Dr. Aivee Teo, Dr. Z Teo, Rambo Nuñez, and Maja Salvador: In Every Stage, With All Our Hearts
First-time parents Maja Salvador and Rambo Nuñez join longtime friends Drs. Aivee and Z Teo, in an honest conversation about growing through the seasons of parenting—grounded in friendship, presence and holistic wellness
Most parents prove happiness and hardship can go together when raising their firstborn. Beyond the sleepless nights, erratic schedules, and second-guessing your ability to parent, there are also the milestones, forever etched in your memory—the cuddles, the warm, baby scent, the way your baby’s eyes light up when they see you.
For first-time parents, the days seem endless. And while others—the more “seasoned” parents—often say to enjoy these moments because they grow up so fast, it’s just challenging to grasp when you’re too tired even to know what day it is!
But in all truthfulness, they do grow up so fast. Those cuddles and babbles, the feedings and firsts are all fleeting. Being a present, loving parent is what should be their constant.
In our Modern Parenting interview, Maja Salvador and Rambo Nuñez reveal how they are adjusting as first-time parents to their one-year-old daughter, Maria. And Dr. Aivee and Dr. Z Teo—their longtime friends, wellness mentors, and fellow parents know just how profound, yet exhausting the journey can be. The Teos bring a wealth of parenting wisdom from years of raising their three children, and not to mention, their successful work life. They are prime examples of what it’s like to successfully raise a family in the present moment, showing how one can indeed have it all.
The two families are refreshingly honest in an era where parenting is often painted in curated perfection. It’s about four people growing (and evolving) into their roles as parents, partners, and people—with each other and because of each other. See them through the lens of firsts, healing, support, and the kind of wellness that begins at home.
The Power Of A Support System
“Maja is a natural mom,” Aivee shares when asked how she helps Maja, her inaanak sa kasal, navigate motherhood. “She doesn’t honestly need any help from me. I think she knows that we’re just a call away. She’s always sending photos and videos of Maria, we’re always in touch, and we are just here ready to support her and Rambo through this season they’re in. She’s glowing and happy to be a mother, and we cannot be more excited for their growing family.”
For Maja and Rambo, the support of Ninang Aivee and Doc Z has been invaluable. Longtime friends, wellness mentors, and fellow parents, the Teos have seen them through some of the most transformative
moments of their lives—from their relationship and marriage, to raising a family. Together, the two couples have created a circle of care and connection that proves raising a child is about more than bedtime routines and baby milestones. It’s about growing together, becoming softer and stronger, and holding space for each other.
The Choices That We Make
The decision to give birth in Canada was one made with love. For one, Maja’s mother has been in Canada for many years. And as many pregnant women could attest to, there’s something about being pregnant that makes you want to have your mother by your side—a feeling of being in it together, being with someone who not only knows how it goes, but will always have your best interests at heart.
Maja and Rambo also wanted to give their child more choices. In fact, Doc Aivee and Doc Z encouraged the couple to give birth in Canada. It opens up options regarding citizenship, education, and a broader scope regarding what Maria would want to do in the future. It’s that kind of forward thinking and decision making that Maja and Rambo do as a team, and one that the Teos support wholeheartedly. “We share the same experience, where I gave birth in Singapore for my three kids,” Doc Aivee shares, “I shared that with Maja, that being away and enjoying motherhood far away from everybody, it helps you as a first time mom to concentrate on really taking care of your baby, to being hands on.”
By now, you may have heard about Maja’s birthing story. Throughout the 30 hours of arduous labor, amidst the near-death experience and the excruciating pain, it was all washed away when Maja first held Maria in her arms. “I finally knew the meaning of unconditional love. She is our whole world now. I thought to myself, ‘I’m so ready for this’,” she exclaims. Finding that strength that moms know all too well—even when you feel extremely spent—is something Maja has gotten used to. When you literally have nothing left to give; strength is given to you from above, fueled by love.
It was in Canada where Maja and Maria spent their first few months together as mother and daughter, and as new moms know, those first few days and weeks are magical, but also brutal. Nothing fully prepares you for motherhood. But Maja, ever so confident, wittingly says, “I really feel like I was born for this!”
And she was. That motherhood instinct? Naturally just kicked in. Inside that bubble, Maja discovered the rhythm of newborn life: feed, burp, rock, repeat. She breastfed on the clock every two hours for eight straight months—”Sobrang draining, pero sobrang magical,” she sighs.
