When the Yambao family arrived at the Summit Media HQ on a Monday morning, everything felt like a movie unfolding right before our eyes.
Alighting the van were two teenage boys who didn't need to be told that their task is to bring all the heavy bags. A towering dad carried a little girl who looked like she was already having the best day. Leading the pack was a petite and fit mama with a sleepy and tearful toddler in tow. The Yambao family has arrived!
Fans and followers only see this picture-perfect family on TV and social media, and Smart Parenting had the honor and privilege of getting to know their quirks and catch a glimpse of their dynamics for a day.
Camille's story of thriving and breaking the mold as a smart, modern, blended family amid a traditional, critical world has to be told. And there's no better time than now.
On Camille: Maroon dress, MOOV. On Nathan: pullover and sweatpants, H&M. On Nala: top and pants, H&M. On Nolan: t-shirt, jacket, and pants, H&M. On Ice: red t-shirt, Uniqlo; pink overshirt, Zara; sweatpants, Uniqlo.
Face-to-face classes are back, and we asked VJ and Camille how they are adjusting to this, and parents can relate to their initial dilemma: preparing their teens' daily baon.
VJ revealed that their two boys Ice, 18, and Nathan, 14 are more excited than anxious to go to school. It will be Nathan's first face-to-face class in a new school.
Camille says, "Yung adjustment for us eh yung baon, kasi they are not allowed to eat anywhere else, only inside their classroom. Lagi kaming, "Love, anong babaunin ng dalawa bukas?"
LETTING THEM LEAD
On a typical day in the Yambao home, the couple works out in the morning, and Camile will have to wear her homeschooling mom hat by 10 AM to four-year-old daughter Nala, whose smile reminds us of the young Camille we loved in Sarah: Ang Munting Prinsesa movie.
"Nala is in pre-kinder. Nolan is salingkit. He just turned three, every time we study with Nala, join-join lang pag nasa mood," Camille said.
VJ, an entrepreneur and dubbed by their kids as the more fun parent, shares that he sometimes takes over, "At first, medyo challenging lang kasi it's hard to teach your child, pero as you go along naman madali lang pala."
He added, "You teach them through play kasi that's what gets them, their attention."
Camille admitted that she never thought she'd go the homeschooling route. She admits it was because she had a hard time teaching her firstborn Nathan.
"I was very young when I had him. I was 22, sunod lang ako sa flow, that's what I did to take care of his academics. I hired a tutor, nauubos yung pasensya ko 'pag hindi niya natututunan 'yung lesson, kaysa sa hindi nagiging maganda yung turnout, hindi ko nalang siya sa tuturuan," she said.
RELATED: Camille Prats Writes to Son: 'I Worried That I Was Not Enough for You'
With Nala entering school age during the pandemic, Camille found herself with no choice but to be the one to teach her.
"There was one time, probably I was in a good mood, I taught her (Nala) and we were just playing, habang naghaharutan, then she learned a lot and it was a eureka moment for me. It's all about me, ako yung nagbago, hindi si Nala."
Learning became a bonding moment for her and her kids, and she said she appreciates homeschooling, even more, when she sees the results in Nala and herself.
'My method is just more of letting them lead, you'll be surprised kung saan nila nadadala yung mga lessons.'
And in the process, Camille said she is learning to become a more patient parent too. "It teaches you as a person na ang dami mo palang capabilities na hindi mo na-e-explore kasi masyado mo in-e-enclose yung sarili mo na ganito ka, but homeschooling teaches you to break those walls and open your doors to new things that you've never really discovered before."
Maroon dress, MOOV; yoga mat, Natura Yoga.
Another realization that the series of lockdowns taught Camille during the pandemic was the importance of health. "My main reason why I work out is I want to live longer," she said.
On social media, Camille has been sharing her weight loss journey, and recently, this mama flexed her hard-earned abs.
RELATED: LOL! Camille Prats Posted A Photo Flexing Her Abs, Her Mom Noticed Something Else
When asked what helps her to be consistent in showing up, it's VJ. "Having an accountability partner helps you to really continue doing it, kasi kung ikaw lang you'll just do it whenever you feel like it. But VJ and I, we stick to a schedule, so even when I'm tamad, I'm like, K fine."
Camille also emphasized the importance of rest and sleep, and a sacred time for herself every day even just for a few minutes.
"I don't realize I'm doing so many things pala during the day, so the afternoon time that I get my 30-minute K-drama time is when my kids nap, that's rest for me."
Powder blue blazer, H&M; red pants, Zara; shoes, So Fab.
When her regular talk show program Mars Pa More came to an end in June, Camille said she shifted her focus on the things that had been put on hold. One is her workout apparel business MOOV, which is a collaboration with her sister-in-law, and the other is her new YouTube channel segment, #CamCookWithMe.
"I've been doing MARS for 10 years. It's also a job I have come to love, hosting. And the reason why I also haven't accepted any acting projects these past couple of years is that I'm happy with just hosting."
