Andi Manzano-Reyes: The Essence of a Woman 여자의 본질

Talking about marriage, motherhood, and sisterhood with Andi just seemed to naturally flow as she couldn’t gush non-stop about how in love she was with her husband, daughter, and family. She didn’t have to say it—it just showed every time her eyes lit up at the mention of GP or Olivia. Her relationship with her sisters is also something to be admired—she admits she doesn’t hang as often with her friends because for her, her sisters are already her barkada.

As natural and carefree as she is with her makeup and skin care routine, and even the growth of her following on social media as mentioned on last week’s cover story, being a wife and mom just seemed like something she was born to do.

In our third cover story on our August Calyxta Girl, Andi shares what it’s like being a wife, mother and sister, how she manages to balance her time despite her hectic schedule, and something she picked up from Korean women when she visited Korea with friends a few years back.

How are you enjoying the married life and what’s the difference from being single to having to run your own household now? Is it a big adjustment?

You’ll actually be surprised. When you’re single, it’s all about you, right? You have dreams you want to fulfill. But when you get married, it’s different. Of course, you still have your dreams but you have someone to consider. Especially when you have a kid, all the more that your dreams will be put aside. (laughs) It’s a big shift, but at the same time it was a shift that I wanted and I think I was ready for. Sometimes, I think I was born to be a mom. I helped raised my sisters so raising Olivia was very natural and normal to me, which at a young age, I knew I really wanted.

When it comes to household, it’s different when you live in a condo and when you live in a house. You think about the little stuff like changing the bumbilya or like, “May tumutulo dyan.” These things, you learn as you grow, and you’ll just know as the different struggles and problems come along. Then at the same time, I don’t just have Olivia to take care of. I have my husband. And there’s a structure there that I learned in Church and from other moms—it’s really God, and then your husband, and then your kid, and then everything else (like your family, your friends, and all that). The number one priority, and sometimes we fail to see it or married couples fail to see, is really your husband. Because sometimes, you’re all about your kid and you forget about your husband.

Has your look changed since you got married?

I think so. I guess I’m just more relaxed now. I think it’s more—whatever I’m comfortable with. Like I’d rather just wear rubber shoes or sandals than heels. Since Olivia runs around now, I have to be comfortable and wear whatever I can run around with, like pants with pockets to put your phone in, sling bags—you know those things. And I think when it comes to even buying clothes and stuff, I stopped buying bags and shoes. It’s really more makeup and skin care now, and then everything else for Olivia.

What’s your husband’s favorite look on you?

He doesn’t like it as much whenever I put a lot of makeup. When I try to curl my hair and do something a little different, he’s like, “You know, your hair is better if it’s straight,” and when I put a little lipstick, he says, “You know, it’s better if it’s pink.” So he likes the natural look!

How’s your schedule like?

Especially juggling your role as a wife, mom, sister, and daughter? I don’t know. (laughs) One day at a time, I guess?

Do you have days for your sisters only?

Yeah, actually. I have to. If not, I’ll go crazy. My friends and my barkada are my family. I have to see them or if not, I actually have to go there and make time. Whether they have love life problems, school problems, or you know—if they want to talk to someone. So I really try to make time and for me, that’s also like my day off.

You have a lot of babysitters!

Yeah! Or sometimes, they come over and they take care of Olivia. So I have time and be like, “Ahh! I’ll sleep first.” You know, those things. But one day at a time. Because every day is different. Sometimes, your husband needs you more than your baby so it really just depends. Sometimes, you also need time for yourself.

What do you miss most about living with your sisters?

I guess it’s having someone to talk to, having someone to whine to or just complain to—you know those things. What I don’t miss though is sharing clothes. (laughs)

Oh my gosh, yes! When you have a sister who raids your closet! Yeah! My sisters also do vlogs and all of a sudden, I will see my shoes on their videos and be like, “Excuse me, you’re wearing my shoes!” and like, they’ll borrow clothes and say they’ll return it next week but it never comes back.

Have you been to Korea? What was your favorite city or place you’ve been to
there?

Yeah. It was a long time ago. When I was there, it was winter. We snowboarded, and it was the first time that I snowboarded.

You were with your family?

I was with friends. I was with GP already. I think we were married na. We weren’t really able to go around because it was so cold, but I remember the 24-hour shopping malls. It was really fun to go shopping there! The styles are all the same—like those lace, ruffles? It’s very Korean.

Was there anything you picked up from Korean women there? Or that you noticed about them?

Their skin is really nice. Like, it’s crazy flawless. They don’t have pores. I don’t know if it’s just Koreans or an Asian thing in general, but their skin is really nice even at an old age.

Of all the places you’ve been to, what’s your favorite?

Like in the world? Maybe Greece or Saint Tropez.

Does your beauty routine change depending on where you go?

Yes, especially winter! Kulang na lang I put petroleum jelly. When I was in the States, my skin got really bad. I’d get allergies and it would itch and all that. It’s really crazy—so it would depend on where I’d go. I have dry skin so I depend on a lot of moisturizers and oil.

But for your makeup, do you use the same staples?

Yeah, always. And I would just put extra moisturizer or lip balm. But you know how you travel, you try to edit your makeup stuff but you end up bringing everything. (laughs)

Be sure to read Andi’s previous cover stories Breaking Her Norm and The Yeonghyang Beauty, and watch out for her last cover story next week! Don’t forget to check out her cover story video on our YouTube channel, and follow us on social media @calyxtabeauty.