Better Half Chronicles

To my fellow wives, do you ask permission from your husband if you have to do something or make a decision?

I know that might sound like a heavy question, or maybe even a bit "old-school" to some. But I’ve been reflecting on the beauty and the blessing that comes with submission lately, and I wanted to share why this has become such a vital part of my marriage with Regie.

The truth is, it’s not because I don’t know what to do. I have plenty of plans and ideas, and I know I am capable of handling things on my own. I’m not asking because I’m lost or unsure. I’m asking because it’s my way of practicing submission.

Every time I go to Regie and check in before making a move, I am showing him and myself that I respect his wisdom and his leadership in our home. Honestly, we’re not always on the same page. There are many times I don’t initially agree with his take or his timing. But I’ve learned that there is a specific kind of grace and peace that shows up when I choose to submit to his wisdom anyway.

I say this because I’ve tried doing it my own way. There were times when I acted alone, defied his advice, and just did what I thought was best, and every single time, I ended up miserable. I learned the hard way that when I step out of that alignment and try to handle everything by myself, I lose the protection and the peace that comes with being in sync as a couple.

Choosing to ask isn’t about being small or losing my voice. It’s actually about the quiet strength it takes to put our 'us' before my 'me.' I finally realized I don’t have to carry the heavy weight of every single decision by myself, and honestly, what a relief that is. When I trust the leadership God has given my husband, my heart finally gets to breathe. You don’t always have to be the one in charge; there is so much peace in just letting go and trusting the process.

If you’ve known me for a long time, you know I’m not exactly the type to just sit back and let things happen.

I grew up in a Christian home, but the "training" I received wasn't about being a damsel in distress. I was raised to be independent, a problem-solver who could hold her own in any room. My upbringing wired me to lead, to decide, and to get things done.

That mindset served me well in the corporate world. I spent years sitting at the table with other executives, making high-stakes decisions and calling the shots. I once shared about submission with some of those colleagues, and almost all of them (except for one) told me that "submission" just wasn't a word that fit me. They saw me as someone who's strong and they couldn't see how I’d ever step back.

For a long time, I couldn't either. Even after joining several marriage retreats and reading the Word, this is the area where I have struggled the most. It wasn't that the idea bothered me; I simply didn't know how to do it. My default setting was always "I’ve got this."

But I’ve come to understand how much this matters to my husband. Regie’s love language is Words of Affirmation, and for him, having a wife who trusts his leadership is a huge deal. It’s the ultimate affirmation of his role. He isn’t looking for a partner to serve him; he wants to know that I believe in him enough to let him lead our family.

Regie’s heart is for me to allow him the space to be the head of our home, to carry the weight of the big decisions and the vision for our family. He wants me to be the support that fuels that leadership, not the person fighting him for the steering wheel.

The only reason I am able to submit to my husband is because of God’s grace. It’s a daily choice to lean on Him instead of my own "leadership" instincts. And honestly? I still fail at this. There are days when my independent streak takes over, and I try to run the show again.

But I am trying. And I am so grateful to have a husband who handles my "strong" personality with so much patience. Whenever I start to stress or try to take over, he’s there to remind me: "Ako na ang bahala. I've got this covered." Hearing those words is such a relief. It reminds me that I don’t have to carry the whole world on my shoulders. It takes way more power to trust someone else’s lead than it does to just do everything yourself. It’s not about being "less than"; it’s about the peace that comes when you stop trying to be incharge of your marriage and start being the partner God called you to be.

"Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior." Ephesians 5:22-23 (NIV)

Submission isn't a personality trait; it’s a spiritual discipline. You don’t have to lose your strength or your independence to support your husband’s leadership; you just have to find the grace to trust. When we step into our role as a supportive partner, we aren't becoming "weaker"; we are becoming the most powerful ally our husbands could ever have.



📷: Taken in Albay, 2018

WHY SETTING THE BAR HIGH STARTS AT HOME

"Dad, can you be my husband?" Jazzy asked Regie out of nowhere.

When he just smiled and gently told her no, she didn't even pause. "How about Baba?" she asked, hoping her big brother would say yes. 😂

​It was such a funny and innocent moment, but it really got me thinking. Why do little girls ask things like this?

​At six years old, kids don't really get the heavy, real-world meaning of marriage. To them, a husband is just their favorite person: the guy who protects them, plays with them, and makes them feel completely safe. Naturally, they look straight at the men who already do that for them every single day.

​But as the moment sank in, I realized something so beautiful: She sees how her dad treats me. Even though she's young, she watches us. She notices the respect, the sweet little moments, the teamwork, and the love. In her own cute way, she already knows that's exactly how she wants to be treated when she grows up.

​Our daughters are always watching. If we want them to have high standards when they eventually choose a partner, the men in their lives need to set that bar high right now.

It reminds me so much of Ephesians 5:25: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."

