f you haven't been in the Louve Museum in Paris , France or to the Museum of Modern Arts in New York , then the perfect place to view fabulous paintings from world-renowned artists is in the martial home of Julius and Christine Babao. Yes, the former bachelor house, which was fully constructed and furnished in three years, has turned into a happy home when Julius married his Alas Singko Y Medya and Magandang Umaga Bayan co-host Tintin in a grand wedding on December 2004 at San Antonio de Padua Church in Antipolo City.

ART MUSEUM

THE Babao home is also a modern art museum with paintings that hang on the different wall areas. The ultra-modern home that was an overall concept by Architect Conrad Onglao sits on a 300-square meter lot that overlooks the Marikina Valley . As Julius, the man of the house says, it's “a killer view” and he hopes that it stays that way for the next 20 years or so.

Julius is a lover of art and his painting collections is considered valuable. He has a collection of works of National Artists—Ang Kiukok, Malang, Arturo Luz, Gus Albor, Lydia Cruz, Onib-Olmeda, Elmer Borlongan, Mark Justiniani, Bernardo Pacquing, Jerson Samson, ad others. He also bought paintings form his trips abroad and some from different galleries in the metro. There are also fantastic art works from sculptor Gabby Barredo.

“I try to get the best art works possible,” says Julius. “Siguro nga in another lifetime, I was an artist. Hilig ko talaga ang mga kakaibang art works. I also like buying modern household items. Like the ones in the kitchen, hindi lang siya basta can opener, juice extractor or salt and pepper shaker. May style pa rin siya na nakakatuwang tingnan.”

The interior of the Babao home is something that you would tell your friends and family about. The furniture and other gadgets can be seen in foreign magazines and the view from the glass wall gives you the best seat in the ultra-modern and chic country-like home. There is also the Star Wars collection of Julius that wife Tintin says is “off limits” because of its value in the next 20 years or so.

“Hindi nga raw niya ipagagalw ‘yan sa mga anak namin because he wants it all intacts sa mga cases nila. Mas mataas daw ang value when it's left untouched,” says Tintin.

The kitchen is where the couple usually spends lots of time. According to Tintin, it's where all the activity in their home starts and end.

“Parang extended office na naming dalawa ang kitchen at dining area,” she says. “All the paper works are here at pati na ‘yung mga inaayos kong mga albums. If you thinkg puro plates and other dinner wares and laman ng mga yan cabinets beneath the table counter, well, puro mga papeles ‘yan at mga albums na project ko.

“Right now, I'm into coloring books,” she continues. “Ewan ko ba basta nahiligan ko lang na magkulay-kulay ngayon. I think it's a good therapy for me while I'm pregnant.”

Another great room in the home is the entertainment room where the couple gets to watch their favorite movies on a big white wall, making it their own home cinema with life-size statues of Jar-Jar Binks and Yoga in the corners.

“Naging tradition na naming dalawa ni Julius na tuwing mid-week ay manonood kami ng sine,” Tintin says. “It's the time kasi when we look forward to new movies being opened in cinemas. We try different movie theaters. But now that I'm pregnant, hindi na naming magawa ‘yun. Umiiwas na ako sa crowded places at namimili na kami ng sinehan. Iwas na rin sa sakit for the baby. ‘Tsaka early weekend dates na lang kami. I have to be home before the sun goes down kasi I sleep early as per my doctor's advice when I had spotting a few months back. Mga 8:00 pm tulog na ako.”

NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY

THE additional member of the family was conceived this June. This month, Tintin is on her fourth month of pregnancy and is exciting preparing for it by late February 2005. If the baby is a boy, it will be named Marcello Antonio. If it's a girl, it will be Antonia Nicole.

“But I'm also contemplating on the name Sophia to be added kapag babae,” Tintin adds. “I find kasi the name Sophia so feminine. Parang girl na girl. Bahala na kung ano ang mapili naming dalawa.”

The name Antonio or Antonia is very special for the couple because of their utmost devotion to the said saint.

“It's our way of saying thank you to St. Anthony for all the blessings that came to us,” says Julius. “Noong wedding nga naming, ikinuwento naming na we were looking for a church para sa wedding. Then sinabi ng isang friend namin na doon na lang sa St. Joseph Church . Noong makita naming dalawa ‘yung church, nagandahan na kami ang we decided on it na.

