Spotlight

Dani Barretto & Xavi Panlilio: A Young Family’s Wishes Fulfilled

by Kevyn Gohu
September 21, 2024

As opportunities grow for Dani Barretto and husband Xavi Panlilio, so does their young family. Check out their thoughts on parenting, providing for their family and new goals.

Dani Barretto and Xavi Panlilio with their daughter, Millie — Dani in Dona Lim and Xavi in Marks and Spencer shirt
Millie in Periwinkle

Dani Barretto and Xavi Panlilio seem to have it all as a young family. With a flourishing business and a second baby on the way, this was not always the case. As a content creator, serial entrepreneur, wife, and mom, everything came with their fair share of trial and error.

“It takes a village, really — my mom hat is my priority and everything revolves around that,” Dani shares. “On the days I have to allot time for work, my husband fills in the gaps when I can’t be around. He lets me flourish and follow my dreams. It’s all about teamwork in our household. When the new baby comes, I’m gonna be working from home for a while. But with Xavi now working full-time for our business, Wellness Whispers, he can be present in the office when I can’t.”

With another baby on the way, her calendar already has dates blocked off, with many of them being Millie’s important school events.

Making it work

Since the time they got married, Xavi tries to seamlessly match Dani’s rhythm — from making a living through content creation and her business ventures. His ability to do so comes from his innate desire to support her — something, he shares, that’s easier to do than be unsupportive. He adds that for one to recognize and prioritize each family member’s potential and goals while placing personal priorities on the backburner should come from a place of love and trust for the family.

“She has enough on her plate and at the same time, is carrying our child as well. Because men will never understand what a woman’s body goes through during pregnancy, I took on a bigger role when it came to Millie to make life easier for Dani. Doing so made me foster an ever-stronger relationship with my daughter which definitely will prepare us when our son is born.”

Dani in a Marks and Spencer (M&S) dress. Xavi in a M&S Shirt and Pants

Xavi’s support, although it stems from his nervousness, is also what inspires Dani. That, along with the love they have for their kids, Dani discovers it makes her “unstoppable.”

“I wanna give my family the life that they deserve. My kids deserve to have the best lives and experiences,” Dani declares.

For the love of Millie

Their five-year-old daughter, Millie, proves that their teamwork is solid. With both of them on the same page immediately when they discovered her Speech Delay, the two quickly shed away their denial as time was of the essence. Despite people around them downplaying the situation, they knew in their gut something had to be done and it had to be done immediately. Although the journey was tough for all of them (including their daughter), they both knew it was their duty as her parents to give her the kind of life where she could thrive independently.

“We both did everything we could to get her the best help right away. It was a gut feeling” Dani advises. “And then I learned from her doctor that if we didn’t get her checked out the time we did, it would have been more difficult. Every year that you don’t get a developing child the help or corrective measures that they need is wasted time. Kids adapt easily to what they’re used to.”

Although the routine from both school and neuro-fit therapy have helped, the young parents share that they know that they still have a long way to go. But Millie’s progress assures both Dani and Xavi that they’re taking steps in the right direction. The five-year-old has become quite vocal about what she needs, finding all sorts of ways to communicate. She even taught herself how to use the potty.

“I remember before she got diagnosed, I would get so frustrated, umiiyak talaga ako because she wouldn’t talk. I would ask her questions, she would cry, but I didn’t know what was wrong. Ang daming guilt feelings, like ‘Did I do this to her?’ Hindi mawawala yon. But acceptance liberated us. Today, she’s very independent and she’s not struggling to express herself anymore,” Dani beams. “As a matter of fact, she’s improving everyday!”

Each of Millie’s expressions is a milestone both Dani and Xavi cherish. It may seem ordinary for some parents but to them, each milestone represents progress, therefore it’s a gift. Xavi offers sage advice for those who feel that their kids’ delays reflect on how they are as parents. “Don’t compare your kids to other kids. Every child is different. Focus on your child and what they need. Don’t mind the background noise. Focus on your family, that’s what’s important.”

