Editor’s Note: This content is sponsored by Vicks VapoRub and produced by BrandRap, the sales and marketing arm of Rappler. No members of the news and editorial staff were involved in the production of this article.
MANILA, Philippines – Family dynamics have changed for quite some time now.
Gone are the days when mothers quit their jobs to care for their children and families, while fathers cared more about being breadwinners than spending time with their children. More and more parents have broken down these stereotypical roles by making parenting decisions together, sharing parenting responsibilities and household chores – tasks usually considered to be the domain of a specific gender.
Wondering how parents actually practice this? We turned to superstars Regine and Ogie Alcasid to help demonstrate how parents can break gender roles, especially when it comes to caring for their children at home.
How is your day today? How do you take care?
REGINE: I binge watch [television] series for two to three days, depending on its duration. [laughs] Sometimes I go to the cinema. In a month, there are times when I would need to go out often for TV spot shootings, and then there are also as quickly as possible [Sunday musical-variety show].
OGIE: Nowadays, I’ve been hard-hitting for Vice Ganda for It’s show time [a noontime variety show broadcast] so I’m here every day. Once a month we do live shows for AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, then we record two or three more shows. So technically [laughs], I work everyday.
How are responsibilities delegated at home? Who does what?
REGINE: Last year we asked our people – our housekeepers, even our drivers – to go home first because we thought they might want to be with their families.
I cooked every day. I was doing the dishes. I was taking care of Nate. My husband was doing his thing. He helped me, he did the laundry. Vacuuming, my husband does too.
OGIE: With us, things are quite organized. But unlike other families – it’s usually the mother who makes all the shopping decisions – I do these things. My wife is very involved with Nate, especially with school, homework and his health. I do all the practical work around the house.
What responsibilities did you take on at home?
OGIE: Well, here in the house, I make sure that – because we’re streaming online – I make sure that every technical thing is in order. I make sure our races are up to date. It’s all about me really, with the meds and everything.
How is taking on more of a burden for each other important to you as a mom/dad?
REGINE: Today, my husband and I really share everything. I’m still working, because I can still. [laughs] It is a blessing to be able to help my husband financially. My husband would always involve me in everything and it has always been that way with us. We share everything.
Today, it is not because you are a woman that you have to stay at home and take care of the children. You try to help each other. Relegating someone to one thing is no longer a thing. Whoever can help, then let’s do that.
OGIE: It’s very, very important. I think it’s good that we’re all home. Well, at least most of the time, so we can talk to our kids and explain to them in detail what’s going on. It’s obviously very difficult for them because they don’t see their cousins. Nate doesn’t see his classmates and misses it all. I think part of our job as parents is really to explain that and fill the void whenever he feels a little sad and lonely when he misses everyone.
It’s always been that way with us. We share everything.
Regine Velasquez-Alcasid
These days, many of us are doubly concerned about the health of our family, especially our children. What do you usually do when Nate gets sick with a cough and a cold?
REGINE: Do you know what I’m doing? Steam inhalation with Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil (Vicks Vaporub). You get hot steam and Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil (Vicks Vaporub). I believe in that.
That’s also what Nate’s doctor advises us when he has a stuffy nose.
How it works Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil (Vicks Vaporub) help provide the best kind of care for your family?
REGINE: I’m sure you’ve been through this before with your mothers. It feels good when your mom puts Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil (Vicks Vaporub) on your body. I think it’s not just the minty eucalyptus thing. It is also your mother who devotes enough time to you to make you feel better. I think that’s it.
OGIE: Oh, the Vicks brand alone, you know, that’s something we rely on. We trust the Vicks brand, especially Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil (Vicks Vaporub), for whenever a family member has a cold.
How and when do you usually use Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil (Vicks Vaporub)?
REGINE: I remember my mother and father always used Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil (Vicks Vaporub) at the time. You know that thing where you put the vaporub on your chest, from your throat? I think, I’m doing this with Nate.
Do you have any advice for new parents? How can they effectively share parenting responsibilities?
REGINE: I think there’s no right way to raise a child. There really isn’t. We are all doing our best. Because there is a learning curve to parenthood, don’t be too hard on yourself. Ask your husband for help.
One last thing I can tell them: when your children talk to you, stop playing with your phone. [laughs out loud]
OGIE: I think the best thing is really to communicate. Communicate with each other so that there is no overlapping of responsibilities. Gone are the days when mom had to do this, dad had to do that. Let’s help each other.
Gone are the days when mom had to do this, dad had to do that. Let’s help each other.
Ogie Alcasid
With the use of Vicks products, especially when inhaling steam with Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil (Vicks Vaporub), I think it’s important that we have them in stock in house. You will never know what will happen to our health. It helps relieve cold symptoms.
Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil (Vicks Vaporub) as care partner
As we learned from Regine and Ogie Alcasid, Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil (Vicks Vaporub) is the partner for moms and dads when it comes to taking care of their families.
Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil (Vicks Vaporub) can help provide up to 8 hours of soothing relief from cough and cold symptoms, such as stuffy nose, cough, headache, difficulty breathing, muscle stiffness and body aches.
And like Regina, parents can try steam inhalation at home when a family member gets sick with a cough and cold. Simply fill a bowl with hot water and add 2 teaspoons of Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil (Vicks Vaporub). Gently inhale the vapors with a towel over your head and bowl. This can help relieve a stuffy nose and ease breathing difficulties. This can be repeated up to four times a day, but the contents of the bowl should be discarded each time. Please note that children must always be supervised!
Through steam inhalation, parents not only relieve their children of cough and cold symptoms, but also provide care and attention to their family.
Try steam inhalation with Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil (Vicks Vaporub) today! get your Camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil (Vicks Vaporub) in all major pharmacies and supermarkets nationwide. You can also shop online at Watsons or Shopee (P&G Health Official Store, Online Shop | Shopee Philippines). – Rappler.com
*Answers edited for brevity
*Some answers have been translated into English to better suit the target readers
If the symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
ASC reference code: P015P011122VS