LJ Moreno-Alapag from daredevil chick to happy wife

CEBU, Philippines - When LJ Moreno-Alapag was offered the TV5 program “Happy Wife, Happy Life” headlined by PBA wives like her, the former actress and entrepreneur had to make sure it wouldn’t be some poor mimic of the US reality show “Basketball Wives.”

The American reality series’ focus on catfights and intrigue among a group of women who have all been somehow romantically linked to pro basketball players isn’t the kind of entertainment fare LJ would like to be involved in.

“At first, I had to clarify if it was purely a reality show where they just follow you around the whole time like in the US show ‘Basketball Wives.’ But it was explained to me that it will be a magazine show with a touch of reality. You will see our lives at home, but there will also be varied topics that will be tackled,” said LJ.

“Happy Wife, Happy Life” premiered January 19 on the Kapatid Network, airing weekdays at 10:30 a.m. The lifestyle show brings together the life partners of some of the country’s most popular cagers – LJ, wife of PBA Mighty Mouse Jimmy Alapag; Danica Sotto-Pingris, wife of hardcourt idol Marc Pingris; RR Enriquez, partner of ace player JJ Helterbrand; and Jack Maierhofer, wife of hardcourt favorite Rico Maierhofer – giving viewers a peek into their lives as they share the perks and challenges of being the partners of PBA hotshots.

“The first week, they followed us at home to basically introduce our lives. The rest of the episodes, we talk about different topics,” shared LJ of what viewers can expect. “I focus on the topic of being a new mom, so we invited a pediatrician and a dermatologist. Danica is more on cooking, Jeck features businesses since she has a lot of her own businesses, and then RR is more on beauty and fitness.”

More than getting back to the television grind, LJ said she’s more excited about the learning experience of being in an interactive magazine show.

She said, “I haven’t done television in a while. This is different, because when I did TV before, it was really more of acting. What also excites me is learning from our audience and at the same time, contribute what I know.”

Better known these days as the better half of Jimmy Alapag, LJ began her showbiz career through the ABS-CBN series “Gimik.”  The niece of actress Alma Moreno then starred in movies and TV shows, most memorably as the street-smart girlfriend of Raymart Santiago in the GMA-7 sitcom “Kool Ka Lang.”

LJ cited the five-year run of “Kool Ka Lang” as her most cherished time in the biz because “we were really like a family. It was just like we were playing on set.”

The former pre-school teacher took a hiatus from the limelight, reappearing now and then to participate in reality shows such as Pinoy Fear Factor (where she was dubbed Daredevil Chick), and then in Amazing Race Philippines (winning its first season with her best friend CJ Jaravata).

Does she pine for those days when she was acting? “I miss it, but at the same time, I’m also very busy with my business. I was focused on that, then I got pregnant. I would still accept acting jobs , but not so much on movies – with the kids and Lollicake Factory, it’s hard to find the time. I do guestings here and there. Now that the business is pretty much set…before, I did everything: I baked, I answered emails, I designed, I answered the phone. Now I have a staff to delegate these tasks to, so I can do other things.”

“Happy Wife, Happy Life” takes only two days a week to tape. Doing a soap opera if an offer does crop up would be one long conversation with Jimmy.  “That, I would have to discuss with my husband, because right now, he seems to be taken aback by my new schedule because of the talk show. He was used to me not being active in showbiz since we got married. Now, he’s rattled that I suddenly have many things to do, like this out-of-town show for instance. So as a consolation to my husband, I brought along our eldest, while he takes care of the baby at home.”

LJ and Jimmy welcomed a baby girl last December, which they named Keona Sky.

After tying the knot in 2010, the couple waited four years for a bun in the oven. The long wait made them decide to adopt a boy they would later name Maximus (now two years old)– and this was two days after knowing LJ was finally pregnant.

“I was praying for a baby for the longest time, and God blessed us with a baby last December, so I’m pretty much…I don’t know, there’s really nothing much to ask for.”

For marriages to work, LJ said couples must take to heart the phrase “Happy Wife, Happy Life.”

She explained, “If the heart of the household – which is the wife – isn’t happy, the negative vibes would definitely rub off on the husband, so he won’t be happy too.  Usually in marriages, it’s the wife who carries the relationship. She takes care of the kids and the household.”

“What makes me happy is, for one, I’m confident with myself because of my relationship with God. Another thing is, me and Jimmy have a God-centered relationship. Every night, we pray together and read the Bible together. My husband also does a good job of making me feel secure.”

In turn, LJ said she makes sure Jimmy is also one happy camper by being the wind beneath his wings. “For one, I’m not a nagger. Although I used to be a nag and the jealous type when we were still boyfriend-girlfriend,” she said. “Now I’m too busy to nag! Since growing my relationship with God, my thought has always been, ‘No use nagging him, because if he’ll do something, he’s answerable to God.’  Of course, I’m always there to support him during games, or whatever it is that he is doing or decides to do. I try my best to really balance my time between my husband and the kids, since they usually say once you have children, the wife’s attention will be taken by the small ones.”

Asked if they’ve had more couple time now that Jimmy retired from playing and is now Talk ‘N Text team manager and Gilas Pilipinas assistant coach, LJ said his schedule is pretty much the same, although he now doesn’t come home the exhausted heap that he used to.

“These days, he’s not as tired when he comes home. He still goes to practices, so the schedule is still the same. Of course now, he’s no longer physically drained. He’s more energized when he’s at home – except now that we have a newborn, he has gotten less sleep,” said LJ, laughingly adding: “Now we’re both drained!”

Jimmy’s transition from player to manager was particularly more difficult for her to take then her husband, LJ revealed.

“Actually, I took it harder when he retired, even if I knew it was coming. Because I’m really competitive. I took it harder in a sense that the transition was sad for me. He was ready; I wasn’t. We’re both competitive. I love watching games, and I know, just like everyone else knows, that he can still play. I like him playing, but at the same time, I know being a team manager is something that he is ready for.”

She added, “He has always said that he does not want to wait that he’s a benchwarmer before he decides to retire. He always wanted to retire on his own time. When he was given the opportunity to be team manager, he felt that he’s already prepared. As far as achievements, he already feels fulfilled. As long as he’s happy, then I’m happy.”

This happy place LJ is in wasn’t an easy destination to arrive at. For those who like her, had once lost her way and is figuring out how to find their way back, LJ advises: “Focus on your relationship with God. Once you have that set, you will be more confident with yourself. Maybe most of those who are fond of partying ‘til tomorrow are those that aren’t contented about themselves. I realized that during those times, I wasn’t secure with myself because I would jump from one relationship to another. I actually focused on Church after me and Jimmy broke up.”

As for those about to take the plunge, here’s what LJ – who’s been there and done that – has to say: “Don’t get caught just on the wedding day. You should focus more on the marriage. The wedding day may be perfect, but the marriage might be a disaster. Make sure you do the marriage counseling beforehand, so you can lay out all potential problems on the table. It’s very important to have God in the center of the relationship – that, for me, is the key.”