Jeric Raval says he’s not a ‘role model’ for fathering 18 kids with seven women
For fathering 18 children with seven women, Jeric Raval said he should not be treated as a role model. He admitted that raising a large family came with financial challenges.
Raval made the comment during his recent guest appearance on Susan Enriquez’s “Kay Susan Tayo! Vlogs” as he warned others against following in his footsteps.
“Hoy huwag niyo akong gagayahin ha. Mahirap ang time management, hindi uubra doon ’yung time management niyo,” he said. (Hey, don’t copy me. Time management is difficult — you won’t be able to manage it.)
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Raval said supporting 18 children was especially difficult after the local movie industry declined and acting opportunities became limited.
“Naku, gagapang ka sa hirap. Walang trabaho. Pero itinawid ko ’yung 18 na ‘yun sa panahon na patay ang movie industry,” he noted.
(You’ll really struggle. There was no work, but I managed to provide for all 18 of them during the time when the movie industry was practically dead.)
To make ends meet, Raval said he ventured into buying and selling cars, building and selling houses, and taking construction contracts. He also performed in bars in Japan.
Explaining why he ended up with such a large family, Raval said he initially kept hoping for a son.
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“Ang istorya niyan, kung ba’t dumami ‘yan nang dumami. Kahihintay kong may lumabas na lalaki. Puro babae, babae, babae,” he recalled.
Raval now has six sons. “Anyway, nu’ng dumating na ‘yung mga lalaki, itinigil ko na,” he added. (Anyway, when the boys finally came, I stopped.)
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The actor also recalled that his wife, Holiday Buensuceso, and former actress Monica Herrera were pregnant at the same time, forcing him to shuttle between hospitals.
Raval said Herrera gave birth in the United States while another partner delivered in the Philippines.
Despite the complicated situation, Raval expressed gratitude to the mothers of his children.
“Mababait sa akin ‘yung mga magulang. Kung hindi mabait ‘yun, matagal na akong patay,” he expressed. (The mothers were kind to me. If they weren’t, I would have been dead a long time ago.)
Raval has 18 children with seven women. Among his children is actress AJ Raval. /ra