Why Regine is sexy at 30

Sexy at 30. A mother of two. TV host. Dancer. Dance instructress. Entrepreneur/businesswoman. And, most important of all, a happy wife.

How does Regine Tolentino manage to be all that and still look as fresh as a daisy even if, as co-host/field reporter of the GMA early-morning show Unang Hirit, she has to wake up before the sun rises and ends her ever-busy day before the clock strikes 12 midnight?

“Positive thinking and time management,” said Regine who has ironed out her differences with husband Lander Vera-Perez, living happily ever after with him and their two daughters, Reigne, 10, and Reigen, 8 (who study at Colegio de San Agustin). “I have always had a positive outlook even when Lander and I were having problems — part of a couple’s continuing adjustment process, you know. Being in showbiz and being a family woman is very complicated, so it helps to have a positive attitude.”

“On leave” from showbiz, Lander has been working for seven years with the Department of Foreign Affairs, assigned to the Intel Division at the NAIA.

“Peace of mind for both of us,” added Regine. “I have my own world and he has his own.”

They allowed each other space a few years back. Lander moved to his grandma (Mrs. Nene Vera-Perez’s) house inside the Sampaguita Pictures compound a stone’s throw from the townhouse where his own family used to stay on Valencia St., Quezon City. They have since moved to Eastwood City but Regine’s boutique and dance studio are still in the same building on the same street.

“It did us good,” said Regine about the brief separation. “Lander and I were able to see things objectively and to take stock of our situation with clear minds.”

No, there was no third party involved. And no, Lander never drank nor smoked; neither did he bet in cockfights. “It was his father who did,” clarified Regine who added that the kinks in their marriage must have been caused by the fact that they got married young.

“I was 18 and Lander was 24. We’ve been married for 12 years.”

While grappling with domestic problems, Regine also had to mind her mother who was diagnosed with bone cancer. She’s in remission.

“If she remains in remission for five more years, then sana tuluy-tuloy na ang paggaling niya.”

Of course, being an endorser of YSA Skin Care Center and YSA Botanica since 2005 is another plus factor. It’s YSA head Dr. Isabel Lopez-Nazal herself who takes care of Regine’s skin, making sure that stretch marks and dark spots were minimized after Regine had given birth twice. Other treatments: Facial to cleanse her skin pores and carboxytherapy and Radio Frequency (whole body).

A typical day in Regine’s life goes like this: She wakes up before 4 a.m. to prepare the stuff she needs for the day’s show. She is usually assigned to cover events as far as Quezon (like she was during this interview). After Unang Hirit, she goes to the gym and proceeds to her shop (“And teach dance if I have a class”), picks up her daughters from school, tapes for UH segments and does corporate shows and goes home at way past 10. She turns in before midnight. Still, she finds time to rehearse twice a week as choreographer for the GMA noontime show S.O.P.

“I take power naps as often as I can,” said Regine, “and I take lots of vitamins. I am hyper-active so this kind of lifestyle suits me fine. I pray a lot and that’s what also keeps me grounded.”

Through it all, Regine is able to spend quality time with her daughters.

“We always have a meal or two together every day. I’m lucky that Lander has a flexible schedule so he manages to take the kids to school before he goes to work. Then, it’s I who fetches the kids from school.”

Asked what tips she would give working mothers like her to, as the YSA come-on line says, stay “beautiful, happy and confident,” Regine said, “No matter how busy you are, don’t forget to take care of yourself. You must love yourself before you can love others.”

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