When a husband leads his family with that kind of selfless love, he isn't just blessing his marriage; he's giving his children a real-life example to look up to.

​The way a father loves his wife is the blueprint his little girl will use for her own life. If she grows up seeing what genuine, Christ-like love looks like in her own home, she won't ever settle for less.

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𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞

Closing a chapter that has defined so much of my identity over the last few years feels a bit surreal. After seven-plus years in the corporate world, I am officially hanging up my executive blazer.

My journey started in 2016 as the Sales Head of a national real estate developer. After a short, sweet break to focus on my second pregnancy, an opportunity opened up in 2021 - this time as a member of the Board of Directors, handling Sales and Marketing. I’ll be completely honest: I grabbed that opportunity with both hands. I wanted to help Regie financially and to afford our extra 'wants'.

In many ways, I loved the corporate life. I enjoyed the thrill of a busy mind: always thinking, always strategizing, always moving. I’m satisfied with what we had during that time, but I’ve realized that "success" came with a price tag.

Even though I wasn't required to be in the office every day, outside of Mancom and executive meetings, the weight of top management meant my mind never truly 'clocked out.' I lost count of the nights I’d bolt upright at 2:00 AM just to 'download' strategies from my brain onto my laptop so I could finally get some rest. Looking back, I realized I was pouring my energy into company problems and executive decisions, leaving my own health, my husband, and my daughter with only the 'leftovers' at the end of the day.

Recently, life threw me a major curveball. A medical diagnosis and an upcoming major surgery made one thing very clear: I cannot keep living at this pace. I need a low-stress environment to completely heal. So, Regie and I made the prayerful decision that it’s time for me to stop and focus entirely on my well-being.

We are taking a huge step of faith, leaving the city life we’re used to and transitioning to the farm. I’m not "retiring" my skills, though; I’m just reassigning them. I’ve spent years mastering strategic planning for a corporation, and now I’m excited to apply that same focus to our farm.

You might ask how I’ll handle the 'massive adjustment,' but honestly? It feels less like a shift and more like a return. I’ve been a housewife before, so I’m not lost; I’m just going back to where I belong. There’s a peace in my heart that no boardroom could ever give me. I’m leaning on my faith, knowing God has my back as I focus on healing and being present for my family.

Here’s to trading the boardroom for the garden and choosing the things that matter most. 🌿✨

I’m sharing the video tribute my son created for his Lolo’s 75th birthday. 75 years is such a huge milestone, and I’m so glad Josh was able to document these memories. Hope you enjoy watching it as much as we did!

My Father | Legacy Documentary A father’s life. Seen through his children. Heard through him and his wife. A journey marked by pain, growth, and faith. A life devoted to Jesus.I hope you l...

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 "𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐞" 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭

Let’s be real: dating these days can feel like a messy game of musical chairs. Between the apps and the "what are we?" situationships, the word purity can sometimes feel a bit old-fashioned.

But purity isn’t about following a bunch of rigid rules. It’s actually a modern-day superpower. To us, it’s all about clarity. It’s the decision to keep your most intimate self reserved for the one person you’ve chosen to build a life with.

I wanted to share a bit of our own journey because Regie and I had very different "starting lines" that led to the same beautiful destination.

My path looked a little different than Regie's. I’d dated before I met him, but looking back, those were just temporary chapters, flings that never really touched the core of who I was.

Even then, I was intentional. I had a "checklist" for the man I wanted to spend my life with, and I refused to settle. One of the biggest things on my list? I wanted to be the first girlfriend of my future husband. I didn't want a "revolving door" history; I wanted a clean slate.

Part of my "no-nonsense" approach to love was a personal standard: I wanted a man who was so sure of me that he would propose as soon as he said those three big words: "I love you."
And that is exactly what Regie did.

When he came along, he didn’t just meet the criteria; he was the answer to every prayer.

I was his first-ever girlfriend. For him, there were no "prequels." He didn’t have to unlearn bad habits from old flames or carry the weight of a past breakup into our relationship. Because he knew I was the one, his "I love you" wasn't just a feeling; it was a lifetime commitment. We got to paint his entire romantic history together on a completely clean canvas.

This is where the real beauty lies: Purity is a choice. Whether you were each other's "first everything" or you decided that your forever partner is the only one who gets the keys to your most private self, that choice creates an unshakable bond.

By keeping that part of our lives exclusive to one another, regardless of who we may have dated before, we created a sanctuary of trust. It’s our way of saying, "I saved the best of me, just for you."

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐢𝐭

𝐍𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐩: In our house, there are no "ghosts" of past relationships. We are each other’s gold standard.

𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲: There’s a deep security in knowing you hold the keys to a vault of memories that no one else has seen.

𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫: Your roots become so intertwined that your histories become one seamless story.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫: There’s a special kind of joy in looking at your spouse and realizing they are exactly who you asked for, checklist and all!

