HemoWife - a Column by Allyx Formalejo

Home improvement is a popular hobby here in the Philippines. Over the past few years, online communities dedicated to home decorating and renovation have sprouted up all over social media. Lockdown boredom inspired people to find new hobbies and pastimes, and as work shifted from office to home,…

As my husband, Jared, and I grow deeper in our marriage, the reality that we will spend our entire lives with chronic illness becomes increasingly clear. Jared has severe hemophilia B and a seizure disorder, which I learned about when we started dating. Meanwhile, I was diagnosed with…

As I write this, I’m battling my first major cough and cold since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Regular mask-wearing seems to have lowered our chances of getting sick, which is good. But now I’m no longer used to feeling ill. At the same time, my husband, Jared, is bedridden…

My husband, Jared, and I are both in our late 20s. In a few months, Jared will be turning 30, and I will follow next year. I used to fear the day I would reach the big three-oh, but now I am excited. I view the 30s as a decade…

My daughter’s nanny left last week for a two-week vacation to her hometown. Since then, my husband, Jared, and I have been getting by without an extra pair of hands to help with chores and childcare. So far, it’s been a tiring, albeit interesting, journey. Ever since we became a…

One of my current goals in life is to become wealthy. I cannot deny that I need more personal finances than I currently have to sustain my family and live a balanced and fruitful life. As a carer to a husband with hemophilia and a seizure disorder while…

My daughter, Cittie, is now 3 and a half years old. She’s grown so much over the past years, from a tiny and helpless little baby to a more independent preschooler with a mind of her own. She’s gotten good at expressing what she likes and dislikes. She’s also…

I recently came across the idea that people with disabilities (PWDs) should be held to the same standards as everyone else in terms of productivity and output. As a PWD and an entrepreneur, I wanted to understand the thinking behind this. In a social paradigm that upholds fairness as one…

To those caring for a spouse or partner with chronic illness: Maybe you knew about your partner’s condition from the get-go. Or maybe they developed a chronic illness or disability somewhere along the road, and you stuck around, ever the loyal companion. You may feel bound by spousal duties…

It’s normal to come across inconveniences in daily life. Imagine being in the following scenarios: You’re filling out an important document with a pen when it runs out of ink midsentence. It’s a typical morning and you’re on your regular train to work when it breaks down out of…