So Maja and Rambo learned. Slowly. Together. They also built rhythms and rituals that now shape their days: quiet mornings with Maria in bed. Diaper changes passed between them like teamwork. Breakfast was cooked, and story time was swapped, depending on who had more energy that day. Through it all, Maja and Rambo leaned on each other as equals—and let love be the through line.
Lessons Learned, From Their Families to Ours
Maja and Rambo were raised by single moms, and the way they were raised naturally influences how they parent Maria. “I don’t remember any particular advice from my mom or Rambo’s mom, siyempre may mga guidance, ganon. Just stories about us as babies, mostly. More of mother’s instinct talaga. Of course, everyone has tips and suggestions,” she says warmly. “But at the end of the day, you must trust your instincts. No one knows your child better than you.” Maja says.
She recounted a moment when Maria was uncomfortable after feeding, prompting her to act fast and perhaps against common advice. Maja says, “It was just a gut instinct, and it worked. You learn to trust yourself as you go.”
Rambo, as a doting, hands-on dad says fatherhood came naturally to him. “Maja and I know the value of family. Growing up, Maja and I were raised by single moms, but we never considered ourselves as people from broken families because we never felt incomplete. Even when our moms were busy, we knew they were doing that for us at the end of the day. Our home was always filled with my friends turning to my mom for help. And I grew up with so many father figures in my life. So when it was my turn, being a father was more like something I was excited about, because it’s doing something or giving something I never had.”
Rambo warmly says that every single day, he feels so blessed that there are two of them who can do the work of parenthood. “Having these great examples in our lives on how to be parents, and now that I have a partner who can do these things with me? Sobrang blessed, it won’t be perfect, but it’s going to be easier.”
Maja and Rambo are a team, making decisions with Maria at the center of it all. “Every choice now has a consideration for Maria—whether it’s buying a car, making investments, planning our future, or even small day-to-day things,” Rambo says, “It’s no longer just about what we want individually, but what’s best for her.” The couple’s unity is palpable, their bond stronger than ever as they navigate new challenges and joys together.
The Teo Touch: Wellness and Wisdom from Family Friends
Doc Aivee always looks forward to Maja and Rambo’s updates, whether a video of Maria dancing or a random text. “Even when they were away in Canada, Maja always kept us updated,” Doc Aivee says. “It was like we were part of every milestone. I remember the photo she sent of Maria after she gave birth!”
Their presence and encouragement have helped Maja navigate the mental and emotional shifts that come with motherhood. What started as a professional connection blossomed into something far more personal. “They may not be there every day, but knowing they’re just a call away is a huge comfort,” Maja says.
“They’ve been present for all of our milestones—our wedding, birthdays, and everything in between,” Rambo says with deep appreciation. Their guidance, from parenting advice to life decisions like giving birth in Canada, has been invaluable. “It’s a relationship we truly treasure—they’re like family.”
For the Teos, being part of Maja and Rambo’s journey has been more than a godparenting role. In Doc Aivee’s words, “a real journey of friendship—walking beside them from the excitement of their wedding preparations to the pure joy of seeing them become parents.” Maja and Rambo consider the Teos more than just doctors. They are godparents, confidantes, and quiet anchors who know what it means to raise children with love and intention. Their friendship evolved into more than just shared values. It became a refuge.
Wellness is a Journey, Not a Destination
As a celebrity for more than half of her life, Maja knows the demands that being in front of the camera brings. “I called Doc Aivee and said, ‘Ninang, I want to be pretty again,'” Maja says, laughing. While said lightly, Maja was serious regarding getting the energy and look expected from a Maja Salvador.
But Maja also knows that her face and body have been changed forever. She’s let go of the wish that she can snap her fingers and just have the same body and face, so she’s accepted and embraced the new Maja. Her latest body and face? Proof of strength and a thing of wonder to have given birth. And she’s so much happier for what she has to work with now.
“I had a hard time accepting my ‘mommy body,'” she admits. “Doc Aivee’s treatments helped, but more than that, it was her saying, ‘It’s not selfish to feel beautiful—your child benefits from your joy.’ And that’s true. If I want Maria to be very passionate, full of love, full of energy, I need to be those things also. I have to be able to practice what I preach. Maria deserves a mother who is happy and whole, someone who can take care of herself, someone who values herself. And that is the kind of person I would want Maria to be, someone who loves herself fully and completely.”
