He may be the villain in many eyes, but when it comes to being a father, Don Julio (Tommy Abuel) proves he has a “veeeery good” side. Sure, he’s done numerous evil things in "FPJ's Batang Quiapo," but you can’t deny his unwavering devotion to his son Ramon (Christopher de Leon).
From his constant concern to his relentless drive to provide nothing but the best for his son, Don Julio shows a softer, more human side—one that fiercely protects and loves, no matter the cost, as shown in this Kapamilya Toplist of scenes.
We open this vide montage with that scene where Ramon successfully sealed a deal with a powerful syndicate group in Binondo. Although he asked his father to accompany him, Don Julio confidently declined because he was certain that his son could handle any transaction on his own. He even tapped Ramon’s shoulder and proudly said that he made the right choice in entrusting his riches and businesses to him.
In another episode, Don Julio expressed excitement for his son's birthday. He even took it upon himself to oversee the preparations for the party. His only wish for Ramon at the time was for him to find happiness beyond their business, meaning to settle down, find a wife, and build a family of his own.
That’s why Don Julio had no objections when Ramon decided to marry Mokang (Lovi Poe). Just when we expected the usual drama trope of a wealthy parent disapproving of their child’s poor partner, Don Julio surprised us by saying nothing bad about Mokang. Instead, he fully supported whatever made his son happy.
Even when he was visibly displeased with the behavior of Mokang’s family inside his mansion—and knowing how prideful Don Julio could be—he chose to tolerate Marsing (Pen Medina), Nita (Susan Africa), and Edwin (Ping Medina) for the sake of Ramon’s request. He was willing to compromise for Ramon’s happiness and to help mend his son’s relationship with his wife.
And when Mokang went missing, it was Don Julio who gave Ramon the kind of 'comfort' only a father could. He reminded Ramon that the world doesn’t end with the loss of a woman because he still had a son to groom as their family’s next scion.
He had complete trust in Ramon’s decisions and choices. Just as he supported Ramon’s relationship with Mokang, he was also very open to the possibility of Ramon reconciling with Marites (Cherry Pie Picache), the mother of his child, when they unexpectedly crossed paths again two decades later.
To his credit, Don Julio gave his unico hijo sound and balanced advice, to stay out of Marites and Rigor's (John Estrada) marital problems. This was because he noticed Ramon becoming emotionally attached to Marites and even wanting to defend her as the mother of his child.
However, in one scene where Ramon confessed that he couldn’t help but kiss Marites and had fully fallen for her, Don Julio was genuinely happy. After all, it's his dream for his only son to build a complete and loving family of his own.
Being a loving father to Ramon also meant showing the same affection to his fake grandson, Hesus/David (McCoy de Leon). There was a scene where Don Julio displayed his tender side by giving in to David's suggestion of handling a business transaction single-handedly, even though Ramon strongly disagreed.
Don Julio also gave Ramon some wise advice, such as urging him to get to know Hesus/David better to win his child's trust. He emphasized that the most important thing was finding balance between business and family.
Whenever Ramon’s temper flares due to Hesus/David's rebellious behavior, Don Julio is always there to calm him down. You could tell that Don Julio had been a hands-on father himself, as he reminded Ramon that he, too, had gone through a rebellious phase when he was younger. He understood that Hesus/David needed space to figure things out on his own.
He also told Ramon that, instead of being too strict, he should guide Hesus/David in the business to help him learn and grow.
Don Julio may be ruthless and cold-blooded, but when it comes to his son Ramon, his actions speak louder than his villainous tendencies.
Don't miss an episode of "FPJ's Batang Quiapo," weeknights, on Kapamilya Channel, Kapamilya Online Live, TV5, and A2Z.