Aga and Charlene believe in miracles

Aga Muhlach and wife, Charlene Gonzales, still radiate the glow exclusive to newlyweds.They’ve been married eight years, have two kids and traverse the treacherous waters of showbiz. Was neither afflicted with the seven-year itch? Is no one going through a midlife crisis? What gives?

We had a chance to catch up with showbiz’s royal couple last week, during the launch of Pond’s Age Miracle at Peninsula Manila’s Rigodon Ballroom. The event also signaled the launch of Aga and Charlene as Pond’s new endorsers, joining the ranks of supermodels Rissa Mananquil and Apples Aberin-Sadhwani.

All are committed users and believers in Pond’s Age Miracle line, which promises visible results in just seven days. But what exactly is in Age Miracle that inspires such raves?

According to Unilever Technical Management director Len Davies, it’s a high-tech formula called Advanced CLA4, a cocktail of alpha hydroxy acids and retinol, plus retinol boosters like CLA. Applied daily and imbued with sunscreen, Age Miracle helps the skin renew and repair itself faster, reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and age spots within seven days.

“Pond’s is scientifically proven to provide superior anti-aging results,” adds Jacqueline Yuengtian, Pond’s brand manager. “In a recent study by independent research institute Synovate, Pond’s scored the highest in giving skin instant firmness. It was also the cream that irritated skin the least against the other creams tested.”

In our two-on-one interview with Aga and Charlene, we found out that Age Miracle is definitely playing a role in keeping the Muhlach’s romantic glow alive.

THE PHILIPPINE STAR: Aga, do you use the product as well?

AGA MUHLACH: Me? Hindi yata pwede sa akin yon, pero gagamitin ko na nga, eh. They said it’s unisex, but I’m not really into that.

What’s your grooming regimen?

I just take a bath. Cologne, pulbo — powder is very important after I take a shower, before I put on my underwear. It’s just powder for me, and of course I brush my teeth. That’s it.

That’s all? So why do you still look so young?

Really? Naks! Stress-free lang, away from the gulo, no competition, not competing with anyone, just doing my job, and then home.

Are you really limiting your movies and TV shows?

Yeah. I think it’s just right to do one film a year so you can save all the nice projects talaga. You can take your time filming one, promoting it, so it comes out as an event all the time, which is better.

When did Charlene start using Pond’s Age Miracle?

Pond’s before had that makeup remover, right?

The cold cream.

’Yon, the cold cream. Kinuha kami ng Pond’s, then they said they had that anti-aging. “Oh, really?” Parang it was so timely. I said life begins at 40, then I hit 40, so eksakto. I tried it for a while, but stopped. Wala akong tiyaga kasi.

You’re not a metrosexual.

Well, I am sometimes, especially for my profession. Sabi nga it’s your responsibility to look good all the time. Yeah, but what’s important first is to lose weight. I struggle with my weight, eh — gain, lose weight, gain, lose weight. It’s tiring. It’s hard. Now I’m starting this week because I’m going to start filming in March.

What diet are you on?

No salt, no sugar, work out, start slowly. High-protein, low-carb. Like what I did last year, two years ago, every time I have a movie I always prepare for that. But that cream thing, like sometimes, walang magawa si Charlene, she does it for me. I just lie down, “I’ll do it for you.” O sige. Parang mina-masahe ka, eh, matiyaga iyan, eh. She does it for me. She even cuts my nails.

Have you noticed a difference in Charlene since she started using Pond’s?

Yeah! I like her better without makeup. 

Charlene, what is your beauty regimen?

CHARLENE GONZALES-MUHLACH: I’ve been using Pond’s for the past two years. It came out three or four years ago, so when it was offered to us, I was excited because it’s something I’d been using.

Does it work?

Yes!

A: But you know what? I’ve seen and heard of some na talagang sobrang ayos ng ayos na hindi na nakakalabas ng bahay. Sad naman because parang bawal na ang sun, so kailangan sa bahay nalang sila, the whole day sa bahay naka-cream. So I’m fortunate my wife’s not like that. But then she puts a lot of sunblock. Me, I don’t, eh.

C: When you’re in your 30s you start using a little bit of retinol to help take away freckles or pigmentation or reduce fine lines, and my skin is very sensitive…

A: Yeah, it is.

C: So I can’t put just any product on my face, because it reacts, eh. I get allergies, I break out.

A: Yung iba, hindi nagwo-work sa kanya. I mean, that’s the truth.

What are some other beauty secrets you can share with our readers?

C: Drink a lot of water, but sunblock is very important, especially now that our ozone layer is depleting.

Do you also diet like Aga?

C: We always try to live a healthy life — that’s a curse that we all have to live with for the rest of our lives. I say curse because we love to eat, but when it’s time to diet, we have to diet.

Do you enjoy going to the gym?

A: We do, all the time. We have a gym in (our house in) Batangas, but we go here in Alabang. Diyan kami makikita. We won’t be seen in bars, at events, but we go to the gym. Our friends are there and we box, we spin, treadmill, lift weights.

C: We’re very active. It helps reduce stress.

A: We even entered a triathlon; we started training September, October, November and stopped December, January.

C: It takes time to get back into the system.

Do you get eight hours of sleep every night?

C: I love to sleep.

A: She gets 10 to 12 hours!

Since you’re both in the same business, do you ever feel competitive as a couple?

C: No! Never.

A: I love it when she’s free for the day or night. But she doesn’t go out. I’m more of the artista. She doesn’t do movies, she has her show hosting, it’s like a lifetime magazine show, and it’s totally different from what I do because we’re very supportive of each other. Whoever I kiss, make love with in the movie, it’s very professional.

What’s your favorite way of bonding with your kids?

A: Slumber parties.

C: We have slumber parties every day! For the past two, three years they don’t leave the bed anymore. And they have this new thing: today is kids’ day, today is dad’s day, mom’s day. So that person gets pampered for the day.

A: Atasha is very independent. Parang she’s the type who can live without you guys, but when she comes to our room, our bed, wala na ’yon. Andres is malambing. They’re both malambing, but the boy’s more… women are stronger, more independent than men. Men will always be boys. (Laughs)

What did you do last year for Valentine’s Day?

A: We were in the States.

C: Or in Batangas.

A: If we’re in the country, we’re in Batangas. Because Valentine’s Day is traffic day. Sa Batangas, pag sarado ang gate, it’s our own private world. We can walk around there, no public, no tao, the kids can run around the streets, go biking.

What are the best gifts you’ve given each other?

C: Marami, diba? We’re beyond material na.

A: Material, not anymore, eh. You have a gift for me already? “None yet.” I’ll say me also, none yet. You don’t have to give me anything. Marami ka nang bibigyan ng gifts, don’t pressure yourself anymore. Your taking care of me the whole time is enough.

Charlene, you said Aga’s romantic every day. How does he show it from day to day?

C: He’s very expressive with his emotions; you feel it.

A: I cry.

C: He makes me feel secure.

A: My being romantic is not giving her any headaches. There’s no womanizing, no going out with barkadas and friends.

Is it a conscious effort to keep your marriage immune from intrigas?

A: Yeah. In a way, before, yes, but we just realized that it’s really not important. We don’t have to go out and attend all this, because the more people see you, the more they talk about you. So we’re very private and I want to keep it that way.

C: I’ve never really been a bar type of girl.

A: She asks permission, “Can I go out?” You can go out.

Aga is interested in cars. Charlene, what are your interests?

C: Me? Of course, shopping. At magpaganda! Clothes, beauty creams, but thank God for Pond’s, mas-tipid ako ngayon and I get better effects.