Tweetie de Leon: A model Life
Mother, wife, model, teacher, businesswoman, environmentalist—-her profile can leave other people dizzy. How she juggles it all and what we can learn from her. By Nelia R. Paculan

She has always been one busy woman. She started modeling at age 14, graduated with a degree in philosophy from the University of the Philippines at 18, got married, had four kids, endorsed products on Philippine TV and print over the years. And now, Tweetie de Leon spends her days following an organized schedule of varied activities.

"I wear a number of hats," she says. "I have my own business. I design and manufacture jewelry for retail here in the Philippines. Last year, I started to export."

Even her modeling days are far from over. It's not even limited to Metro Manila. On specific days, Tweetie flies to the southern city of Cebu in the morning to teach modeling at FTV ModelSchool Philippines, and flies back home in the evening.

Long-term advocacy
"I also have my volunteer work. Of course, the biggest hats I wear are those of mother and wife," Tweetie sums up.

Her advocacy--conservation and environmental awareness-is not any less important to her. "Long before global warming was an issue, I was already with the World Wildlife Fund. They call on me when they need my help. I promote the cause, organize activities for them." For her, it is a long-term thing. She believes it is important that her children understand their responsibility toward the environment.

But how does she manage to do all these and still look as relaxed and cool as she does?

"I'm quite organized as far as my schedule is concerned. I want my schedule fixed already a week before the events, so I know what I have to prepare," Tweetie explains. "If I have a shoot, I know that I need to have my nails done, that I have to be free the night before so I don't look [lacking in sleep]. Or if it's an out-of-town [engagement], I make sure my children are covered as far as tutoring is concerned, their allowance. I need to cover a lot of things because my absence from home affects a number of people."

Walking barefoot around her house in cool white shorts and a cotton shirt, Tweetie's cover-girl looks would certainly be the envy of many metropolitan housewives. She smiles, slightly amused. "Contrary to what some people think, I hardly go to the [beauty] salon. After I visit the salon, it will take three to four months before they see me again. Then I get everything I need done in a day."

Spare beauty kit
In her TV ads, Tweetie appears to have very little makeup on. In person, her face is scrubbed clean. What's in her beauty kit? Lip gloss, lip balm, liquid eyeliner, compact mirror, rosary and dental floss. That's all.

And the lady doesn't diet. "It's really just [a matter of] controlling your food intake," she maintains. "If you deprive yourself of something that you really like, next thing you know, you're binging and you really cannot resist it. So it's better to take a little of it right now just to kill the craving. Then, you'll be fine. It's OK to treat yourself to sweets, pizza, anything you want. Just don't overdo it.

"You have to be attuned to your body's needs. Your body is not the same as it was 10 or 20 years ago. You have to adjust. For example, you cannot get away with tons of chocolate anymore the way you used to.

"I do a lot of sports. I play squash--two hours, three times a week. I'm pretty active. You really have to commit to a time for sports or exercise. I treat it as an important activity that I cannot miss. Before, I was crazy about Tae Bo. I could not miss it--I did it twice a day, three times a week. But my instructor left, so now my squash takes care of my cardio needs."

Essential exercise
Tweetie is emphatic about exercise as essential to her family's lifestyle. She even took plyometrics--an intensive three-month program for athletes--with her husband.

"When I joined that program, I would be in the gym with varsity team members of different schools, even with professional basketball players. But anybody can actually try. They will tailor your program to your specific needs. If it's golf, they will train you for golf; if it's basketball, they will train you for basketball. While doing plyometrics, ideally you're on vacation from your sports. You don't do anything else because you can injure yourself. After the program is done, then you can go back to your sports."

To balance her days, Tweetie sets aside quiet time for herself. "I meditate either late in the day or early in the day. It's my moment of prayer."

She feels she has found comfort and peace. "I just turned 40. I have fewer concerns [now]. I'm more at peace with what I am. I'm no longer stressed out, like wondering, 'Why was I not taken for that show?' I'm out of that game. I'm secure because I know I'm wanted and needed."

Take it easy
"As you get older, your interests change and, for some reason, some people lose their focus," Tweetie muses. "They get derailed either by work, or by family, or by their problems. I think that's the normal [weakness] of women: They really attend to everyone first, and if there's time left, then well and good; if none, sorry. Women have this need to pamper everyone around, which shouldn't be, because you don't teach your children independence. You have to raise your children to be competent, train them to be confident and independent."

To all harassed women who try to do everything for everyone, Tweetie offers these wise, pragmatic words: "Tomorrow is another day. No need to stress over everything. Take it easy. If it's beyond your control, if there's nothing you can do, then just pray about it. The solution will come the next day.

"I really just take it one day at a time--where I'm needed, how I'm needed, how I can help. My kids understand that. My family understands that. I make time for everyone, but whoever needs me the most at that moment will have my attention and my time."

A busy life, pared down pretty much the way she has pared down her makeup kit to the basics: Perhaps this is why Tweetie really looks as though time has left her untouched.