“Noong kausap na naming dalawa ‘yung pari, nakita naming ni Tintin na may litrato ni St . Anthony sa office ng pari. So we asked the priest kung bakit may picture ni St. Anthony since St. Joseph ang church. Sinabi ng pari na hindi St. Joseph ‘yung church na ‘yon kundi San Antonio de Padua Church. So, parang na-guide talaga kami ni St. Anthony sa church niya kaya it is only fitting that our first baby be named after him.”

For the future dad, the gender of the baby really doesn't matter. Just as long as it's a normal and a healthy one.

“I really don't mind kung ano ang lumabas, as long as healthy ang first-born naming ni Tintin,” stresses Julius. “Sa US nga, pinagpupustahan na siya. I had a talk with my mother and she said na ang mga Pinoy doon wala silang magawa at naisip nilang pagpustahan kung lalake or babae ang anak namin. Ang bet is $100 per person! Tinanong pa nga ang mommy ko kugn ano ang hula niya ang she said na lalake raw. Hindi ko alam kung magkano ang taya niya.”

For Tintin, she really feels that it's going to be a boy for one simple reason…

“Out of the blue, I bought a basketball,” she laughs. “Wala lang. Bumili ako ng basketball sa loob ng bahay. Mabuti na lang at wala akong nabasag na gamit.”

On her being pregnant, Tintin said that she was expecting to get pregnant since January of this year. But it took quite a few months before she successfully conceived it.

“I was expecting that January pa lang ay mabubuntis na ako,” she laughs. “Akala ko nga honeymoon baby ito. I tested negative noong month of May. So, we were thinking kung kalian nga ba kami makakabuo. Kaya to keep my mind off it, I poured out my energies sa children's book that I authored which is Bryan Learns His Lesson. It will be our gift for our future children kasi.

“Tamang-tama habang ginagawa ko na ‘yung book, I was tested positive and it was such a blessing talaga. Julius was videotaping the day that I was tested positive. Madaling-araw ‘yon ang I woke him up kasi nga itetest ko na ‘yung urine ko for the pregnancy kit. ‘Tapos nakita niya two lines so it was positive. To make sure, nag-test kami sa isa pang kit and positive pa rin. Kung makikita mo lang ‘yung smile ni Julius that early morning, it was really different. We were both glowing with happiness kasi nga dumating nga ang baby na hinihintay namin.”

CHILD-FRIENDLY HOME

SINCE then, they both planned to make their home a friendly environment for the baby.

“Hindi kasi child-friendly ang bahay naming,' she admits. “Like the railing on the second floor, may butas pati na rin ang railing sa stairs. We plan to have it changed para safe for children to run around. There are three rooms lang sa bahay, the master's bedroom, the guest room and the entertainment room. “Kasi nga the house was meant for bachelor kaya walang children's room in mind. In fact, we have more TV sets than room's kaya we have to solve that problem.

“So, when I deliver the baby, stay muna siya sa master's bedroom until such time that the nursery is ready and that a midwife will take over na. Ninang Shawie (Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan) suggested that we got a midwife and not an ordinary yaya lang. kasi with a midwife alam niya ang gagawin sa baby in case magkaroon ng infant problems kapag wala kami sa bahay. May mga baboes pala na bigla na lang titigil huminga and they call it Sudden Death Syndrome. Kung ordinary yaya lang, baka ‘di niya alam ang gagawin kapag nag-choke na ang baby. At least professional caretaker ang kukunin naming for the baby.”

Tintin has only kind and good words for Julius as a husband and a father-to-be.

“Wala akong maipipintas kasi he's such a good provider,” smiles. Tintin. “Hanggang sa manganak ako, planado na lahat and I don't need to worry about anything. Ilalabas ko na lang ang convince Julius to be with me sa operating room when I deliver kasi he's not used to the sight of blood. Nahihilo raw siya at baka mahimatay siya sa operating room at nakakahiya raw.