In her new YouTube series where she chats with celebrities while cooking a simple dish, she first guested Angelica Panganiban, who is embarking on a new phase in her life as a mother.
On starting something new: 'Just jump and let God take control, buti nalang ginawa ko.'
"She said yes, and the moment she did, that already inspired me to just do it. Now, I have already taped 11 episodes and hopefully more. That taught me a lesson na parang minsan you just really have to do it, if you have a desire in your heart and you feel discouraged, that desire is placed in your heart for a reason. Just jump and let God take control, buti nalang ginawa ko."
Camille also shared that she will be going back to acting this month. While she feels it will be challenging, given the routine she has built with her kids over the last two years, she is looking forward to going back to doing her first love.
On Camille: Chartreuse turtle neck, Bershka; khaki skirt, Zara; shoes, Christian Dior. On VJ: striped long-sleeve button down, green t-shirt, and pants all from H&M. On Nathan: red striped button-down, Penshoppe; cardigan, Stradivarius. On Nala: orange top and purple shorts, both from H&M. On Nolan: button-down and khaki shorts, H&M. On Ice: mustard button-down, Uniqlo; pants, H&M.
Camille's first husband Anthony Linsangan succumbed to nasopharyngeal cancer in 2011, when Nathan was just three years old.
In 2012, she found herself reconnecting with a former elementary classmate and crush, VJ. They crossed paths through an app called Path, when they were both based in the U.S.
RELATED: 'God Made Our Paths Cross When We Were Only 8,' Camille Prats Shares Cute Love Story With Hubby
"Para siyang Facebook, pero like for a smaller group, so I have that and then I was browsing and posting stuff there kasi nga mas smaller yung nakakakita, and he was in it. So nag-add-an kami, and then we started commenting on each other's post, and then he left his number there."
VJ whispered, "Then I deleted it."
Camille asked VJ for his number again, and the rest is history.
At this time, VJ was already dad to Ice and while Camille had Nathan. As two solo parents who were falling in love with each other, they admit that they faced a lot of struggles and disapproval from their families.
"I wanted to be sure first about VJ and I, before bringing Nathan into the picture kasi ayoko 'yung parang he will meet someone and he will be very close to that person, only to end up na hindi pala kami 'yung para sa isa't isa," said Camille.
'If you want to be a good person, if you want to treat a person right and treat everyone fairly, you start from the home. You start with the most challenging people...'
The time came when they wanted to their sons to meet. Camille and VJ brought the two boys to Tagaytay, and they instantly bonded over what they thought was just playtime.
VJ moved back to the Philippines after their wedding in 2017. From there, they started to build their big, blended family.
RELATED: Camille Prats on Finding 'Forever' Again: 'I Did Not See It Coming'
"As someone who has been working almost all my life, like I would really feel like I can do whatever, but he showed me na parang when we became married, talagang ang galing ng design ng Diyos na pipiliin niya yung tamang tao para sa'yo."
When asked what's their secret to having a happy family, they said it's in their desire to build a good relationship with every family member, strengthened by faith.
VJ said, "Having a blended family, it's not a walk in the park. Expect a lot of challenges, trials, hardships. Kung gusto mo talaga yung wife mo o husband mo, you can do anything. Kung yung intention mo are right, lahat yan, it will follow nalang."
Recently, Ice moved in with them, and while they had a lot of adjustments, they started having devotionals that helped them to let them open up and share.
"For a time, we were so lost. It's easy pala to parent toddlers, pero these boys may sarili na silang pag-iisip, may saloobin na sila na different from ours. The goal is makuha mo yung loob nila eh. Relationship is very important. Otherwise, whatever discipline you do, whatever you say, they will just rebel. So we had to build a relationship. That's our priority," said Camille.
Camille then realized what a wonderful gift it is to be loved by her stepson.
'We just chose to be together, we choose to love each other because this is our family, and that kind of love for me, it's amazing.'
In their new home, Camille shares that they have a family room where the kids can learn and play at the same time.
"I encourage my kids to play if they want to, as long as wala silang nasisira. Ngayon ko nalang din natutunan na this is all a part of their life, they have nothing to do but play, because they are children. Kung hindi sila naglalaro may problema."
Camille and VJ, although brought up with traditional parenting styles, ask their kids for grace, that while they may not be perfect parents, they are on a journey where they are also learning and sharing wisdom along with them.
She says, "If you want to be a good person, if you want to treat a person right and treat everyone fairly, you start from the home. You start with the most challenging people, which are your children and your husband, so once you pick that up at maayos yun, kahit saan ka na pumunta, you will be unbothered."
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Produced by Aussy Perfecto, Ronna Capili Bonifacio, and Judy Santiago Aladin
Sittings Editor Ronna Capili Bonifacio
Art Direction by Stephanie Ocampo
Photographed by Ronan Capili
Makeup by Andrew Jardenil (Camille) and Sofia Day (VJ, Ice, and Nathan)
Hairstyling by Kierlo Velasco
Styling by Rush Romano
Set Design by Fox Oxales
Video Producer: Dani Llagas
Social Media Producer: Angela Baylon
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