A daddy’s girl is a daughter whom her father loves beyond measure. And even if she becomes a lady, a wife and a mother, she will always consider her dad as her first love.

Magandang Buhay hosts Regine Velasquez, Jolina Magdangal, and Melai Cantiveros are unabashedly daddy’s girls. They were blessed with dads who have become their number one supporter and friend, and no doubt, their magnificence both in their professional and personal lives is steeped in the idea that they’ve got these strong, wonderful men as their popshies.

In this Father’s Day feature, see how the ‘momshies’ are as daughters to their fathers.

Jolina can be described as devoted and obedient, in that she trusted her Daddy Jun in treading the path to her dream career. In case you didn’t know, he was her former manager. In an episode of Tonight With Boy Abunda in 2018, Jolina shared that she followed her parents’ strict rules, which, in turn, shaped her into the responsible and role model kind of artist she was during her teenage years.

She loves to honor her father publicly, especially during special occasions like Father’s Day. Through her greetings, we get a glimpse of their dynamic at home. It’s easy to tell that Jolina is and will always be Daddy Jun’s princess and that she can be wacky in front of him. It was also Daddy Jun who modelled the value of prioritizing the family, which Jolina carries to this day.

Now that she is a ‘momshie’ to Pele and Vika, and a wife to Mark, Jolina knows how to treat her family very well because one man in her life has been her example.

Her Instagram feed reveals just how much Jolina admires her dad. She often talks about him with pride and uploads snaps from their family get-togethers where she could be seen enjoying every second with Daddy Jun. Last Christmas, for instance, the Magdangal clan shared warm hugs in cool Tagaytay.

Melai, on the other hand, is a playful and ‘makulit’ daughter to her Papa Dionisio, who was very sharp in teaching his children discipline. In a Magandang Buhay episode in 2019, Papa Dionisio revealed that he would often correct Melai’s behavior, specifically her habit of going home late. While he was talking, Melai was making funny faces behind him, then, she admitted, “Si Papa talaga, grabe talaga kami mapalo dati kasi nga over-over din kami ka-deserving.”

Papa Dionisio knew that Melai was going to be a happy girl, as she was a fighter and optimistic even as a child. “Bata pa siya, maliit pa, pumunta kami ng ospital. Pagdating sa ospital, doon sa ward, halos lahat ng mga kasama niya mahinang mahina na. Pero siya, kahit mainit siya dahil sa lagnat, kapag nakakita siya ng tao, mag-smile talaga siya,” he looked back.

Melai was close to her father for most of her childhood. She remembers that he was like her alarm clock and she knew she has to move fast once he wakes her up, “Alam ko talaga ‘pag ginising ako ni Papa, ay, it’s either merong mainit na tubig diyan [ibubuhos] sa mukha ko o papaluin ka na.”

And with the very old-school way of thinking and parenting style her father has, Melai is able to teach her children, Mela and Stella, the same values of discipline and responsibility. What’s even more magical is that her daughters look at Popshie Dionisio exactly how she did.

Meanwhile, Regine, dubbed as Asia’s Songbird, wouldn’t be able to soar high without her father, who is publicly known as Mang Gerry, the wind beneath her wings. It was Mang Gerry who trained Regine into a power belter by submerging her in neck-deep water in the sea to improve her breathing technique and strengthen her lungs. She had Mang Gerry every step of her journey, from amateur singing competitions to concert stage.

In 2018, Regine paid tribute to her father, who passed away in 2014, by writing him a poem. “I know you hear me sing from heaven. You’re clapping so loud and always so proud. My first man in my life,” she wrote, remembering the man who was always present in her every concert and performance.

Though it has been almost a decade since Mang Gerry passed away, Regine still carries her father’s legacy. She is her father’s legacy.

And one of her happy thoughts is that she was able to fulfil Mang Gerry’s wish before he was gone, and that is to spend time with his grandson, Nate.

As strong as they are and independent as they may seem, and no matter how old they get, there’s a bond between momshies Regine, Jolina, and Melai and their fathers that exceeds age and time. They might belong to their husbands and kids now, but nothing could erase the fact that they loved their fathers first.

*Photos credit to Regine Velasquez, Jolina Magdangal and Melai Cantiveros IG