February is traditionally known as the month of love. Yet while Valentine’s Day is over, the act of appreciating loved ones knows no time or place. My husband, Jared, and I have been together for almost nine years. Our relationship is somewhat unconventional — he has hemophilia and a…
HemoWife — Allyx Formalejo
Allyx Formalejo, or Cza, is a writer, entrepreneur, and digital marketer based in Marikina, Philippines. She is married to Jared, who has severe hemophilia B and a seizure disorder. They have a young daughter and two other “babies” — a dog and a cat. Cza herself is diagnosed with ADHD and bipolar II disorder. This allows her to offer a unique perspective on navigating various aspects of young adult life (e.g. relationships, career, and parenting) with chronic health conditions. In her free time, she enjoys collecting fountain pens, supporting small businesses, traveling across the country, and exploring local cafes. She continues to blog like most 90s kids did in the Internet’s early years, sharing her thoughts and interesting discoveries on her personal website, czaofalltrades.com.
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When I was 3 years old, I joined a television pageant for little girls called “Princess Asia.” I won the top prize. But when I look back on that moment now, the crown itself feels almost incidental. What stands out more is that I caught amebiasis, an intestinal infection, just…
Last month, I had the pleasure of meeting another “HemoWife” at an event organized by the hemophilia organization that my husband, Jared, is involved with. Her name is Anne, and she’s married to Jundee, who has severe hemophilia A. She and I had a quick chat, during…
Hello, hiring managers and human resources (HR) professionals! I’m writing this column to you, as the spouse of a person with disability (PWD). My husband, Jared, has severe hemophilia B and a seizure disorder, and we worked together at the same company for a year. I’ve also seen him…
Tattoos and piercings are artistically and sociologically significant in cultures across the globe. Throughout history, people have held varying opinions about each. But now that we’re a more global community, these skin-deep forms of self-expression have largely become mainstream. I have a couple tattoos, as well as numerous piercings in…
My husband and I have always found ourselves living in between places. The first apartment we moved to was in a hub between three cities. Now we live on the border between two cities. Just a few streets away from us is a sign that says, “Thank…
Our New Year’s didn’t go as planned this year. My husband, Jared, our daughter, Cittie, and I were supposed to book a room for a staycation and then go out to the city center to see midnight fireworks. However, that didn’t pan out because the room we had been looking…
With 2022 soon coming to a close, I can’t help but wonder what kind of year is going to take its place. So much has happened in the past three years, since my daughter, Cittie, was born. Yet when I look at my pictures then, I don’t feel like I’m…
I recently bought an unexpectedly large number of indoor plants. After previously having just one living room plant and a dying cactus, I suddenly had an epiphany about redecorating with multiple houseplants. I managed to create a relaxing sanctuary, and now every day feels like a tiny vacation! Since my…
I’ve been reading quite a bit of philosophy in my free time lately. Right now I’m reading the works of Seneca, a first-century Stoic philosopher. I’ve always been interested in Stoic philosophy and its teachings. As a field of study, Stoicism is concerned mainly with how humans can attain…
With the holiday season fast approaching, many of us are clamoring to buy gifts for the people we hold dear. But it can be hard to find gifts even for those closest to us. This is especially true if they’re easily satisfied or, on the other end of the spectrum,…
Lately, I’ve been binge-watching the Korean TV drama “Extraordinary Attorney Woo.” It tells the story of a young lawyer with autism and the challenges she encounters (and does her best to overcome) in her life, career, and relationships. I instantly got hooked on the show for two reasons.
I’ve always had a hard time handling disappointment. I grew up labeled a high achiever and was accustomed to meeting high expectations. I feared disappointing other people, or feeling that my best efforts just weren’t enough. As a result, I became sensitive to disappointment, rejection, and failure — a fearsome…
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