Mylene Dizon On Having A Blended Family With Jason Webb

Fact-Checked by Ronna Capili Bonifacio

Ang article na ito ay unang naipublish noong Disyembre 12, 2022. Nadagdagan ito ng updates noong Hunyo 29, 2024.

Mylene Dizon, 48, has known her current partner Jason Webb since they were students at the De La Salle University. She was then a showbiz newbie and he, a varsity basketball player.

Over the years, Mylene became an award-winning and sought-after actress while Jason continued his winning streak at the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), first as a player and, later on, as a coach.

She also became a mom to two boys with her now-ex boyfriend and colleague Paolo Paraiso. He, on the other hand, got married to model Claudine Trillo and had two daughters before calling it quits.

Mylene Dizon, Jason Webb's blended family

By some twist of fate, Mylene and Jason got together in 2013. Nine years later, they remain strong as a couple today.

"It's my longest relationship," Mylene said at the media conference for her new movie, Family Matters, an entry to the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). The annual movie tradition opens on December 25, Christmas Day.

She went on sharing what she's learned so far in her current relationship: "You cannot choose what’s going to happen. Si Jason, matagal ko nang kilala ’yun, e. College pa lang, pero kami pala ’yung magkakasama. So hindi mo s’ya masasabi na he’s the one or I’m the one."

She added, "Sometimes ang timing din sa buhay. I’m more mature now, he’s more mature now. More responsible. We’ve already shaken off things that are not necessary."

Needless to say, maturity is a big factor in making their blended family work. As Mylene put it in her interview with Smart Parenting at the event, there is respect in how she chooses to raise her sons Tomas and Lucas, as well as in how he chooses to raise her daughters Tatiana and Gabrielle.

"Wala pakialamanan," Mylene pointed out. "We respect that. If you start telling somebody how to rear a child, eh he’s been rearing his children for a long time, parang it’s overstepping."

She said in retrospect, "Hindi naman namin sinadya, nangyari na lang. It turned out na ’yun pala, kumbaga kung ano sa amin ngayon, ang formula to make things work as a blended family."

Raising two teenage boys

Mylene described Tomas and Lucas, who have an age gap of four years, as "parang aso’t-pusa" and something akin to the cartoon characters Tom and Jerry, who are always fighting.

When they were 17 and 14, Mylene shared how she acts as a referee: "Ipapa-ring mo lang ang telepono mo, ‘What’s going on?’ ’Tapos titigil naman. ‘Nothing, nothing, Mom.’ Titigil naman sila."

She explained on having teenagers: "Maraming mga pangyayari sa buhay nila na hindi nila nako-control. There are physiological and physical changes going on sa kanila that they cannot understand themselves.

"The best you can do as a parent is to help them probably understand it also. Minsan, let them explode. Kasi minsan kailangan nila mag-let off ng steam."

She made it clear that she also faces difficulties as a mom, and shedeals with them her way: "I shout, I get mad. Hindi ako textbook parent. Terror ako. They know that I will put matters into the right place. Tough mama ako.

"I have to be tough, mga lalaki ’yan, eh. Hindi nakukuha ’yan sa isang salita. Kailangan 1,766 times mo sasabihin. Sabi nga ng anak ko, ‘You’ve hammered that same phrase into my head a thousand times.’ Because it’s true. I will hammer into your head until they get it.

"And sabi ko sa kanila, I’m not going to stop hangga’t gagawin mo pa lang, naririnig mo na ’yung boses ko miski hindi ko binubuksan ang bunganga ko. ’Yung gano’n. Nagre-resonate na sa utak n’ya."

She added, "I’m being the best mom I can be as far as what my capacity allows me. I’m trying to be the mom I can be."

Co-parenting

Mylene has likewise made co-parenting with her sons' father, Paolo Paraiso, work. She said, "He’s always there the kids, and he’d always ask for advice from me kung anong gagawin pag hindi na niya alam ang gagawin. Or kung ano ’yung rule ko."

"Kasi kailangan maging consistent," she explained. "’Yun ang laging sinasabi ko sa kanya, kailangan parating consistent. Hindi ’yung pagdating sa ’yo, ganito. Pagdating sa akin, ganyan. Kailangan pareho tayo."

As for her sons' relationship with her current partner, Mylene happily reported that "they're fine," including Jason's daughters. She explained, "Kasi nga mga teenager, ’tapos mga babae naman ’yung sa kanya, di naman sila nagko-compare ng notes. But they have common friends. So they’re okay."

That makes Mylene's a "full house" with two sons, two daughters, stray dogs, and "one Jason," plus many plants and vegetables.

In November 2023, the couple marked their 10th year together.

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Takeaways from Mylene Dizon, Jason Webb's blended family setup

What parents can learn from the setup of Mylene and Jason in raising a blended family is establishing clear boundaries and open communication among all family members. It's important to build trust and foster respect. Regular family meetings can help address issues and celebrate successes together.

Listening actively and validating children's feelings is crucial. Use age-appropriate language and be patient. Encourage open dialogue by creating a safe space where children feel comfortable expressing themselves. The Child Mind Institute emphasizes the importance of active listening and empathy in communicating with children.

For this setup to work, consistency in rules and routines between both households is vital. It's important to communicate respectfully with the co-parent and prioritize the well-being of the children. Flexibility and compromise are also key.

Read here about six other blended families and how they make this setup work.