Carmina Villarroel and Zoren Legaspi and their twins, Cassy and Mavy (second and third from left), enjoy good vibes in their home. '"Yong mga pumasok na rito nagandahan sa bahay," Zoren says. "Sa tingin ko, it's the house. Pakiramdam ko 'yong energy na pagpasok nila sa house, yong energy na naba-vibe nila inside the house—iyon 'yon. Sinabi ko nga sa kambal: "Yong bahay, ang 'kinakaganda niyan, 'yong mga taong nasa sa loob. No matter how big your house is, kung lagi naman nag-aaway ang pamilya, hindi nag-uusap, walang communication, naglolokohan—it's not really a home.' Dito, kaya siguro sabi nila maganda 'yong feeling—na sinasabi ng mga bisita, e, 'Maaliwalas'—I think siguro 'yon 'yong positive vibe na nakukuha nila. Maniwala ka o hindi, hindi talaga kami nag-aaway ni Carmina."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

Mavy, Carmina, Cassy, and Zoren have been living in their Pasig home for almost three years now, but mainly their guests have been family.

Zoren says, "Family ko lives close here—mga five minutes away—kaya minsan, dito nagla-lunch, dito nagdi-dinner. Family naman ni Carmina, twice a month nandito. 'Yong mga friends niya na taga show-business, hindi pa niya na-invite."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

Here's a view of the receiving area from the main entrance. Carmina says the big front doors are Zoren's personal requirement: "If you can see, our doors, hindi siya normal size. Kasi gusto ni Zoren, pag dala-dala niya 'yong tennis bag niya, kasya. Hindi 'yong nagsa-side siya nang ganyan. So 'yon lang ang request niya—doors. And the stairs. Gusto niya malalapad 'yong steps, kasya 'yong laki niya. Basta gusto niya, spacious."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

Construction on the house, Carmina and Zoren's first, began in 2004 and was completed a year later. This is the receiving area on the ground floor. It owes its contemporary look to Carmina herself, with a little help from Zoren's friend, contractor Jun Buena, who built the house.

"We didn't get an interior designer," Carmina explains. "Mahilig kasi akong magbibili ng magazine, may books about bathroom, dining, sala... Parang, 'O, I want this...' Sa sobrang dami kong gusto, hindi ko na alam kung alin! Which is also why ang tagal matapos, kasi hanggang sa pagpili ng tiles, ako. 'Ano ba 'yong mas maganda?' Kailangan ma-visualize namin. Hindi puwedeng drawing lang. Kailangan ang drawing mo, may color! May ganoong factor."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

An abstract painting by Van Tuico breaks the monotony of the white wails and ceiling. A nude painting by Malang also hangs on the wall dividing the anteroom and this living room. Carmina reveals that she specifically instructed the contractor to build high ceilings to further amplify the "maaliwalas" feel of their home.

"We just wanted it to be parang minimalist," she says of the initial design concept. '"Yong parang personality namin— 'yong simple pero okey, hindi baduy."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

Though the house is still fairly new, it has already experienced its share of renovations. Zoren says this den has undergone two renovations: "You know naman, after a year o after six months nga lang, outdated na 'yong TV mo, e. So, doon sa gumagawa, sinasabi ko na bigyan ako ng customized na panel, where I can re-install the wires. Ang nangyayari kasi, binabaon nila sa wall, so mahirap ulit mag-install. Kaya nag-renovate nang nag-renovate because of that, kasi magpapalit at magpapalit ka ng system. So 'yon ang advice ko sa mga homeowners: make sure na customized 'yong mga plug!"

(YES! May 2008 issue)

Carmina says she originally intended this space on the ground floor to be a Balinese gazebo: "I want that, kasi refreshing, para nakikita mo ang garden. Kaso, si Zoren, 'Honey, puwede bang maging office ko na lang siya?' Diyos ko! Nagtalo pa kami. Sinasabi niya, 'Honey, gusto ko kung mago-office ako, hindi ako aalis ng house.' Kasi nami-miss daw niya kami. Ako naman si okey. Pern sabi ko, 'Baka naman mamaya, kung sino-sinong mama ang pumapasok diyan.' Na-realize niya one day, no'ng nakatayo na, 'Honey, you're right.' Sabi ko, 'I'm always right!' So, ngayon, hindi na namin alam ang gagawin doon."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

This six-seater dining table is more than enough for a family of four. Carmina says it is at this table that she usually entertains guests: "Ever since, angdining table talaga ang kuwentuhan. It's not the den or the sala. Dinadaanan mo lang 'yon, e. Pero 'yong kuwentuhan with your family or friends, dining talaga."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

The dining room provides an invigorating view of the garden. Carmina says they are lucky with the location of their house: "If you open all the doors, ang suwerte, kasi ang katabi namin may pool, so hindi nahaharangan 'yong hangin. Sa likod, empty lot. Sa tapat, wala ring bahay. So umiikot 'yong hangin. Ang sarap tumambay."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

Carmina got the inspiration for this kitchen design—a combination of blue cabinets, black-granite countertops, and industrial-looking appliances—from a book she bought, The New Kitchen Planner. "Di ba gaya-gaya?" she giggles. '"Yon na 'yon."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

The look of this powder room is also straight out of a book, Carmina says: "Sabi ko sa contractor, 'I want this powder room. I want this eksakto. Super eksakto! Kopyahin mo na!' Pagtingin ko, eksakto nga!"

