magazine
Philippines
Melissa: Gold charm bracelet and gold necklace, both by melIsse FasHIOn accessOrIes . White sleeveless top, P480, Black polka dot skirt with white woven belt, P920 all by IHeartmatIlda.cOm
magazine
Philippines MELISSA RACELA How did you and Olsen meet? M: We were set up on a blind
date by well-meaning people who thought I was good enough for him, and he was good enough for me. Somehow it did [work out], ‘cause I didn’t know who he was. Growing up in Bacolod, we didn’t have cable so PBA or UAAP wouldn’t reach there. So I really didn’t know him. You’ve been married for 13 years. How do you keep your relationship strong? M: I hear about a lot of couples [that]
have been together for a long time and then, they would say, “Oh we’re just like brother-sister. This is just for companionship, and there’s no intimacy and everything.” For me, I guess for him also, it’s important that you keep everyday interesting. Like sometimes, he’d go to work and then, I’ll text him from out of the blue, crazy stuff that my kids don’t need to hear.
And then one of [my friends] texted me, she said, “Wow, still kilig after all these years?” And then I said, “You know what, if there’s no more kilig, wala nang kwenta ang buhay.” Parang there’s no sense anymore. There’s no fun. You gotta have it, even if you’ve been together for a while. Did you watch Olsen’s games? M: The moment I met him, I
watched all of the games. He was a benchwarmer when he was rookie, and we never thought he’d continue to be playing for 18 years. He never really thought he’d get these awards, eventually become the best point guard of the country. So I’m really proud. If we were to be in a movie, he’s the lead and I’m always the leading lady—support all the way. The kids and I pray to God that he won’t get hurt, and luckily, he never did. That’s why tumagal yung career niya. So, once lang siya na-hurt, when he his teammate accidentally elbowed him,
so he broke his nose. What is your dream for each of them? M: I guess the ultimate dream for every
parent is for their kids to grow up Godfearing and always respectful. ‘Cause I always teach them na whatever— whoever you face, like whatever class you’re dealing with, you treat them the same. I try to teach resourcefulness to my kids. The boys have been begging for bunk beds with a ladder and a study area below. Knowing how much those things cost, we gathered recycled wood and got a carpenter to convert their beds into just that. When they were younger, we would tutor them with their homework. After a few years we trained them to be more responsible and so now they do their homework and review for quizzes on their own. We like to stress the value of effort over ability. For me, teaching them good hygiene is as important as teaching them how to respect girls. I
Raya: Denim long-sleeved dress by bOssInI KIds, P1,990 Melissa: Earrings by JanIna dIZOn, model’s own . Green dress with crochet detail by IHeartmatIlda.cOm, P970 . Cream peeptoe laceup heels by naturalIZer
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