Carmina on surviving & thriving

MANILA, Philippines - Even with the growing number of things she does outside the home, Carmina Villarroel says that she remains a very hands-on homemaker.

“Yes, even if I am a working mom,” Carmina tells The STAR. “If, for example, I’ll be coming home really late, I would call them up and ask how’s school, have they done their homework, do they need anything, have they eaten, do they still have something to eat... I’m always communicating with them. Communication is the most important thing so I’ll know what’s going on in my house, with my kids and Zoren. So mawala nalang lahat, wa’g lang cellphone.”

The mother of nine-year-old twins Mavey and Cassy with Zoren Legaspi adds, “You just have to be open with your kids. For example, if I’m starting a soap, I tell them, I’ll be busy again and this is for three to four months. By this time, they now understand our work. They know, more or less, that our work is not the usual nine-to-five job. You just have to expose them to your line of work, and they’ll understand. Of course, they’ll say, what? Or what time are you coming home? And ikaw naman, awww... like nila akong makasama.”

Sundays are sacred, wherein she also gets to serve her family dishes she has learned after taking up some culinary lessons recently. Her taste-testers, she says, are quick to point out if there’s something lacking in taste or if it’s already “perfect.” “Me naman, I’m always just trying to improve,” she says.

Carmina and her twins are endorsing the new Del Monte Tomato and Spaghetti Sauce with the nutritional benefits of MMK (Malunggay, Munggo, Kalabasa) in addition to the product being already a good source of Lycopene, which reduces cancer risk. 

Asked if she’s allowing her kids to give the world of their parents a try, she says, “Endorsements lang. They have to finish school first.”

The 36-year-old Carmina, who started her showbiz career in her teens, is grateful that the endorsement offers like Del Monte and projects (she maintains two shows Pahiram ng isang Ina and Day-Off  on the Kapuso network) keep coming, proof that her career is still very much thriving. “I’ve never imagined that after giving birth, my career will still continue. I thought wala na, my career will stop. But you know, I’m just so lucky and blessed that people have accepted me. Perhaps, they’ve seen my love for my craft. Ito lang ang alam kong gawin. Perhaps they’ve seen how much I love it that’s why I’m still here.”

She’s equally happy for Zoren’s co-hosting job with his ex-flame Ruffa Gutierrez on TV5’s Paparazzi, although Carmina admits that she has told Zoren to keep his tongue in check.

“Yes, napapagsabihan ko siya,” she laughs. “Si Zoren kasi is so transparent and very candid. So para sa kanya, kung ano yung nasa puso niya, sinasabi nya talaga, na wala namang malice. But of course, not everybody will understand that. So I tell him, ‘Honey, you just have to be careful and cautious.’ I just don’t want people getting angry at him.”

“But they (Ruffa and Zoren) are fun to watch. It’s so nice because not all ex-couples become friends. Ruffa is also very careful, respectful and she even texts me,” she adds.

Aren’t she and Zoren going to tie the knot soon, or have they married already? After all, it didn’t escape the watchful eye of the press: Her sporting of two rings — one looking like an engagement ring and the other, a wedding band. “Di talaga na napag-usapan. Okay na kami ganito, kung dadating, dadating na rin. Pero naniniwala naman ako sa kasal,” she says.

The stalling or non-action on the matter has nothing to do with any legal impediment because there isn’t one, or with religious beliefs, or even with her past with ex-husband Rustom Padilla (who’s now called Bebe Gandanghari).

“Yes, I’ve moved on. Matagal na,” says Carmina of the failed marriage with nary a hint of bitterness. “We haven’t seen each other. Feeling ko lang, yung pagkikita namin mangyayari lang kasi maliit lang naman ang mundo natin. How will I react if we meet? Hindi ko kasi alam. Hindi ko kasi siya iniisip. Feeling ko tatawa lang ako, knowing me.”

Asked on her reaction at the time Rustom out-ed himself in a reality show a few years back, she says, “Of course, na surprised ako, but not hurt to the point na away-awayin ko siya. Magaling lang kasi ang Diyos that when it happened, I was super, super okay already, contented with my life, and contrary sa iniisip ng mga tao na guguho yung mundo ko and that I’ll be very hurt. Basta sa akin, whatever changes he’s done at wala naman siyang sinasagasaan naman na tao... if it’s going to make him happy, then go. The happiness and peace that I enjoy now with my family, I wish that for him also.”

To be able to find peace and even humor at what happened in the past — despite the hard blows it delivered — is a long process. Carmina shares some advice on surviving the pains of separation caused by whatever reason. 

“Mahirap kasi. It’s a long and not an easy process. Whatever the reason is, you really have to accept. There’s no other way to go, but to accept it. You can grieve, you can cry and cry, but you have to give yourself a deadline, like six months. Then after that, you have to move on. That’s always my advice. Kasi walang mangyayari sa ‘yo. Even if you have a support group like family or friends and professional help, you have to help yourself. That’s what I did. Of course, dinibdib ko siya. I analyzed it. But I moved on. Walang easy way, just bring yourself to move on from it and pray.”