What makes Sitti happy

I’ve known Queen of Bossa Nova Sitti Navarro-Ramirez for so long, I can tell that she’s never been happier. A year after she tied the knot with businessman Joey Ramirez, her eyes have that extra sparkle, her voice that special lilt that say her nights are more peaceful, her days more fulfilling.

“Sleep is so much better, hahaha! Ang sarap sarap na po matulog ngayon,” she relates.

Gone are those days when she’d wake up late like most of her fellow singers would. Sitti now rises and shines earlier, her triathlete-husband greeting her with a wide, wide smile as she plants a good morning kiss on his lips.

Of course, she doesn’t mind this change in her body rhythm. Being Mrs. Ramirez is such a joy.

“I feel more panatag now. It’s good to have somebody by your side who loves you for who you truly are,” she adds.

Joey is actually her answered prayer. Sitti still clearly recalls that day, years back when she listed all the traits she wanted in a would-be husband on a piece of paper and tucked it within the pages of her Bible at home. She and Joey have yet to meet back then.

Lo and behold! She met Joey, a Christian, whose belief in God is as strong as hers. He didn’t mind that he was seeing a breadwinner since age 16, or that she comes from a broken family. All he knew is that he found his ideal woman — someone who gives her all to her family, who doesn’t mind putting her needs on hold for her loved ones.

So far, Joey is turning out to be everything Sitti could ever dream of. On a scale of one to 10, with 10 as the highest, Sitti says her beloved husband is a nine.

He’s not a 10?

“Because nobody’s perfect! I truly appreciate him and his efforts as a husband,” Sitti reasons out.

Every day, she explains, is an “exercise on the road to unselfishness.”

Sitti simply loves cuddling up to Joey after a long, hard day, and feeling his welcoming warmth around her.

Joey is her untiring mentor, her guide on the road to growth. Sitti says he shows her new ways of expressing herself, of prioritizing her obligations.

She gets his opinions on her work. He guides her on what should come first in her to-do list, which areas of her career need a shot in the arm, and which are best left alone.

Her hubby, in other words, is opening many doors for Sitti the person and the artist.

“There’s a lot of character-building in marriage that hones you both,” she states.

Of course, even the strongest marriage has its struggles. Sitti’s come in the form of expectations.

“These are expectations you have of yourself and your husband that more often than not cause arguments,” she laments.

It doesn’t help that people are pressuring her and Joey to have a baby.

The good news is the couple are already planning their first big joint project: A baby. No, they’re not caving in to social pressure. Sitti and Joey simply feel that they’ve adjusted to each other’s moods, resolved their issues and straightened out their priorities. They’ve seen places near and far.

In short, they’ve laid a rock-solid foundation for their marriage. And the time is ripe to welcome an addition to the family.

“Future projects are just easier to undertake when both of you have built a solid relational base,” beams Sitti.

The minute she gets pregnant, Sitti will make her career take a backseat and focus on the new life she and Joey have long waited for.

“I’ll slow down a bit,” she reveals.

It’s no blanket statement, though. She’ll first see how the pregnancy will go.

Her fans will not miss her that long as well.

“The break won’t take too long,” Sitti vows. “Singing is my life.”

If you think Sitti hasn’t been that visible lately, you’ll be glad to know she never left the music scene at all.

She has her hands full with bar gigs. She occasionally appears on TV. And she’s so excited with her new album and recording the OST of JaDine’s (James Reid and Nadine Lustre’s) new soap.

Oh yes, every day is Christmas for Sitti. And she’s singing It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year the bossa nova way with her beloved Joey these days.

That’s because someone with a good heart like her deserves nothing less.