“I admire her for being a strong woman, a strong wife,” was how actor Jason Francisco described his wife, actress and host, Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, as they attended the Preview Ball together.
Melai graciously praised her husband in return, saying, “Very responsible…Grabe talaga siya mag-care sa aming family.”
With their trademark humor and warmth, the couple further gave us a little peek into their lives as parents of two daughters and as partners navigating a marriage they humorously described as a “rollercoaster.”
Finding time for each other
The couple, known for their down-to-earth personalities, shared how they squeeze in time together despite their busy schedules. Melai explained, “We squeeze in with our schedule… Hindi naman pwede mag-adjust ang trabaho sa amin. So kami ang nag-aadjust talaga sa lahat. Minsan, nagkakaroon kami ng date night sa loob na ng bahay.”
Jason admitted that their date nights sometimes include their kids, saying, “Matagal na yung kaming dalawa, hindi pa nangyayari ulit. So ang date night namin, kasama talaga yung anak namin.” Something many parents would certainly relate to.
Melai lightheartedly added that their favorite form of bonding involves simply talking to each other, “Pinaka-favorite date night namin is talking to each other.”
Family bonding moments
Aside from their dates, the couple also shared their family’s favorite bonding activities, which Melai said is: “Ang favorite nila talaga is magkilitian kami sa kama… Alam mo yun, maglaro-laro kami, kaming apat. Kapag kaming apat talaga, sobrang saya nila.”
“Tapos magtawanan kami. Minsan kasi pinagtatawanan nila akong tatlo, ako pinagtatawanan nila. Minsan lang pinagtatawanan namin si Mela,” Melai added.
“Siguro movie time,” Jason added, saying that it brings the entire family together.
Advice for fellow parents
When asked for tips on parenting multiple children, Jason shared a valuable insight: “Don’t ignore them.” He stressed the importance of acknowledging children when they seek attention, even when parents are busy. “Pag may mga gusto nila magpapansin, pansinin niyo. Kasi minsan, nababale-wala natin yung pagpapansin nila. So, bigyan pa rin ng time kahit busy. So kapag nagpapapansin, approach mo yung pagpapansin nila. Dahil baka very important sa kanila yan.”
Melai, chiming in with her own reflections, wholeheartedly agreed. “Totoo yun…Kasi minsan tayong mga magulang, pag nasa cellphone na tayo, mama, mama, mama…Makes sense yun, everyday kahit magpapansin sila, bigyan mo lang kahit five, kahit one minute lang or thirty seconds… Don’t ignore them.”
Moreover, Melai and Jason also had valuable advice for other parents, particularly about staying calm amidst the pressures of raising children. Melai emphasized, “Keep calm, keep it simple… We have our very own authentic style and very own family, so be happy with your family.”
Jason, meanwhile, reminded parents to understand their children’s emotional needs, “Kailangan yung i-understand yung mga pangangailangan… mentally, ng mga anak mo.”
Watch Melai and Jason’s full interview:
Read here for life lessons from a mom with 10 kids.
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