Known to be very family-oriented, Robi said his dad has always been a driving force in his life. “My dad has been really, really strict to me. As in before whenever he gets his belt medyo natatakot na ako eh. Disciplinarian kasi yung tatay ko and when I have some mistakes when it comes to my academic side pinapagalitan niya ako and now I understand the value of the things he has been doing for me especially when it comes to money. Sinabi niya sa akin na 'Only get the stuff na kailangan mo.' It's a matter of needs and wants eh. And ngayon ko lang na-appreciate lahat ng tinuturo niya sa akin. Pero these days nagugulat ako kasi from a very, very disciplinarian father, these days he's approaching the magic dual citizenship of being a Filipino and a senior citizen (laughs). Nag-iiba na yung pananaw niya sa buhay. Like whenever I have shoots for The Voice or PBB lagi na siyang sumasama sa akin and I get so afraid for him kasi yung mga travels namin hindi biro na three to four hour drive sa location and then after an hour lilipat na naman kami. But nagulat lang ako kasi na-e-enjoy and siya pa yung usap ng usap! And whenever we go to different places especially the one in Japan, yung for Lakwatsero? He was making a documentary for himself! So si papa nakakagulat na ganun yung pinagdadaanan niya ngayon pero I'm happy that he has been the coolest father to me.
Even when it comes to fashion, Robi remembers what his dad says, “Whenever you dress up or anything, extravagance is for him a sin eh. Whenever you go overboard that's something else. But if you go simple there's nothing wrong or there's always more when it comes to being balanced,” he added.
Even when it comes to relationships, Robi says he can always rely on his dd for sound advice. “Yes even before pa. Ang pinaka-natawa ako was when I got my first heartbreak in college and I got to talk to him in one of the restaurants in the Fort. As in umiiyak ako ah. It was the weirdest feeling ever. Sabi ko, 'Pa, ang sakit sakit' and I was so surprised kasi nag-open up ako sa kanya. And then nagulat lang ako sa kanya when he said, 'Anak, ang babae parang t-shirt. You may get the local ones, the international brands, you may get the high-end ones, pero kailangan mo isukat sukat din eh. Until you find the perfect fit for you na magugustuhan mo yung style at fit at magugustuhan mo yung comfort. And that's what you call the best relationship.' Ang galing nga,” he explained.
Robi said his current relationship with Gretchen Ho is going strong as ever. And he can say, using his dad's analogy, that things have even leveled up when it comes to his feelings for her. “With Gretchen so far the t-shirt has been really, really kind to me. And I think I'm approaching that moment when I say I have found the right fit talaga na susuotin ko forever and ever,” he shared