“Gusto ko kasi is that he's there to hold my hand and take the video as I go through the child delivery scenario. Pero nakiusap siya na iba na lang daw ang kumuha because he really could not stand seeing blood. Pero I told him na I could not go through it alone. Kaya nga I want him to take Lamaze sessions with me para masanay na siya sa gagawin niya. Gusto ko mawala ‘yung anxiety niya kasi kung pareho na kaming ninenerbiyos, baka pareho naming ‘di makita ang baby kapag lumabas. So, I pray na mawala ‘yung kaba naming pareho.”

Another thing that Tintin is proud of Julius as a father is that every moment he has, he tries to communicate with the baby inside her womb.

‘Nakakatuwa kasi everytime Julius goes to work, he talks to the baby and tells our baby to take care of me all the time when he's not around. Wala kasi kaming stay-in na mais sa house and most of the time, I'm by myself sa house when he does TV Patrol. But it's a good thing na buntis ako because I get to have some precious moments with my baby. What's important ay ‘yung habang nasa tiyan pa lang ay established na ang bonding ninyo ng baby. And that is what Julius and I are doing since the day I got pregnant,” says Tintin.

HUSBAND & WIFE

THERE are many more stories about Julius and Tintin and their new life as husband and wife and now as parent to their baby. Just read on…

All that Julius remembered when his wife Tintin moved in was that she bought lots of clothes, shoes and bags. It was there that he realized that they lack closet space.

“Nagkaproblema kami sa closet space dahil sa sobrang dami ng mga gamit pala naming dalawa,” says Julius. “Hindi ko kasi na-consider ‘yung why women have so much clothes, shoes and bags? Fortunately, when the house was being built and designed, Tintin suggested that we put an attic. Doon pinalagyan niya nga mga sabitan ng mga damit for extra space nga namn. But still, hindi niya doon nilalagay ang mga damit niya at sa master's bedroom pa rin kunsan punung-puno na ang closet naming dalawa't.”

Another thing that they badly is a space for children. Julius admits that he did not consider putting an additional room for a baby.

“Ayoko kasing i-sacrifice ang design ng bahay during that time,” he admits. “I have programmed it for such a long time before Tintin and I got married. Hindi pumasok sa isip ko ang bata because I designed the house for a bachelor. Ngayon, we are planning for additional rooms and I'm planning to buy the lot next to the house for the extension. Hopefully within the year ko na ma-purchase ‘yan and have it built soon.”

When Julius had Tintin for his wife, he knew for a fact that he married somebody who is the perfect mate for life and a great mother for their future kids.

“Tintin is a very thoughtful person and she loves what she's doing now,” he says. “The good thing is that she tries to learn how to cook. She tried cooking adobo and beefsteak for me at naging successful siya. ‘Yun nga lang, ‘di na naulit ‘yon. Pang-special occasions lang daw ‘yong para nami-miss ko ang luto niya.”

When Tintin moved in their marital home, she says that the only contribution that she has for the house was the big iron gate outside.

“Julius was thinking of a design for a gate na would be safe for the house. I saw it in a magazine and I suggested that to him at sinunod naman niya. At least, it's a safe gate at kahit na umulan, hindi siya magra-rust,” Tintin tells us.

Other than that, Tintin never interfered with the masculine touch of the house. She says that she has so much respect for her hubby's impeccable taste that she need not add or change anything when she moved in as Mrs. Babao.

“It's my way of respecting my husband's taste and concept,” she says. “Ako kasi, I came from a house na napakaraming gamit. I had different collections of so many things. This is refreshing to see kasi halos walang masyadong gamit at hindi cluttered. Nakaka-turn off naman kasi kung maglalagay ako ng floral pillow or something na pastel ang color. Makakasira kasi sa motif ng bahay. Ang bahay ko kasi before yellow ang walls at kulay blue ang mga plato. Dito, nasanay na ako sa simple basic colors of black and metal gray.”

The real issue was really closet space and Tintin is dreaming of having her own walk-in closet someday.

“Yun lang naman ang naging problem because both of us have clothing sponsors and were get new clothes almost everyday, kaya kulang talaga sa space,” she explains. “That's why as a solution. Julius is thinking of buying the lot next to us as our house extension for the kids ad lots and lots of closet space. Ipapa-design ko nga ang walk-in closet ko para habang nagbibihis ka or namimili ka ng damit, you have a big space to go around at nandoon na lahat from clothes, shoes, bags and accessories.” (Articles lifted from S Magazine) - -