Fragrance mogul Joel Cruz opened up about his journey as a father to eight kids.

In an interview with Bianca Gonzalez in the TFC show BRGY, Joel shared that as someone who grew up with numerous siblings, he has always wanted to have a big family as well.

"With our seven siblings altogether, tulungan kami eh. Kahit may edad kami ngayon nagkikita pa rin kami palagi tapos 'yung sinasabi ng nanay ko noon na, 'Kapag lumaki kayo, nagka-edad na kayo, baka hindi lahat kayo maging successful. Dapat magtulungan kayo kung sino ang nakakakaangat, tutulungan ang hindi nakakaangat.' Iyon 'yung naalala ko na laging sinasabi niya na ganun kami ngayon sa pamilya namin. 'Yun din ang tinuturo [ko] rin sa [mga anak ko]," he said.

Joel had his eight kids via surrogacy. When asked at what age he started explaining the story behind their modern family to his children, he replied: "When they were still younger, I was trying to explain everything. The first time I heard Prince (eldest child) ask me: 'Where is mommy?' He was 4 years old that time."

The entrepreneur recalled how nervous he was at that time.

"I was so scared when that question was asked. Oh my gosh ito na, anong sasabihin ko?,” he asked himself. “Ang tagal ko sumagot. Kinakabahan ako.”

He decided to go with the simplest, factual answer. 

“I asked myself. what was the question? Where is mommy? [Sagot ko], 'Oh she is in Russia.' Sabi ko lang ganun,” he recounted. “And then he replied, 'Okay she's in Russia,' and no more follow up questions na. Nasagot ko 'yung tanong.”

As his kids grew, Joel further explained to them their modern family setting. 

READ: Ginastos ni Joel Cruz sa walong Filipino-Russian na mga anak, umabot ng 52 milyong piso

"Nung lumalalaki na rin sila, I explained to them I'm gay,” said Joel. “I don't want to get married to a woman, but I want to have children because I love kids. I can be a good father, a good parent at the same time.”

With the question about their mom answered already, Joel asked his kids if they want to meet her. 

“[Sabi nila] they don't need to meet their mom. Naramdaman ko talaga na ako enough na sa kanila,” he shared. “I am so blessed with these children."