(YES! May 2008 issue)

Zoren and Carmina are the perfect embodiment of the truism that opposites attract, with his laid-back personality balancing out her chirpiness.

Controlling his laughter, he jests: "Sabi ko nga, Bibili ako ng parrot at 'yon ang kausapin mo, ha?' Dahil nonstop 'yan! Tatatatatatat... Kaya tawag ko diyan 'Parrot' na, e. Kasi, di ba, ang parrot pag nagsasalita, ang kulit? Ganoon siya... Sa kaka-tatatatatatatat niya every day, naka-adjust na tenga ko."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

Zoren—seen here tinkering with his new Mac Pro computer—has co-directed GMA-7's series Fantastikids and Atlantika, and has directed the network's Fantastic Man. He says being a techie helps: "I edit my own film. Mahilig din kasi ako sa computers, kaya hindi mahirap sa akin."

He knows how to work with CGI, or computer-generated imagery, which is used for film animation: "Hindi ko 'yan pinag-aaralan just to be ahead of the game. Talagang interested ako. Bago ako mag-direct, napag-aralan ko na 'yan, e, dahil nga as a hobby, gusto ko siya."

A work space in the master's bedroom was not part of Zoren's original plan. It was a room on the ground floor (which Carmina had wanted to be a gazebo) that was originally intended to be an
editing room. But he says he had to change his plan because of Carmina's sleeping habits: "Sa gabi 'yan, pag matutulog na, hahanapin ako. Kailangang matulog na rin ako sa taas, kasama niya, dahil natatakot. So ang ginawa ko, dito na lang sa taas para nababantayan ko siya, nababantayan ko itong kambal. 'Tapos, hindi na rin sayang sa electricity, kasi naka-aircon na rin ako, instead na pag doon ako sa baba, naka-separate pa 'yong aircon. Doble ang bay ad."

The couple's seven-year-old twins, Cassy and Mavy, still sleep in the master's bedroom with their parents. Mavy says this is his favorite room in the entire house "because there's a big TV and you can watch half-screen." The TV set, of course, is another one of Zoren's prized gadgets. It's a 60-inch plasma TV.

(YES! May 2008 issue)

The spacious hallway on the second floor displays framed pictures from the famil endorsement and magazine pr shoots. The series of photos o Carmina and Zoren at the far end of the hallway are from the pictorial for YES! Magazine's 2002 issue. The door beside th YES! photos leads to the twins adjoining rooms.

(YES! May 2008 issue)

The master bath is finally finished after almost a year of renovation work (from May 2007 to March 2008). Carmina, who describes her bathroom as her sanctuary, says, "Iniba 'yong tiles, 'tapos iniba 'yong cabinet... Nako, iniba lahat! 'Tapos, instead of bathtub, ginawa na namin siyang Jacuzzi. Dati walang aircon, 'tapos ngayon may aircon na." The bubbly host admits she does most of her emailing and Internet surfing on her laptop inside this bathroom. In a separate interview, Zoren playfully asks Mavy: "How long does Mommy take in the bathroom?" Mavy answers simply: "Five hours."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

Carmina's colognes and perfumes—which include her favorite scents by Jo Malone, Philosophy, and Mont Blanc—occupy the bath's dresser. In his usual laid-back manner, Zoren says about his own "preferred" scent: "Kung ano lang madampot ko diyan, maski amoy babae ako, okey lang."Jle red chair by the dresser serves as an accent for the mostly cream-and-black motif of the room.

(YES! May 2008 issue)

The only bathroom left from the original design is the his-and-hers sink. The couple also chose to install this Jacuzzi. Carmina rationalizes: "Feeling ko, pag nagba-bathtub ka, parang useless. Walang..." And she makes a gurgling sound.

(YES! May 2008 issue)

Neatly arranged on the floor are Carmina's collection of bags, including such brands as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, and Dooney & Bourke. "May mga bags ako diyan na nabili noong dalaga pa ako, e,"says Carmina. "Si Zoren, mahilig din sa bag, by the way. Kung ako mahilig sa bag, siya 'yong boy version ko."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

The attic has been turned into one big closet-the left side is Carmina's, and the right side is Zoren's. Carmina says they usually pick their clothes ahead of time to avoid going up and down the stairs.

