Diana: Three is enough

It was postpartum depression but Diana Zubiri didn’t know it. It happened after she gave birth last Sept. 14 to her and husband Andrew “Andy” Smith’s second child (actually their third child since Andy treats as his own Joaquin, Diana’s 11-year-old son by her deceased beloved). The second child is Alijah, four years old; and the third is named Amira Rose.

“There was no problem with the delivery,” recalled Diana who took a swab test days before she was brought to the hospital. “The only difference was that, for the first two andoon ‘yung asawa ko. Luckily, the third one was lighter and easier but I was worried because of the COVID situation. Tatlong push and the baby came out na. Parang minadali, parang nagmadali. Hindi ako nahirapan. It was that fast because I didn’t want to stay long in the hospital.”

It happened a few days later.

“After a 10-day quarantine,” she recalled, “iba ‘yung dating ko. I was feeling low, pakiramdam ko kawawa naman ako. I was sad and easily affected by the situation. I was experiencing self-pity. I didn’t know if it was postpartum depression. I just waited it to end...and it did after several days. Tinanggap ko lang ‘yung situwasyon; I thought it was a normal feeling after you gave birth. Masyado kang sensitive, you have just given birth so ‘yung pagod, ‘yung puyat, the pain, you really feel burned out. Dinala ko na lang sa iyak.”

No cultural differences between Diana Zubiri and her husband, Andrew ‘Andy’ Smith (with their children Joaquin, Alijah and Amira Rose). ‘Andy’s mom is Filipina and his dad is Australian,’ says Diana. ‘I think she's happy that her son also married a Filipina.’

Are you stopping at three or do you plan to have more kids?

“Stop na, especially with this situation. That was really my plan, stop at three. Ang hirap, di ba? Kung magdagdagan pa ulit, hindi ideal.”

What is the significance of the third baby’s name?

“Amira Jade Smith. Amira means princess and then I added Jade because I want her name to have a letter J.”

Amira Rose

What about your and Andy’s parenting style, the same o magkaiba?

“Andy told me that I am now more paranoid (praning), maybe because of what I learned during my first two pregnancies. I don’t want to hear my baby crying, kinakarga ko kaagad siya. And about breastfeeding with Alijah I stopped after 18 months. Now, I want to do it much longer since I’m not working. I will also train her to sleep early. ’Yung unang dalawa, sinasabayan kami ni Andy sa pagpupuyat. Sa teeth, si Aliyah, naubos `yung teeth niya kasi sobrang acidic niya pala. So ayun. Tingin ko pinaka-importante doon ‘yung teeth. Kawawa naman. Ang ganda-ganda tapos walang teeth sa taas.”

How is Andy with your family and vice versa? (They met on a blind date and were married in May 2015 at a garden wedding at the Sampaguita Events Place in Quezon City.)

“We are all very close. They don’t have many relatives, just like my family. ‘Pag nagsama-sana kami, konti pa rin. Hindi pa rin siya ganoon kalaki. His mom is Filipina and his dad is Australian. Half of his family speaks Tagalog, but the other half doesn’t. I think Andy’s mom is happy that he married a Filipina, same with his dad. Tingin ko ha, tingin ko lang naman. Hindi ko ‘yon narinig from her pero I think and I hope she’s happy.”

OK siya sa showbiz career mo, pero wala bang bawal?

“Yes, okay naman. Pero for now, we are discussing whether tatanggap kami ng work o hindi because of the pandemic. It’s hard because dalawa ‘yung maliit naming anak. For now, we’re okay naman. Tipid-tipid na lang.”

Behind Diana is the crib given to her by Aprica which hosted the gender-reveal party

Kamusta pala business mo at business ni Andy?

“I have two businesses and Andy has two businesses, two restaurants. One is closed and the one na open, practically no customers. Mahina. I have two stores, isang soap store. I opened them for imbentor at para nakasahod din ang mga tao ko. May expiration dates ‘yung mga items baka masira so I am selling them ng mura baka masira.

“Andy and I have livestreaming and it’s doing okay. Before pa kasi mag-lockdown, nag-la-livestream na ako. Nag-expand lang kami ng konti. I opened an agency. Mas marami kaming ginagawa. Mas hands-on kami doon. Mahirap din pero kaya naman. My dormitory business is also okay. But those who are renting are in their provinces. Doon sila inabutan ng lockdown.”

Has Andy adjusted to the Filipino lifestyle?

“He has been here for almost 14 years and he’s learning how to speak Tagalog. But he hasn’t gotten used to our belief in pamahiin (superstitions), like bawal matulog ‘pag basa ang buhok or else lalabo ang paningin. He has heard about those superstitions from his mom but he just shrugs them off. We just make a joke about them, pero kami ng mom niya magkakampi. I would say, ‘Ako, Tita, I believe in them. Tama yan.’ Ganyan. Gatong. Cute lang.”

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