For Sunshine Garcia, time flies so quickly.
She can hardly believe that Baby Axel, her son with husband Alex Castro, will be turning one year old next month.
This is why she savors every single moment she has with her bundle of joy, and welcomes all the changes in her life since she gave birth.
Sunshine talks about her new life as a working mom in an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press on Tuesday, August 13, at the Johnson's Choose Event in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.
The adjustment is not too mind-blowing for the Kapamilya talent, except that a big chunk of her time is now allotted for Baby Axel.
"Sa akin, nagwo-work ako, sanay ako magtrabaho 'tapos in one click, sa bahay ka lang, kailangan ito ang gagawin mo, magpapa-breastfeed ka, kailangan mo ayusin gamit niya."
The most challenging part so far is the lack of sleep.
She says candidly, "Walang tulog, as in literal na wala akong tulog. Umikot talaga yung mundo ko, hindi siya ganun kadali. Minsan, dumarating yung time na parang pagod ka na, pagod yung utak mo, wala kang matinong tulog, minsan bibigay, e."
But the most drastic change is on her spending habits.
She explains, "Dati puro sa sarili mo, bili ka nito, bili ka pants, bili ka ng pabango or ng damit, kailangan sa taping, kain sa ganito.
"Ngayon, [sa isip mo], ‘Wala siyang pantulog, yun ang bibilhin ko,’ or ‘wala siyang diaper,’ ‘wala siyang gatas.’ Lahat sa kanya na so yung budget mo para sa sarili mo, nawawala na yun, napupunta na sa kanya."
But Sunshine wholeheatedly embraces the shift in her priorities. The most important thing now is her son grows up happy and healthy.
The former Sexbomb member says, "Pero pag titignan mo nga siya, iisipin mo na ang tagal mo dinasal ito, e, ang tagal mong dinasal yung ganitong sitwasyon so kailangan enjoyin mo yung sitwasyon na iyun."
SUNSHINE GARCIA, THE COOL MOM
This early, Sunshine already sees herself as the kind of mom who is both cool and strict to Baby Axel and her 14-year-old stepson Ashton.
The Banana Sundae star elaborates, "Sa akin kasi, meron akong pagka-strict nang konti pero siyempre gusto ko din maging cool mom sa kanila...Pero siyempre, hindi naman ako magiging perfect.
"Darating yung time na puwede akong magalit… pero sisiguraduhin ko na parang yung ginagawa ng mga magulang natin, na kung sakaling magalit ako, kailangan niyang malaman kung ano yung pagkakamali niya.
"At kailangan ipa-intindi ko yun sa kanya."
Being God-fearing and respectful to everyone around them are two important values that Sunshine wishes to instill in her children.
"Siguro siyempre, unang-una run yung respeto ‘di ba? Kung paano siya magiging magalang sa ibang tao. Saka siguro, gusto ko siyang lumaki na kahit papaano, alam niyang may Diyos, alam niyang nandiyan si God.
"Hindi kasi ako yung talagang taong sobrang every Sunday nasa church, pero gusto ko lumaki siya na may takot sa Diyos, para alam niya kung ano yung bawal, yung puwede at hindi puwede, yung mga tamang values sa paglaki."
SUNSHINE GARCIA ON BEING THE DISCPLINARIAN
When it comes to disciplining the kids, Sunshine is making a conscious effort to limit the kids' time for gadgets. She and her husband are on the same page when it comes to this rule.
"Marami akong pinagbabawal na ngayon pa lang, sinasabi ko sa husband ko, 'O pagdating niyan ng mga three years old, four years old, or five, ayoko siyang humahawak ng mga gadgets,' or 'Hindi natin siya palalakihin na cell phone ang hawak niya.'
"Kasi yung mga bata ngayon, parang buhay na nila yung computer, e, yung iPad. Ayoko ng ganun."
Sunshine says she is already applying this rule to her teenage stepson, Ashton.
The Kapamilya star notes that this household rule is something she learned from her parents, and she wants to pass it on to her kids to make them enjoy their childhood traditionally, and prevent gadget addiction.
She tells PEP.ph, "Siguro ang kukunin ko [from my parents], si Alex kasi, meron nang anak na magfo-14 ngayon. Ngayong mag-asawa na kami, siyempre sa amin na lalaki.
"May mga times lang na kino-control ko yung paggamit niya ng gadgets, yun talaga. Ayoko kasing matulad siya sa ibang bata na ang hirap nilang baklasin sa gadgets.
"So, minsan napapagalitan ko siya, kinakausap ko siya. Pero hinahayaan ko muna na maisip niya yung pagkakamali niya then kinakausap ko kasi yun yung style ng mama ko, e."
One thing she will not do as a parent is to hit her kids as a form of punishment. Instead, Sunshine plans to sit down with them and make them realize the wrong thing they have done.
Sunshine explains, "Dati pinapalo kami ng sinturon or hanger, pero siyempre, hindi mo na gagawin yun. Ang inaano ko ngayon, once na pagalitan ko sila, kailangan ko sila kausapin, kailangan ko ipaintindi sa kanila yung mali nila.
"Para lumaki man sila, hindi yung, ‘Ganito yung ginagawa mo sa akin dati…’ Ganun."
BABY AXEL'S FIRST BIRTHDAY
Meanwhile, Sunshine and Alex are currently busy preparing for their son's first birthday and baptism.
She tells the press, "Isasabay na kasi namin yung binyag niya at saka birthday.
"Magkakaroon siya ng hindi naman sobrang bonggang kagaya ng sa iba, pero ise-celebrate namin, siyempre."
The Kapamilya actress and Alex welcomed Baby Axel on the morning of September 10, 2018. He was delivered via emergency Caesarean section at St. Luke's Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City.
On the same day, Sunshine uploaded Baby Axel's first photo on Instagram, and wrote, "Our baby boy. [smiley] We love you anak @bmalexcastro"
Baby Axel came two days before Sunshine's due date on September 12, 2018.
On March 2, 2019, Sunshine and Axel finally tied the knot in a church wedding held at the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila.