Cristalle Belo-Pitt & Justin Pitt: Finding the Right Mix of Working and Parenting

Upon returning to the Philippines, Cristalle Belo-Pitt and Justin Pitt share several adjustments they made to provide for their family while making things work for their two kids — Hunter and Siena.

Although Australia’s landscape differs vastly from the Philippines, many of the adjustments Cristalle Belo-Pitt and Justin Pitt made for their family still apply. Motherhood, particularly for Cristalle, has been the most challenging for the past seven years. It is after all a “profession” with no “formal training” or “handbook,” and it is equally rewarding and challenging, she remarks.

“I realized that I needed to be really proactive to find out what works for me and my kids,” Cristalle reveals. “I’m so happy that I have Justin who is such a mindful parent. We learn together and he is so present. Between the two of us, he really is more consistent with his boundaries.”

Cristalle admits that the romanticization of parenthood made the reality of it more shocking. “When the time [becoming a mother] came, it hit me like a wave. All of a sudden, the pressure was on to raise a human being, and make sure the child was healthy and alive. But also, to make sure he is independent and thriving in this world. The responsibilities were quite overwhelming.”

But the best way to mitigate the overwhelming shock is to be a willing support, according to Justin. “Sometimes, you just need to be the one to sit there and listen when things happen,” he reveals. “And as a parent, sometimes, it can be as simple as looking after the kids or spending the day with them if one of us is busy.”

When the reality of parenting settles in

That support was most felt during the first two years into the parenting game — first with the birth of Hunter and then during the pandemic.

As a 33-week preemie, Hunter needed more attention and round-the-clock care. Cristalle and Justin remember those 21 days vividly from the spinal taps and check-ups, feeding Hunter with a cup, pumping breastmilk every three hours, and spending a whole lot of time having skin-to-skin contact. Cristalle reveals that those were the days that “thrust her into the reality of parenting.”

“I felt like I had to learn quickly and be strong and resilient for Hunter. But we worked hard to make sure he got out of the hospital healthy and safe and we did it,” she sighs in relief and nostalgia. “Thanks to Justin, our family, and the community for rallying around us and supporting us through this endeavor. It was then that I realized that I couldn’t do it alone and it really needed the support of a village.” 

In 2020, they chose to bring two-year-old Hunter and newborn, Siena, to Australia for possibly a better childhood. What is modern parenting if not adaptive? With the kids 100% dependent on both parents, Cristalle and Justin share that their lives focused more on running the household and raising the kids throughout the pandemic, but still had help from Justin’s parents, Leeanne and Roger.

Building a strong foundation

But there was a silver lining to the experience of leaving the place she called home, reveals Cristalle. “Because we only had each other to rely on, I think it really solidified us as a family unit. I realized that living in Manila for me can get busy as an entrepreneur with a busy social calendar. It was good to be away, to have quiet time to serve the family and raise my kids. I found a deeper connection with the children, especially Siena, in all the caregiving tasks. Bathing, playtime, preparing meals, breastfeeding — and I loved every second of it!”

Even the relationship of Hunter and Siena as siblings runs deep! “Since it was just the four of us, we also taught them how to care and look out for one another. This also lessened the fights between them because they knew that if they fought with their one and only playmate, they would have no one,” Cristalle jokes.

However, some changes needed more meticulous planning when they returned to Manila. While Australia had zoos, parks, and an abundance of nature and open spaces within arms reach where the kids could run around, scooter, and balance bike, there is definitely a shortage of that here in the city. But amid this frustration, Cristalle had a eureka moment that would serve as the foundation for her new business venture. Surely, other parents wanted more ways to keep their kids busy and off the screen!

What comes first — family or business?

As the daughter of the renowned Dra. Vicki Belo, founder of the Belo Medical Group, Cristalle admires the effort her mom has put in to build their family’s wellness empire to where it is today – along with the contributions she has made in the industry and the accolades she has reaped. While she enjoys being in charge of Belo Essentials, delivering products and helping Filipinos feel more comfortable and confident in their skin, she excitedly declares, “Now, it’s time to take it even further and bring it to new heights!”

Wellness is not just skin-deep for Cristalle. Helping people is second nature to her and bringing them all together to celebrate wins and successes – big and small, makes her heart swell. As of this writing, she has two other businesses that she is actively working on, aside from Belo Essentials. She has the Feel Great Business and Kick2Pedal. They are a reflection of her desire to give value to a community and positively impact people’s lives.

“Kick2Pedal is a push bike project I’m doing with two fellow moms, Sofia Genato-Shoonmaker and Tisha Ang-Dominguez. We all have toddlers and we feel that they need to spend more time being active than being on their screens,” she explains. “The Feel Great Business is also in the health and wellness space wherein we distribute two products that help people look great and feel great — a Yerba Mate tea and a Special Fiber Matrix drink that promotes time-based eating.”

