’t the only one my kids are outside. I still have two. Their mommy is non-showbiz. So, I have four kids. One boy, the eldest. I plan to have lunch or dinner with all of them and explain whatever the problem is. After that, everything will be fine. Just one best day for everybody.

“Maybe next year, but not definitely this year because I have to fix things, the business. I’m busy in Batangas but the transaction is happening here. Maybe in a week, twice or thrice a week, I’ll also be in Manila,” Joko concluded.