Walking the Talk
Dr. Aivee, a proud working mom to two sons, Ken Z and Kenzo, and a daughter, Keli, challenges the “martyr mom” mentality head-on. “Gone are the days a mom must stay home 24/7 to prove her love for their family,” she says, “I joke sometimes that I have four kids—three are my kids, one is our clinic. Kidding aside, working, earning money, and building something for yourself is important, and I think I’m also setting a good example for my kids. Because I feel that we have to be fulfilled in all aspects, that’s what I’m teaching my kids. And they’re thriving. I think as long as you know your priorities, you can have it all.”
Doc Aivee says she’s never wanted to impose parenting advice. Instead, she’s shared her wisdom simply by living it. The best way to support co-parents is not to impose advice. Through the years, I learned that just by being us, raising our kids in a loving, grounded, Christ-centered home has been enough for our family. When other parents want or need advice, they’ll ask.”
That paradigm shift—parents valuing self-care as family care—resonates deeply with both Doc Aivee and Maja. “Moms need to take care of themselves,” Doc Aivee says, “Because if you don’t feel good about yourself, if you don’t love yourself, it’s tough to love others, and it’s hard to take on your roles or responsibilities. Caring for yourself will inevitably help you care for others, especially your family and those who rely on you.”
Doc Aivee’s other half, Doc Z, states the same for fathers. “Kids don’t need a tired caricature,” he says. “They need a dad who serves as their role model, in all aspects. It’s important not to let yourself go just because you’re a dad. Stay healthy, stay strong—not just for yourself but to be an example for your kids. Being present and taking care of yourself are both acts of love. It’s not about vanity, I think it’s our responsibility—especially for those with young, growing kids. They will need you around for a long time.”
The Infamous Work-Life Balance
As working parents, Doc Aivee and Doc Z understand that balancing family and work is necessary, but really quite impossible. Sometimes work calls and they have to attend to it, but when they do spend time with their kids, especially abroad, it’s all play and no work. “Our work is still our professional calling, it is what we do, it’s what God prodded us to do. But our family is the priority, and our focus. We do what we do for them. So if the other things have to be put on hold so to have more with each other, so be it. There’s no compromise,” says Doc Z.
Doc Aivee shares that if there was one thing she could tell Maja, it would be this. “Z and I have been married for 20 years, we have big kids already, our eldest is 18 and is going off to college,” she says, “Parenting I feel, is something you must discover on your own, everyone has their own experience which makes them unique as parents. There’s nothing I wish I knew back in the day because I feel that I had to learn it on my own. We had to make things work while trying to be the best parents we could be at that time.”
The Teos are adamant believers in working hard, but family is everything. Doc Z says, “I think the most important way to manage it all is by communicating with the kids. We’re busy at work, but we try to have breakfast together, see them in their rooms in case they’re still awake at night, doing things together, movie nights, Bible studies, and church. Communication at every level is a must. Don’t let the leadership of your home be taken over by outside influences. You set the tone, and you make sure you, as parents, are shepherding them.”
Raising Children Through Leadership and Integrity
For the Teos, the vision is simple: raise children with strong values. “Non-negotiables for the kids are to have respect for people, to be kind, to have integrity, to be responsible and disciplined,” Doc Z shares.
As a father of three, Doc Z has discovered the nuance required in parenting boys versus girls. He amusingly shares with fellow “girl dad,” Rambo, parenting stories and moments he has with his youngest and only daughter, Keli. “With my sons, I’m very strict. I brought them up the same way my parents brought me up. When our daughter came along, Aivee took care of raising her because she grew up with three sisters, so that’s her domain, right? But after a while, I noticed that Aivee wasn’t that strict. The secret to dealing with our daughter is to be firm but gentle. I call it parenting with a cushion—firm, but with a layer of gentleness.”
Doc Aivee agrees, saying, “I feel like it’s also so important to have a good partner who shares the same goals, visions and priorities. And who puts God as the center of our family.”
Together, Maja, Rambo, Aivee, and Z remind us that parenting isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about prioritizing what’s important, focusing on your values, and showing up for the people you love. Again and again.
Words MAITA DE JESUS
Photography BELG BELGICA
Sittings Editor MARGA TUPAZ
Styling CATH SOBREVEGA
Shoot Coordination TONI MENDOZA
Shot on Location AIVEE SKIN SPA
Want to read the other cover stories?
Janella Salvador And Elisse Joson: Moms Of This Generation
Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes: On Top of the World
Jodi, Dennis, Ian, Iza, and Dimples: The Role of a Lifetime
To read the full article, grab a copy of Modern Parenting’s special Mother’s Day and Father’s Day 2025 Print Edition—available on sarisari.shopping. Download the e-magazine from Readly or Press Reader for more exclusive features and stories.
