Paolo Paraiso

“Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit” actor Paolo Paraiso clarified that the status of his relationship with actress Mylene Dizon is not complicated despite having two sons, the younger of whom is only five months old, while not officially a couple.

“We’re parents. ‘Yan ang status namin. Ang relationship namin revolves around our two sons. Nag-uusap kami as friends pero as a couple, hindi na namin pinag-uusapan,” he pointed out to Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online in a recent interview.

Paolo and Mylene met on the set of the defunct teen drama series, “Tabing-ilog” and their romance became public when they announced in late 2004 that they were having a child. Before Mylene gave birth to Tomas the following year, they had already broken up and remained good friends.

They had their second child, Lucas, last April, but Paolo and Mylene insisted that they had not reconciled as a couple.

“So far (the setup) is working. Hindi kami nag-aaway. Smooth sailing naman kami so far. Ang maganda sa amin, nag-uusap kami kaya ‘pag may nangyari makaka-adapt kami kaagad sa situation,” he said.

Paolo explained that Tomas and Lucas both stay with Mylene but he visits the boys any time he can. On weekends, Tomas sleeps over at his house so they are able to bond well.

“Our family days remain as family days. May Sundays na kasama ko si Mylene at si Tomas. Nagmo-malling kami kasama ang mga pinsan n’ya. We keep our family days intact para may concept (si Tomas) ng family,” he said.

When Mylene won Best Actress at the Urian last month, Paolo recalled receiving a message from her at around 10:30 p.m. while he was groggy from the medication that he had taken for a minor ailment. Nonetheless, he called right away to congratulate her.

“Actually morning pa lang, ang sabi n’ya a-attend s’ya ng Urian. (I asked her), ‘Ano ang chances mo? (She said) Hindi ko iniisip ‘yan. Usually ‘pag ganyan si Mylene, nananalo nga s’ya. I’m very happy for her,” he said.

Tomas escorted Mylene to the Urian and never left her side even when she accepted her award and did the post-event press interviews.

Paolo observed that Tomas is already showing signs of showbiz inclination.

He related: “Minsan sinasama namin sa taping. Ibang ninong n’ya director so may privilege s’ya na umupo sa lap ng ninong n’ya habang nasa OB van. Minsan nga s’ya ang tumatawag ng ‘Cut!’ So kahit paano, may understanding na s’ya.

“‘Pag nanonood kami ng TV, alam n’ya na kapag nakikita n’ya ako o ang Mommy n’ya sa TV, alam n’ya na hindi kami ‘yun. Sabi n’ya, ‘Ah, work ni Mom ‘yan. Work ni Dad ‘yan.’ So alam n’ya. May concept na s’ya na iba ang pagkatao ng Mommy at Daddy n’ya sa nakikita n’ya sa TV. So alam n’ya na pretend ‘yun.

“‘Yung time with ‘Asero,’ may fight scene (ako). ‘Pag nakikita n’ya na may kaaway ako, sasabihin n’ya, ‘That’s pretend fight.’ So may concept s’ya ng pretend, role playing.

“Definitely hindi namin pipigilan if he shows interest in showbiz pero s’yempre, mas ipu-push pa rin namin ni Mylene na mag-schooling s’ya. Kung kaya n’ya na sabay, bakit hindi? But I think it’s too early to say pa kung mag-a-artista s’ya. He’s in pre-school so mukhang OK naman.”

Paolo, who’s still a greenhorn compared to Mylene in the acting department, shared that the mother of his kids inspires him to become a better actor.

“Kahit before pa lang when I was starting out, kay Mylene at sa set of friends n’ya doon ko natutunan ang difference ng celebrity and being an actor. Kasi kung hindi ko sila nakasama, hindi ko kaagad makikita ang difference na ‘yun. In that aspect, malaking influence si Mylene sa akin,” he said.

He considers his role as James in GMA-7’s afternoon soap, “Kaya Kong Abutin ang Langit,” as challenging because it’s a complete departure from the usual mean characters that he plays.