Joey Marquez Speaks Out: “Children Are Not Investments, They’re a Responsibility”
JOEY MARQUEZ – Veteran actor and former basketball player Joey Marquez is making headlines for his honest take on parenting, declaring that children should never be seen as investments but rather as a lifelong responsibility.
Joey Marquez has expressed his strong stance on parental responsibility amid debates surrounding the proposed Parents Welfare Act of 2025.
In an interview on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, Marquez was asked about Senate Bill No. 396, which seeks to penalize children who abandon or fail to support their elderly, sick, or incapacitated parents. While the bill has sparked a mix of support and criticism online, Marquez offered a deeply personal and heartfelt take on the issue.
“For me, they have no obligation. Because as a parent, I don’t treat my children as an investment. I treat them as a responsibility. I need to do everything possible to give them a good future,” he firmly stated.
As a father to 16 children, Marquez shared that he has never viewed his children as sources of future support. Instead, he sees parenting as a one-way duty of providing love, care, and security, without expecting anything in return.
“If my children get famous or wealthy, I promise myself that if I get sick or live on the streets, I will never burden them. I’m prideful that way. Maybe it’s wrong, but I always tell my children to do their best in life and be successful, and that’s more than enough,” he explained.
Marquez highlighted the importance of fulfilling his role as a parent regardless of personal hardships. “I want to remind the children that a father will do everything even while facing hardship. So always love your parents, especially your father,” he added.
Joey Marquez also encouraged parents to foster a positive environment by avoiding negativity. “It’s also important for parents not to ‘speak ill of each other or badmouth one another’ to their children,” Marquez advised.
Senator Ping Lacson, who filed the Parents Welfare Act, later clarified that the bill exempts abusive or neglectful parents, and children without financial means are not mandated to provide support. The bill continues to fuel public discourse on the balance between familial duty and personal freedom.
READ ALSO: Winwyn Marquez: Joey Marquez & Alma Moreno’s Response to Daughter’s Pageant Comeback