Olympian Levi Jung-Ruivivar shares fun Q&A with actor dad

Filipino American Olympic gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar with her actor father, Anthony Ruivivar. levijungruivivar/Instagram

After posting her side on her non-inclusion from the heroes’ parade for Filipino Olympians on Aug. 14, Filipino American Olympic gymnast Levi Jung-Ruivivar arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 on Thursday, and is set to meet President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

During their 14-hour flight to Manila, the 18-year-old gymnast hosted a candid question and answer session on Instagram, where she introduced her father to her followers.

Many were thrilled to recognize Anthony Ruivivar, a Filipino American actor known for his roles in Starship Troopers and as the voice of Batman in “Beware the Batman.” For those unfamiliar, Anthony also played Carlos Nieto in Third Watch and Alex Longshadow in Banshee.

One user excitedly commented, “No way! That’s your dad? Love him!”

The Q&A session was posted in two parts, with Levi kicking off by asking her father about the most famous celebrities he has met or worked with. Anthony named Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. When asked if he had worked with other Filipino actors, he mentioned collaborating with Dion Basco from the Basco Brothers in the film “Race the Sun.”

On a personal note, when asked what he was most excited to do in the Philippines, Anthony expressed his eagerness to meet the President and indulge in his favorite breakfast dish, garlic fried rice. Levi playfully added that garlic fried rice is his “Roman Empire.”

In a lighter moment, Levi asked her father who his favorite Filipino Olympian is—excluding herself, of course. Anthony, with a touch of humor, replied, “I don’t even know why you assume I would pick you,” before revealing his admiration for pole vaulter EJ Obiena, who finished fourth in the Olympics.

Levi was one of three Filipina gymnasts who made history by competing in this year’s Paris Olympics, alongside Aleah Finnegan and Emma Malabuyo, who are also in the country.