For the first time, real-life celebrity couple Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi open their home to public viewing through the May issue of YES! magazine.
In a 22-page celebrity home feature, Carmina and Zoren show their Pasig house and relate stories that make their home warm for every visitor.
Zoren tells YES! that almost everyone who visits their house describes it as "maaliwalas." The Kamandag actor believes it's not only because of the structure of the house or how the furniture was arranged. Their home radiates positive vibrations.
"Sa tingin ko it's not the house. Pakiramdam ko 'yong energy na pagpasok nila sa house, 'yong energy na naba-vibe nila inside the house—iyon 'yon.
"Sinasabi ko nga sa kambal [Cassandra and Maverick], ‘Ang 'kinakaganda niyan, 'yong mga taong nakatira 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 makukuha nila. Maniwala kayo o hindi, hindi talaga kami nag-aaway ni Carmina."
GIVE AND TAKE. One important thing that Zoren and Carmina share with YES! is their secret to a stronger relationship. As Zoren says, he and Carmina never had a big argument in all their years of being together.
Zoren briefly explains, "Walang reason para mag-away kayo. Kung mag-aaway kayo, meron kasi kayong pag-aawayan. Hindi nangyayari sa akin 'yon.
"Kaya siguro this relationship is working because of 'yong harmony. Walang nagte-take advantage. Give and take lang. 'Tsaka, 'yon nga, swak kasi kami."
For example, Zoren tells YES!, "Ako kasi, madali akong mag-adapt sa situation. Kunyari sa banyo—two hours 'yan [si Carmina] sa banyo, e! Nagko-computer siya doon! Sabi niya doon daw siya nakaka-relax."
To deal with this situation, Zoren says, "Gumagawa ako ng solusyon. 'Yong mga gamit ko nasa banyo na ni Mavy, para pag andoon na siya [Carmina] sa banyo namin, doon na ako maliligo sa kuwarto ni Mavy."
Carmina attests to Zoren's considerate ways and even temper. "Bihira magalit 'yan. Pag nagkakaganoon na 'yan, hindi na nagsasalita, natatakot na talaga ako. Pero hangga't nagsasalita pa siya, hindi pa siya galit."
The TV host-actress added, "Wala akong problema sa kanya [Zoren]."
GUIDING MAVY AND CASSY. In the cover story of YES! Carmina and Zoren also talk about how they try to raise their kids like normal children and not as products of celebrities.
In fact, unlike other celebrity parents, Zoren says that as much as possible he does not want Mavy and Cassy to enter showbiz.
"Nililihis namin sila doon, e, pero hindi maiiwasan. There was a time na talagang busy si Carmina, walang time sa kids, so ako naman, pag wala na siyang time, dinadala ko 'yong kids sa kanya para makita niya, para magkaroon sila ng bonding. As much as possible ayokong dinadala sa set 'yong twins. Kasi ayoko 'yong masanay sila. Kasi kapag nasanay 'yan, hahanapin talaga nila 'yon, e."
There used to be an offer for a TV show for the twins, but Carmina and Zoren firmly said that the twins are only allowed to do commercials.
Carmina explains, "Ayoko, kasi baka rin biglang pumunta sa ulo nila, ‘Ay, artista kami!' Okey lang 'yong commercials, kasi kasama kami, 'tsaka one day, two days lang. Sa ngayon, kahit nakikita nila 'yong sarili nila sa TV or sasabihin sa kanila na, ‘Oh! I saw you on TV!' or ‘Oh! I saw you in that Colgate commercial!,' hindi pa nagsi-sink-in na mga modelo sila or whatever."
Sometimes Carmina and Zoren ask the twins if they want to accept an offer to do a commercial. When the kids said yes, the proud parents take the shooting days as their family's bonding time.
"At the same time, it's our bonding time also. Kasi nga, one-day, two-day shoot, may bonding kaming apat. Kasi, laging kasama si Zoren sa shoot. He has to be there talaga," said Carmina.
If the twins choose to become actors someday, like Mavy who expressed interest when asked by YES!, the rule would be: School always comes first.
"Basta may compromise kami," says Carmina, "kung gusto mo mag-artista ka, mag-artista ka, pero kailangan tapusin mo 'yong pag-aaral mo."
Learn more about this happy family as Carmina and Zoren welcome you to their home in YES! magazine's May issue.