'It was not how I planned to be a dad': Terence Cao speaks about fatherhood, Entertainment News

AsiaOne

24-07-2025

Local actor Terence Cao has spoken up candidly about fatherhood.
"I wasn't prepared to be a dad," the 57-year-old told actor-host Allan Wu in the latest episode of YouTube talk show Call Us Daddy, which was released yesterday (July 23).
Despite that, he shared that he is "grateful" for his daughter Shi En, now 15, and everything that has happened.
Terence recounted that he was introduced by a friend to the girl's mother — a Chinese woman — when he was in China, and they got to know each other better.
"The pleasant surprise was that she only surprised me after she got pregnant," he added.
In 2012, a 26-year-old Shanghainese woman, surnamed Shi, flew to Singapore with her 19-month-old daughter, claiming Terence is the girl's father.
Back then, Shi had told reporters that she met Terence at a party in Shanghai in 2010 and they had a one-night stand. After discovering she was pregnant two months later, she claimed she told Terence, who reportedly initially wanted her to get an abortion, but later told her to keep the baby.
Terence eventually acknowledged his daughter after a DNA test, but also said then that he could only be good friends with Shi.
Terence told Allan it was a "total shock" for him when he first heard about the pregnancy.
He said: "In my career right now, do I need a baby? We are not even married."
Terence also said it is "against his religion" to abort the child.
"I think as long as it's my baby, I will keep the child. The catch is how the 'higher powers' bestowed upon me this baby. That's not how I planned to be a dad," he said.
Adding that he has a "cordial" relationship with the girl's mother now, he said they are both "focused on bringing her up decently and giving her a decent education" in Shanghai.
Terence shared that he has a good relationship with Shi En, and she just came to Singapore recently to visit his parents. The elderly couple would like to see her more often, but she is busy with her studies.
He said: "The problem with kids in China is they don't have time. They study at least 10 hours a day, not like Singapore. It's because everyone is so competitive; they have so much homework and they only get to rest one or two days a week and that's it.
"It's a full day of school from morning till night. Kids in Singapore sleep at 9pm, but there at 12 midnight, they are still scribbling their homework."
Allan, 53, also asked if Terence has any plans to bring Shi En to live with him in Singapore.
He explained: "I visited them in Shanghai and they have a beautiful environment for learning... Right now, they are learning about AI (artificial intelligence) in primary school. So for me, as a dad, I want what is best for my daughter.
"They are Chinese in China; her roots are very important for her. So I think for kids especially, she should be rooted to where her mum is."
As to how he wants to be remembered by her, Terence responded: "Happy man, I want her to remember me being happy."
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