Jane of All Trades

Focusing on one thing or another may sometimes mean choosing to temporarily ignore the other. Dani is truly a Jane of all trades. She is most known for being a content creator, something she has been doing even before she and Xavi got married. She has a successful podcast called Bare it All. She had a bag business called The Mill (which is a play on her daughter Millie’s name), then she started a skin care brand called Bare and Bold. And just less than a year ago, she entered the wellness space through her new brand of health drinks called Wellness Whispers.

Dani’s business savvy and her experiences, it’s almost superhuman how she keeps everything growing and going. With each business being quite the gamble, the stars finally aligned and Dani is now enjoying the fruits of her labor.

“When I entered the wellness space, I realized I had a lot of competitors already, but not all issues that women go through were getting addressed, such as hormonal imbalance. So rather than focusing on the competition, I thought of what I could bring to the table that could add value to people’s lives. I guess everything was just meant to be because the intentions were good. The goal was to release products that will give consumers a better quality of life without spending an arm and a leg,” she recalls. “I’m so grateful that people took a chance on us, given the fact na madami nang wellness drinks sa market.”

Being the hard worker that she is, you can catch Dani selling her products on Tiktok Live, answering question after question tirelessly and getting sold out. They just moved to a brand new office and Xavi quit his day job to work on their business full-time. This will allow Dani more time to record her podcast, spend time with Millie and soon, their new baby boy.

Starting her passion project, Bare it All the podcast, had its own set of obstacles — the most daunting one being the court of public opinion run by sometimes unforgiving netizens and keyboard warriors. Yet, that fear eventually disappeared with Dani recalling how she just “woke up one day and felt inspired to go for it.”

“I feel like I have a lot to share based on my personal experiences, and it’s such a liberating platform. Bare It All podcast is all about expressing yourself, and facing them head-on,” Dani shares. “I’ve learned so many new things about myself in every episode, with every guest that I ever spoke with. It’s also healed me in so many ways.”

Her podcast — once a space where she could talk about things that she went through but feared speaking about — eventually turned into a safe space for both her, her guests and her listeners.

Looking to the future

With everything flowing a bit too smoothly and another blessing in the form of their unborn son, sometimes one can’t help but think, is this all too good to be true? But Dani and Xavi are not strangers to overcoming obstacles, so the young parents are very appreciative of every opportunity given to them. It’s been both a thrill and joy even with the many big changes they had to make over the years. One of their long-time wishes had been fulfilled with the upcoming birth of their son, making it even-stevens for their family. “It was truly an answered prayer,” according to Dani.

And the best part is, Millie has come to terms with the new changes she’s expecting! While she wasn’t too hot about the idea at first, like most older siblings, Dani and Xavi’s trips to the doctor’s always included her, so she’s finally onboard.

Dani and Xavi in Marks and Spencers (M&S)

“She always says “mama baby” and hugs my tummy! She even gets the doppler machine, then sits there and watches me check the baby. I know that Millie’s gonna be a great ate,” Dani intimates.

With the family of three soon to become a family of four, they now set their eyes on a new goal: a bigger space. “I think that will be our main goal for the next two years so we have to work hard,” shares Xavi.

Just like their current address, Dani and Xavi hope to maintain it as a place of never-ending love and guidance. “Whatever or whoever they want to be when they grow up, we will support them. Our hopes are that they grow up kind, humble, God-fearing and that they always visit us when they’re adults and living their own lives!”

Words KEVYN GOHU-CATINGUB
Photography EXCEL PANLAQUE OF KLIQ, INC.
Art Direction DENIELLE CARAG
Makeup TWINKLE BERNARDO
Hairstyling ANGELI ALFONSO
Styling THE CLOSET CULTURE
Shoot Coordination ANTHONY MENDOZA
Sittings Editor MARGA MEDRANO-TUPAZ