Purity is a gift you give to your partner, but it’s also a massive gift you give to yourself. It removes the "what-ifs," leaving you with a clear, focused love for your better half.

Whether you were each other's first or you found your way to each other after a few wrong turns, the goal is the same: Keep your love pure, stay transparent, and keep choosing each other every single day.

𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲

We all want the best for our kids. As parents, we work hard to make sure they have a solid foundation: a good education, a safe home, and maybe even a little something set aside to give them a head start in life. But lately, I’ve been reflecting on a powerful distinction shared by Tim Tebow that completely shifts the perspective on what "the best" really looks like:

"𝐈𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐎 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞; 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐍 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞."

This was shared by our dear friend and fellow homeschool mom, Kathy, in our homeschool moms' chat group. She used this as a reference during her recent talk as a guest speaker at a graduation ceremony, reminding us that the most significant things we pass down can’t be kept in a vault or written into a will.

This is anchored on Proverbs 22:6:

"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it."

This isn't just a great quote; it’s a biblical principle.

When we "train them up," we aren't just giving them a map; we are helping them build their internal compass. As homeschooling moms, we are in the unique position of being there for the "in-between" moments: the hard math lessons, the character-building conversations, and the daily prayers.

𝐈𝐧𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 is the "stuff" we hand over. It’s temporary and can be lost.

𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 is the faith, the resilience, and the kindness we model. It’s the Word of God hidden in their hearts that stays with them long after they’ve left our homes.

𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 "𝐈𝐧."

Today, let’s worry less about the bank account and more about the "𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭." Let’s focus on leaving a legacy of unshakable faith and character. Because at the end of the day, an inheritance might provide for their future, but the legacy you leave in them will define who they are within that future.

What is one character trait or value you are intentionally "depositing" into your children today? Let’s encourage each other in the comments! 👇

One Marriage Habit I Learned from My Parents

My parents have been married for 46 years, and growing up, I picked up on a lot of their little secrets to a happy marriage. One of them? Sharing a bath at the end of the day.

I know it sounds a bit intimate, but for Regie and me, it’s honestly one of the best habits we’ve built. It’s really not just about getting clean. It’s about finally having a moment to pause.

Think about it. When you're in the shower, there are no phones ringing, no chores staring at you, and no kids needing your attention. It’s just the two of us in a small space. It forces us to slow down, talk about how our day actually went, complain a little, laugh a lot, and just be completely ourselves without any distractions.

It washes away the stress of the day in more ways than one. Plus, hey, it saves water! 😂

Do you guys do this too? Or do you have your own weirdly effective way to unwind and catch up with your spouse when life gets busy? Let me know in the comments! 👇

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐖𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐧

Every family has their own way of doing things. We know many parents are perfectly fine with their children dating early, and we respect that choice. But for us, our teaching comes from a very personal space.

​Today, our son Josh is 22 years old and is NGSB (No Girlfriend Since Birth). This isn’t because he’s "not allowed" to date, but because we’ve taught him since he was a young boy that a relationship is a step toward marriage. If you aren’t ready for the commitment, why start the journey?

We didn’t teach this because we were "perfect." In fact, it’s the opposite.

Regie and I were friends for two years before we became a couple, and we dated for another two before we married. On the outside, it looked okay, but the truth is: it wasn’t a God-honoring relationship. It wasn’t that we didn’t know the right way to do things, we knew, but we simply disobeyed. We chose our own way over God’s design, and we dealt with the heartaches and consequences that followed. After asking for God’s forgiveness, we made a promise: we would guide our children so they wouldn’t have to make the same mistakes we did.

​We believe that as parents, we have to be proactive. We didn't wait for "the talk"; we had many talks:

👉 ​Intentional Conversations: We would take Josh on dates and walks to talk about the beauty of marriage and how intimacy is a special gift reserved for a husband and wife.

🫰​Defining Readiness: We taught him that you enter a relationship when you are spiritually, emotionally, and financially ready. (Though we’re honest with him, we married with very little savings, so that part is negotiable!)

🚸 ​Starting Young: We encouraged him to avoid dating during his school years. We’ve seen that teenagers often aren't emotionally ready for the weight of a serious relationship.

Our ultimate goal wasn't to keep him "single." Of course, we want him to get married someday! It was to help him love Jesus more than anyone else. We know that when a child wants to please the Savior above all, they will naturally want to honor Him with their heart and their body.

Parents, start your children young. It’s never too early to point them toward a life that honors God. 💞

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God uses the opposite situation to allow us a choice. You can't claim to be good if you've never been tempted to be bad. You can't claim to be faithful if you've never had the opportunity to be unfaithful. Integrity is built by defeating the temptation to be dishonest; humility grows when we refuse to be prideful; and endurance develops every time you reject the temptation to give up.