Jessy Mendiola, Luis Manzano open up on pregnancy journey: ‘You’ll never really be ready’

Jessy Mendiola and Luis Manzano. Image: screengrab from YouTube/Jessy Mendiola

Jessy Mendiola and Luis Manzano recalled the time they found out that they are about to have their first child as they talked about their experience so far as expectant parents.

The couple revealed that by the time they found out about Mendiola’s pregnancy, they no longer felt pressured to have a baby after months of trying to conceive, as seen on the actress’ YouTube vlog yesterday, Aug. 18.

“Every time na ‘di kami papalarin, malulungkot kami. So dumating sa point na ‘di na ako nagte-test, ‘di na ako umaasa,” Mendiola recounted. “Dumating na sa point na hindi na rin kami masyadong pressured. Nag-usap kami, ‘let’s have fun na lang.'”

(Every time we did not get our desired results, we would get sad. So it reached a point where I was no longer taking [pregnancy] tests, I was no longer hoping. It reached a point that we were no longer pressured. We talked to each other [and said], “let’s just have fun.”)

Mendiola and Manzano believe that this mindset lifted a “heavy weight” off their shoulders since they no longer had stress or expectations.

The couple discovered they are going to be parents by the end of May or early June, and Manzano’s mother, veteran actress Vilma Santos, was the first one they told, followed by other members of their respective families.

For Manzano, starting his journey into parenthood changed his mindset when it comes to work and pushed him to take on more projects, if possible.

“Ngayon, lahat ng [trabahong] reasonable naman… naco-consider ko na kahit na medyo napupuno ang schedule ko,” he admitted. (Now, any reasonable job… is considered even when my schedule is getting quite full.)

For her part, Mendiola said that she had to let go of high-intensity workouts and certain food options such as sushi and sashimi.

While the couple is excited to welcome their bundle of joy, they know that some things may not always go according to their plans. When asked how he would rate himself as a soon-to-be parent on a scale of 1 to 10, Manzano gave himself a score of 5.

“Five dahil kahit papaano, nandiyan ‘yung plano na gusto mong gawin. Five dahil every single day can be a different day para sa plano mo,” he explained. (Five because in some way, you have a plan on what you want to do. Five because every single day can be a different day for your plan.)

“You’ll never really be ready… For me kasi, first trimester, surreal siya. Hindi ako makapaniwala. Medyo mahirap din ‘yung transition pero at the same time, ang dami kong natututunan, ang dami kong nadi-discover,” Mendiola, meanwhile, said, noting that “every day is a learning experience” for her.

(You’ll never really be ready… For me, first trimester was surreal. I could not believe it. I struggled a little bit with the transition, but at the same time I learned a lot and discovered many things.)

The couple then urged fellow soon-to-be parents to lean on their partners and “learn” with them, as they are “all in the same boat.”

Mendiola and Manzano have been married for a year now. They wed in an intimate garden ceremony in February 2021. The couple revealed that they are expecting their first baby through Mendiola’s vlog last Aug. 11.  /ra

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