Cristalle and Justin are also currently working on a new business venture, one that pays homage to Australia, that they hope will be launched by the end of the year. 

Despite being the scion of the country’s pioneer in the beauty and wellness industry, Cristalle is intent on paving her own path as an entrepreneur. She has seamlessly found ways to integrate her work schedule around her family, allowing her to “hit two birds with one stone.” She took things she is passionate about and turned them into business opportunities. Besides being productive, she also spends time with the people she loves while making use of her logistics managing skills both at home and at work.

The dialogue at home and business

It’s the dream of many moms to have a business that liquidates itself while they run their households. The secret to balancing that delicate system — according to both Cristalle and Justin — lies in both of them being hands-on with the various aspects of the homefront. 

“I love how Justin is an expert in one of the most important parts of raising kids that I have no talent in — cooking. As a hotelier, he is a trained chef and makes sure that the kids eat quality food and not junk. He teaches them about what’s good and bad for them.”

His level of involvement shows. When both Hunter and Siena hear one statement from him, they respond promptly and willingly. From cleaning up their toys to putting their clothes on quickly, the kids see him as a loving authority figure.

Of course, in every marriage or parenting game, there’ll always be disagreements. But for Justin, it’s something that can be solved with communication. Especially since their parenting styles differ due to their cultures and how they were brought up, they found ways to complement each other in maintaining that warm and positive environment at home. Sometimes, they even joke with each other about it!

“I’ll be honest, I’m so used to delegating parts of parenting to the nanny and household help because that’s what I grew up with living in the Philippines.” Cristalle laughs a bit. “Justin calls me his third child because I really needed to learn everything about ‘doing it all by yourself’ in Australia!”

“I’m usually the one who sets the boundaries,” Justin admits. “But that’s because I think that’s important and we all still love having fun in the house. Parenting is like a dialogue; while we’re raising the kids and tell them things, they see how we do things, they watch what we say to others, and how we act and respond. If we want them to grow up warm, loving, and caring, then it’s our job as parents to create that environment for them.”

Meet the Pitt kids!

Hunter and Siena share a love for adventure, a love for participating in life, they are kind to people (strangers included) and animals. They like going on walks and enjoy their balance bikes together. But even if they grew up as each other’s best friends, the two still have their differences.

“Hunter’s more reserved. It’ll take him time to warm up but he eventually does,” Justin reveals. “Siena on the other hand is really bubbly and likes meeting new people.”

Cristalle laughs that the kids are like their mini-mes, seeing herself in Siena while Hunter in Justin. “They are such fun kids with their own personalities. Hunter loves mind games and puzzles and loves to build things. Siena loves color — she draws and paints and loves pretend play.”

The kids have quite the schedule with soccer, taekwondo, swimming, biking and tutorials. Siena even has ballet! Aside from keeping them off the screen, it helps teach them commitment, discipline and time management.

As to why their schedules are filled with so many activities, Justin attributes their decision to his childhood. “Growing up in Australia, everyone’s outside. It’s a little different here because of the distance and availability of certain facilities, but we encourage them to try new activities so they get to go out and learn new things.”

Some of the recent things they’ve bonded over as a family include biking within the village and walking 1.5 km from their house to the plaza and back. “The whole walk — they’re looking at trees, asking how mushrooms grow on the bark, they ask about animals, so we’re always telling them stories as we go,” adds Justin.

On Solid Ground

Although the Belo-Pitt family starts another chapter of their lives in the Philippines, they will always cherish the years they spent in Australia. It gave them a chance to learn about one another, rely on each other and do things they will not get to do here, otherwise. 

No family is perfect and parents will always mess up. Justin and Cristalle are well aware of this so while they are living out their own dreams as they provide for their family, they also encourage their kids to dream big.

“They are free to explore whatever path they choose. What is important to us is that they grow up to be good people and good citizens of the world, solving problems and bringing their unique value into this world,” Cristalle shares.

“We just want them to be healthy, happy, have a sense of self, and have good moral boundaries. Be confident enough to venture into the world and write their own story,” Justin adds. “Experience their own happiness and find success in whatever they do.”

As Cristalle and Justin navigate a different kind of parenting culture, so do their kids as they discover what adventures await them!

Words KEVYN GOHU-CATINGUB
Photography KIERAN PUNAY OF KLIQ, INC.
Art Direction DENIELLE CARAG
Makeup MARY ANN OBIAS (MAVO)
Hairstyling JEY FLORES
Fashion Consultant WILLIAM MALLARE
Styling SIYA DARYANI for THE CLOSET CULTURE
Shoot Coordination ANTHONY MENDOZA
Sittings Editor MARGA MEDRANO-TUPAZ

Special Thanks to RASHMI DOWLANI of SAFFRON PLATES

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