Regine Tolentino is worried for her daughters
TV host Regine Tolentino would like to believe she and husband of 17 years, Lander Vera-Perez, share a “special relationship.”
The two had a civil wedding in 1997. A church ceremony followed a few months later. Regine was barely of legal age and Lander was 24 when they got married six months after they first met.
“You can say it was love at first sight. And we both felt at that time that when you find your soulmate, there’s no need to wait 5, 10 or 15 years for an engagement,” she told Yahoo Philippines on Monday (September 24) at the launch of Bonakid Pre-School Ready Set Laban at GMA Network Center.
She added, "If you’re meant to be, then why not seal the deal? We’re just lucky that our relationship is amazing. We get along so well.”
Not an act to follow
But the TV host-entrepreneur conceded theirs is more the exception than the rule. It would be a different story when it happens to their daughters—Azucena Reigne, 15, and Alessandra Reigen, 14.
"I’m truly, truly afraid of that when people say, ‘Hey you got married at 18, what if your daughter wants to do the same?’ Honestly, I would have to put my foot down and ask them not to do the same thing that I did.”
Regine attests experience is the greatest teacher.
"My mom also married at a young age. She was cool with it. But now that I am more exposed to the real world and how reality is now—and all of the challenges of handling a husband, let alone a family at a young age—I would definitely try to explore options if ever that date does arrive, which I doubt it will though.”
Letting daughters explore
But the hot momma encourages her girls to explore and have fun with the opposite sex.
“Actually I’m excited for that (accommodating her daughters' suitors). I’m the one who’s more cool than my husband. And I encourage them. I was like, ‘Hey, guys, you guys have a prom this year! Who’s your date?’ And they’re the ones who are kinda shy about it, ‘No mom! We don’t like boys yet! We don’t have a crush yet.’”
Regine admitted Lander has a few more rules when it comes to raising their children, but they gladly compromise as long as it’s for their daughters’ own good.
