In a conservative country like the Philippines, parenting responsibilities are still bounded by gender limitations—moms or women take care of household chores and family members while fathers or men provide the financial and household needs.
But for Nico Bolzico, Solenn Heussaff’s other half, this is no longer the case—couples should share tasks, and it shouldn’t be defined based on one’s gender identity.
“I believe that we are now in the time that nobody belongs to any box,” Nico tells Manila Bulletin Lifestyle at the TCL Grand Summit 2023 held last Thursday, June 15, 2023, in
Okada Manila where he’s one of the celebrity ambassadors. “It’s not like women can do groceries and men can not. Men should do as much as women do in the house and that’s how everything should be.”
Nico explained that as a couple, they know each other’s strengths and use that to develop better systems and make the right choices for their family. But the Bullied Husbands founder jested that his wife has the final say on everything at the end of the day.
“Solenn and I put it in an efficient way in the sense that if she knows more about this, she makes the decisions. Like for decorations, she makes the decisions,” the dad-of-two says. “When it comes to appliances, the technical part I understand a bit better, so she asked me and we chose together and we’re happy with that.”
Regarding happiness, Nico can not contain it as his family grows together and he spends quality time with them. “When Tili (firstborn) called me Baba, I got very emotional,” he says. “When you get home and they hug you, those little moments that happen every day, make me have teary eyes.”
This Father’s Day, Nico looks back at the important lessons his father had taught him and expressed gratitude that it shaped him into the loving family man he is today. “My father didn’t finish school but always ensured he provided for us. He’s a farmer and his university is the land,” he says. “He taught me two important things that I applied every single day of my life—be honest and work hard. Then the rest will follow.”
When it comes to hard work, Nico’s way of giving himself a treat is through sports. As an Argentinian, he’s excited and passionate about the upcoming FIBA World Cup. No wonder for this year’s Father’s Day, he wishes to have a new television set, so he can watch the game in full cinematic detail.
“To all the fathers out there, I want to wish you a happy Father’s Day, especially, for those who wouldn’t be able to spend this day with their family because of work,” he ends.