"Hindi ka muna maliligo, kunin mo muna 'yong damit mo, 'tapos baba ka. In the future, parang gusto ko ngang baguhin. 'Yon bang para kang nasa store. So gusto ko, parang may couch, 'tapos naka-aircon, 'tapos tambay ka lang. Gusto ko, ganoon 'yong dating niya."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

The attic also stores a near-imeldific collection of footwear. These are just Carmina's shoes. She says she loves shopping for them, and goes for such local and foreign brands as Jannylin, Jessica Simpson, Steve Madden, XOXO, BCBG, Nine West, DKNY, Guess, and Tods. "May Hang pairs din na okey na J. Lo. 'Yong sa Guess, okey din."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

Cassy's room is filled with her favorite toys, including Disney Princesses and Bratz dolls. She says she usually plays the computer program "Class of 3000" with her brother on her mom's laptop. That program allows kids to create their own music. "Pag walang tao, maingay si Cassy," Zoren says. "Pag may tao, nahihiya na siya. Dati, parang worried ako, pero ngayon, parang mas okey na 'yong mahiyain 'yong babae kaysa naman..." He laughs and leaves the sentence hanging.

(YES! May 2008 issue)

This bathroom—Cassy's bathroom—was Carmina's temporary "hangout" while her own bathroom was being renovated. Carmina admits that all the changes that were made in their house, particularly in the master bath, could have been prevented, '"Yon kasi 'yong sinasabi ko na pag magpapatayo ng bahay, kailangan talaga super hands-on ka. 'Yong kailangan, before you choose something, dapat 'yong talagang sure ka na talaga."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

Mavy—seen here playing on his computer—and his twin sister Cassy are in Grade 1 at the Brightsparks International School in Libis, Quezon City. The two are excellent students, with Mavy having an average grade of 93 and Cassy, a slightly higher average grade of 94.

"Si Maverick talaga 'yong parang presidente sa school," proud dad Zoren reveals. "Kasi lahat, parang inaako niya 'yong obligasyon sa class nila. Magka-classmate 'yang dalawa, e."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

This pocket garden is the latest completed addition-cum-renovation made in the house a week before the photo shoot. Carmina says the wooden planks have undergone several paint jobs and treatments to achieve this look.

"Sabi ni Zoren, 'Honey, mas maganda kung may table tayo dito para ganyan-ganyan, kasi ang sarap ng hangin, e. Parang dito 'yong pinaka-best hangin.' Sabi ko, 'Honey, sige, bahala ka na diyan.' So toka na lang ni Zoren 'yon, up to sa painting and pag-color."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

Zoren lets YES! in on a little secret, which Carmina, at press time, hasn't found out yet. He intends to set up an outdoor home theater in the garden. "I'm planning to have a TV out here. Dito mismo sa wall na 'yan. Baka ilipat ko na 'yong Plasma TV dito. Parang pag may pinindot ka, bababa siya [from a casing on the wall]... Kasi 'yong family ni Mina, especially the dad, they love staying sa spot na ito. So gusto ko, somehow, mayroon silang libangan."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

YES! shows Carmina the shots of the house. The shots prompt her to call out to Zoren: "Honey, tignan mo! Ang ganda! Parang ang yaman-yaman natin! Parang nasa resort tayo!"

(YES! May 2008 issue)

The front gate is made of wood. "Ang gusto talaga namin, wood," Carmina says. "By the way, 'yan din ay ilang beses nang ni-repaint, vinarnish, kinaskas, ginanito, ginanyan. After a while, nag-fade siya. Mukhang naaagnas! 'Oh, my gosh! Ayoko ng ganyan! Tanggalin ninyo 'yan, tanggalin ang paint, tanggalin ang varnish! Gusto ko, kung ano na 'yong wood, kung ano na talaga ang kulay ng wood.' So, ganyan na siya."

(YES! May 2008 issue)

The garages and parking spaces for the family cars—an X-trail, a Ford Escape, a Ford E-150 van, and the newly bought Mercedes-Benz B-170 —are large, just the way Zoren wanted. "Gusto niya, parang quadrant," Carmina says. "Ayaw niya na pag magkatabi 'yong kotse, super sisiksik siya. Ayaw niya, kasi nga malaki siya. I call him dinosaur. He's a dinosaur!"

(YES! May 2008 issue)

Cassy is a charmer, and the first to fall for her charms are Mommy and Tatay. Maybe especially Tatay?

"Wala akong paborito sa twins," Zoren smiles. "Pero sabi nila 'yong babae raw." He points out one difference between the two. While Mavy takes after Mommy's need to clean up, Cassy inherited his carefree clutter.

"Mas worse siya sa akin!" he laughs. "Kaya ngayon tini-train ko. Sabi ko, 'Babae ka. You have to be neat. Kailangan, ganito-ganyan 'yon.'"

(YES! May 2008 issue)

"Maraming nagsasabi na masuwerte kami kasi ang ku-cute nila," says Zoren about the twins. "Hindi, e," Carmina finishes up. "Masuwerte kami dahil mabait sila. Si Cassy, parang pusa, touchy. Si Mavy, mas siya 'yong vocal. Pag uuwi ako galing work or nakita niyang I'm tired, sasabihin ni Mavy, 'You want, Mom, I'll feed you? You want, Mom, I'll massage your hand?'

Mamasahiin niya 'yong kamay ko Mamasahiin niya 'yong paa ko. Basta makita niyang pagod ako."

(YES! May 2008 issue)