I am someone who appreciates certain finer things. As a jeweler, I understand the value of fine metals, gems, and diamonds. As such, I can’t help but dream of owning attractive and valuable jewelry pieces that will ultimately serve as investments. I’m also drawn to fine timepieces, and admit to…
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.
Featured Post
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…
Splash! A kid’s plastic drinking cup falls to the floor, spilling water all over. “Oh, no!” a toddler exclaims, noticing the accident. She picks up a rag and runs it over the wet spot on the ground. “Wipe,” she says. This is a common scenario in our house these days now…
Want to be happier and more content in life? Embrace change, a study published in The Review of Economic Studies notes. I did a double take when I first read about the study at cnbc.com. Oftentimes, change and contentment are presented as completely opposing ideas. The stereotypically “content”…
Lately I’ve been feeling stuck. My life seems to have taken on the appearance of an infinite to-do list. The moment I tick off a box, three more appear. Every day, I am literally out of breath running errand after errand, with the ultimate goal of somehow staying afloat. Bills…
When my husband, Jared, and I were dating, many of our friends thought we had the perfect relationship. We were snuggly best buddies, intimate and passionate lovers, and mentors to each other. It was a bond I could only describe as spiritual and otherworldly. I had never met anyone who…
I’ve grown quite fond of collecting eyeglasses lately. Stay-at-home boredom compelled me to start a vintage fashion modeling hobby, and suddenly a necessary medical appliance became a means for me to express myself. I enjoy matching my eyewear to my outfits, and in the process, my collection has grown. When…
I am a staunch advocate of equality. From a very young age, I was taught that all people are valuable, regardless of their race, ethnicity, social status, gender, or health status. I was brought up to believe that human beings have certain immutable and inviolable rights. Eventually, I learned…
In our marriage, my husband, Jared, and I are equals. He may have chronic illnesses, which means there are certain adjustments he must make to have a semblance of normalcy in everyday life. I have psychological issues as well. But we strive to be equal partners. Sometimes we are imbalanced.
I have been struggling at home lately. I always pictured a peaceful and fulfilling married life. As a wife, I thought I would be queen of my home. Each corner of our house would be filled with my favorite decorations, and our fridge, pantry, and bar would be…
We finally got a dog! She is a 3-month-old purebred golden retriever. It was love at first sight when we saw her at the pet store. From our very first interactions, we knew she was the one. We named her Lucky because the golden color of her coat is associated…
As I write this, it’s the end of the month again, that time when bills are due, debts rack up, and stress is high. I often can’t help but fantasize about what life might be like if I were more successful as an entrepreneur. In the business world, success is…
Earlier today, as I was browsing one of the Facebook mom groups I belong to, I came across another mother’s heartbreaking post. Her daughter, a toddler like my own girl, had been battling cancer for some time. All I could think was that she was too little to have to…
Explore More Columns
Discussion
Discussion
Discussion