Away from Showbiz

VALENCIA, California — We agreed to meet at the clubhouse of this sprawling laid-back subdivision with a sweeping view of the surrounding places. We learned that the parents of Kellan Lutz live in the blue-roofed house nearby. A  vampire in the Twilight Saga, Lutz is the star of Hercules, featured in The STAR in December last year. The clubhouse is uppity, exclusive for residents and their guests.

Two of them are Krista Ranillo and husband Niño Jefferson Lim, and Jessica Rodriguez and husband David Bunevacz, with their children. There are rumors that another resident there is Taylor Lautner, the Twilight Saga star who came here last year as a Bench endorser.

My friend Raoul Tidalgo (who flew in from San Antonio, Texas) and I rode in the car of my nephew, STAR’s L.A. correspondent Raymond de Asis Lo. Tim Evans took a day off from his job at LAX (as an immigration officer) to join us. We drove more than an hour from L.A.

First to arrive was Krista, eight months pregnant, who was driving. She was with a friend. Niño was busy with his Island Pacific supermarkets (with 13 outlets all over California) so he begged off. Minutes later, Jessica and David came. We sat down for lunch. Then, we talked.

How long have you been neighbors?

Krista: Since 2011. We attended Jessica’s birthday party. She said, “Oh, we live nearby.” So we went to her house and fell in love with it. There was a house on sale but there were many people bidding for it.

So, Jessica, you came here before Krista’s family did.

Jessica: We’ve been here since 2008.

Life here seems to be laid-back.

Jessica: Very much like the Philippines if you live in Alabang.

David: You can step out of the jungle in Los Angeles and go back whenever you want. It’s exactly 28 miles to Santa Monica from here.

Jessica: Thirty minutes away. It’s a peaceful community, with schools and churches.

So how long have you been in the States?

Jessica: Seven years, since 2007.

Krista: Four years, since 2010.

You and Niño already have two boys. You’re expecting a girl this time, right?

Krista: Yes, a girl, finally! Our first son, Nate Jacob, is two and we are naming our daughter Nathalie Lourdes, due next month, because we went to Lourdes in July last year and prayed for many people, and for Niño and me to be blessed with a baby girl. I told Our Lady of Lourdes that we would dedicate our baby’s life to Her. One month later, I got pregnant. Answered prayer.

Jessica, how old are your children?

Jessica: Hayca is 25, Grant is 19 and Breanna is 10.

David: Hayca is done with school and she’s working in my company, Vapor Wild. You know electronic cigarets? It’s that kind of company. We manufacture electronic cigarets. Hayca handles marketing and distribution. Grant is going back to college very soon and he also works in my company. Breanna is Grade 5 in an exclusive school. In our house, we all work. Sitting pretty is not allowed.

Krista, every member of your family is April-born, right?

Krista: Nate was born April 5 (Aries), me April 27 (Taurus) and Niño April 25 (Taurus) and Nathalie is due April 24 (Taurus). Only Nolan is not April-born; his birthday is July 19.

Is it hard to get pregnant in the States?

Krista: Uhm, not really because fortunately I have help in the house. Most members of my parents’ family are here. If I were alone, I’m sure mahihirapan ako. I had an easy time conceiving Nate and Nolan but for this one, hirap na hirap ako. The first five months were really bad. I had morning sickness, throwing up. You know, ang pinaglihihan ko cupcakes, pizza, sweets. Sometimes we’d drive to L.A. just to buy cupcakes.

What about you, Jessica? American lifestyle ba talaga?

Jessica: Even if I had a yaya, in the beginning I found it hard to adjust to life here. Now I focus more on being a housewife and a mother. Here, I became the mother that I wanted to be but never had a chance when I was in the Philippines because of my career and the social life…you know. Dito, naging closer kami as a family.

Is mothering here different from mothering in the Philippines?

Jessica: Very different. Here, you have to give 100 percent of your time. Even if you have maids, you still want to be the one to bring the kids to and from school. I like being a full-time wife and mother. Every now and then when Breanna goes to auditions, I see to it that I accompany her. She’s into sports, horseback-riding. (David: At 10, Breanna sometimes still sleeps with us. Americans would never allow that.)

Krista: I’ve been saying that I wouldn’t know how it is to be a mother in the Philippines. But here, as Jessica was saying, even if I’m blessed with household help, I’m still a hands-on mom. I take the kids to their baby classes, take them to the park. My kids still sleep with me. I’m the one who bathe them and change their diapers. Enjoy ako!

What kind of a parent are you?

Krista: Hindi ako marunong mamalo, so I just talk to them. Sometimes, sasagutin nila ako ng “Ayaw!” and still, ayoko silang paluin. Dito, hindi uso ang namamalo ka.

Jessica: Like what David said, we train the kids to be independent. Hindi puede sa amin ang paupo-upo lang.

Pero tinuturuan mo pa rin sila ng Filipino values?

Jessica: Some of those na lumaki na dito ay palasagot sa magulang o sa mga nakakatanda. Hindi puede sa amin ‘yon. One time, my daughter answered back at the yaya so I reminded her, “We still have Filipino values, so you don’t do that.” She didn’t do it again.

Describe a typical day in your life.

Krista: Nolan wakes up earlier than Nate does. Ayaw nilang tatayo ka kaagad, they want me to cuddle them some more. I have their activity for the day prepared the night before — go to the park, etc. Do I help around the stores? Not so much these days because I’m busy with the kids. Niño leaves the house at a certain time and comes home at a certain time. He’s never too busy to have time for the family.

Jessica: It’s mostly minding the house and the children. Sometimes when friends from Manila are here, I make it a point to see them; it’s nice to reconnect. Nakaka-miss din ‘yung mga friends ko sa Manila. Sometimes, David and I would go on dates, just the two of us. (David [who used to be a track-and-field athlete]: We go to different restaurants. We like to really eat well and drink well. One thing Jessica and I have in common is that we love wine.) And we work out together three times a week. Here in Valencia, there are so many things to do, so many activities. May sport, may tutoring, sports tournaments, iba-iba!

Do you miss showbiz?

Jessica: You know, once showbiz, always showbiz. Hindi nawawala ‘yon.

Krista: Uhm, saka na ‘yan!

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