A slimmer and "richer" Tintin Bersola-Babao faced the press earlier, September 1, to launch her latest partner in caring for daughter Antonia and son Antonio: Smart Steps, a baby care line.
While signing the contract, she joked, "Tinatakpan ko yung amount, baka makita ni Julius," referring to her husband, who also made time for the event held at the 55 Events Place in Quezon City.
But the Bandila frontman, she said, doesn't really care much about her income.
"He's a good provider. Halos lahat sa bahay, siya ang bahala. Ang laki naman ng suweldo kasi. One of the top anchors talaga," she related, before whispering, "Hindi level ni Noli [de Castro], ha."
And how about her salary?
"Solo ko!" she quipped with a laugh, then turning a bit serious, "Suweldo of PA [personal assistant], si Katkat, akong nagpapa-suweldo...Yung sinusuweldo ko, nagagamit ko iyan para tulungan yung mama ko na may sakit, yung medicines niya, yung kapatid ko, kasi, ako pa rin yung nagpo-provide, 'tapos yung nag-aalaga sa mommy ko."
Throughout their eight years of marriage, it has been their unspoken rule not fight about money.
"Magkasundo kami sa lahat ng bagay...He's my soul mate," she said.
"WALANG KA-CONFLICT-CONFLICT." When pressed to cite instances where they had an LQ (Lovers' Quarrel), she paused for a few seconds, then just shook her head.
"Ano bang puwede naming pag-awayan...Hindi ko matandaan. Alam mo naman, kami ni Julius, walang ka-conflict-conflict," she said.
The key, according to her, is not to make an issue out of nothing.
Tintin continued, "Kung hindi mag-text, alam ko busy siya. Hindi siya makasagot, tawag ako nang tawag, 'A, busy lang 'to.'
"Kasi wala akong reason para ma-praning, ma-jealous o something..."
Julius, she said, is dedicated to his family, his job, and DVDs. To prove this, she enumerated the activities that make up her husband's typical day.
"After DZMM, uuwi to be with the kids. Aalis, manood kaming sine, dinner, magba-Bandila siya. After that, uuwi na ng bahay, manonood na ng DVD."
The next tip has something to do with choosing Mr. Right.
Without sounding too self-righteous, she deduced that being good may be the reason for their good karma.
"Mabait kasi talaga siyang tao. Ako rin, mabait ako. Pareho kaming madaling makisama. Hindi materyoso, ganyan. Honest kami, wala kaming itinatago. Wala kaming bisyo. Manood lang kami ng sine, kumain lang, masaya na kami. Hindi siya nambababae, wala, e."
The 40-year-old host also underscored the importance of finding contentment in simple things. She cited "travel" as their most luxurious activity, but watching a movie while "magka-holding hands" also makes them happy.
To elaborate, "Hindi naman ako yung mapaghanap o mataas masyado yung standards. Madali ako ma-please.
"Hindi ako [madaling] ma-bore na tao. At saka pag ikaw, sa sarili mo, fulfilled ka, there's no reason para ma-bore ka. Naiinip ka lang pag ano, pag wala kang ginagawa."
"ANG KINAKATAKUTAN..." But just like ordinary couples, she also has her fears, and on top of her list is her husband and kids' safety.
Tintin revealed, "Since my life is seemingly perfect, almost perfect, walang problema. Ang kinakatakutan ko talaga [ay] yung one day, may mangyari, may madisgrasya.
"Kaya lagi ang prayer ko, ganito, 'Lord, please protect my family from intrigues, from scandals, temptation, from accident, from illnesses—whether lingering or not—sudden death."
The latter, she stressed, "Yun talaga ang kinakatakutan ko."
Given the nature of Julius's job, "Lagi akong hindi mapakali hangga't di siya nakakauwi. Every night 'yan, hanggang narinig ko na yung pinto, nakapasok na, manonood pa siyang DVD, dun lang ako makakahinga, kasi alam ko na nasa bahay na siya."
If she'll have her way, she wants her husband to hire bodyguards, but, "sabi niya kasi, basta wala kang ginagawa, trabaho lang, you should not fear."
And so, she entrusts everything to God.
"Kaya lagi kong pine-pray, pahabain niyo po yung buhay ng mga anak ko, saka ni Julius. Na huwag niyo pong hayaan na me mangyari sa kanila," she told the press.
Still finding it hard to believe that such unruffled marriage exists, we asked again, "Wala talagang away?"
Showing her lovely smile, "Wala, promise. Parang unbelievable, ang dami-daming couples, may naghihiwalay, may nag-aaway. Kami, hindi talaga, bihira."