Orange
chicken is no big deal for Danica Sotto-Pingris, who grew up taking it
for granted in the privileged household she grew up in. But it’s big
deal for the family of her husband, PBA (Philippine Basketball
Association) player Marc Pingris.
“Sabi ng tito nya ngayon lang sila nakakain ng ganoon,” Danica told media after the presscon of her new lifestyle show, ‘Happy Wife, Happy Life.’
Pre-loved clothes
Marc Pingris, Danica Sotto-Pingris' husband, enjoys the simple things in life /NPPA Images
When her mother-in-law visited them and asked Danica what kind of herb she added to a dish, the actress was taken aback again.
“Nung lumalaki kami, bale wala yon. Big deal pala yon.”
Danica started appreciating what to her are little things that mean the world to others – pre-loved clothes, ordinary rice, even letting the kids take a bath outdoors with only a pail of water to clean themselves.
“Yung damit na hindi mo pinapansin, pag binigay mo at nakita mong suot suot at ina-appreciate nila. Hindi mo kailangan ng sobrang pagarbo para maging masaya. Simple joys. Madali lang gawin ang orange chicken. Pero nung nakita ko ang mukha ng tito niya (Marc) na noon lang nakakain noon, OMG! Gusto kong maiyak! Natutunan ko sa kanila na ang simpleng bagay ay nakakapasaya.”
Never-ending thank you
Danica was afraid her six-year-old son and thee-year-old daughter will go home empty-handed after caroling from house to house. And sure enough, ‘pinagsarhan kami (ng pinto). ‘ So Marc decided to do the reverse. Instead of asking for little gifts, why not give them instead?
Husband and wife delivered gifts of rice to their neighbors and was touched when they got never-ending thank yous.
One summer, Danica and Marc risked exposing their city-bred children to the elements by letting them take a bath outdoors while using a pail of water to clean themselves for the first time.
Fiesta everyday
“Na-praning ako. Mainit. Baka ma-sunburn ang mga anak ko. But I’m so happy enjoy sila. “
These are simple joys money can’t buy and lessons life as Mrs. Marc Pingris taught Danica.
“Yung taong ito, kahit anong mangyari di ka mabo-bore. May maiisip na pagkakaabalahan,” she says of Marc.
Danica learned to adjust.
“Kapag umuwi ka sa Pangasinan, akala mo relatives lang ang kikitain mo. Yon pala pati kapitbahay nandyan, buong barangay. Okay, this is a fiesta everyday! Nasanay na rin ako.”
Wishing for a 3rd child
The Panggalatok dialect and way of life surprised Danica at first.
“Pag nag-uusap sila para silang galit. Pero hindi pala. At ang aga nila magising!”
Danica doesn’t mind the changes. She has blended into Marc’s family. Now, she wants a third – and last – child “para isang palakihan, isang gastos na lang.”
Danica is not worried her taping schedule will get in the way because she can finish her work during the nine months she is pregnant, if ever.
Besides, she knows it will make her life as wife, mother and actress-host even happier.
If only more Filpinas are as blessed as her!
(‘Happy Wife, Happy Life’ airs Monday to Friday, 10:30 a.m. starting Monday, January 19 on TV5).
By Maridol Rañoa-Bismark | Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom
