Sid Maderazo Is Viewing Life Through A New Lens
Renowned director, Sid Maderazo, talks about his dreams for his family and how living through this pandemic-ridden era has changed his life
Celebrating two decades as a director, this year marks an important milestone in the life of Sid Maderazo. He’s been able to what he loves for 20 years and he’s also found a new perspective on life.
While rumors swirled around the metro early last year about a quarantine, Sid’s wife, Kat, suggested that they leave Manila. “I was really busy with work, extremely stressed and in a bad place.” He continues, “It was difficult to grasp mentally, but Kat wanted to leave. She thought we would be away for just two or three weeks, but I didn’t want to go. I wanted to stay where the stress was, which is just so weird.”
They reached a compromise where Sid would travel by motorcycle, thinking he could leave for Manila at any time, and the rest of the family would travel by car. They packed up their things and left for Baler, Aurora— one week later, the whole country went on full-scale lockdown. “We ended up staying for nine months, and for me, that was life changing,” says the father of three.
All it took was an open mind and a fresh start
Being so close to nature and seeing his family thrive in a new environment created a shift in his mindset. All of a sudden, returning to Manila felt strange and suffocating. He was able to work on his own, which was a relief from the stress he was accustomed to. Sid didn’t miss the face-to-face meetings, or hours spent on the road just to make it to appointments. “If I need to communicate and articulate my creative ideas, and I am able to do it online, I think that suffices.”
He was hit with realizations that he believes wouldn’t have occurred if not for the crisis.
The well-known director was able to manage a creative team in Manila directly from the beach, with sand between his toes, working remotely. It was a setup he couldn’t have imagined ever doing. “This was the silver lining. We were able to reconnect with our families, and also evolve, changing the way we lived, or the way we work. In terms of living, we became more practical, and we were happy.”
Their lockdown experience led to the decision that they would relocate their family out of Manila completely. “Hopefully, by early next year, we will be living permanently in the province. We bought a small property by the beach, and we’re going to start building soon,” Sid shares. He adds, “When you decide on something as a family, it can no longer be for selfish reasons. It’s really about how and where you want your kids to grow up. What kind of life do you want to provide for your family? Because for us, we’re done with the rat race in Manila.”
Finding the right balance
Well aware that this move will greatly affect his career as a director, Sid is confident that he’s prepared for whatever may come his way. He’s determined to continue with his work while dead set on unlinking himself from the hustle and bustle of the metro. “It feels as though the city is clutching on to your life, and it doesn’t want to let you go. Work has always been a huge factor. Second is education.”
“As a family man, I’d much rather be at home. I can be stuck in my chair the whole day and the kids will crash Zoom meetings, but I enjoy that. I call my kids for ‘hugs-on-demand’ when I need to recharge. They’ll come in, and after 10 seconds of hugs, my battery levels go up again,” Sid laughs, expressing his appreciation for the added bonding time.
When it comes to addressing matters of education, there’s no question that they’ve figured it out. “My wife is a great educator, and she is very hands-on. Our kids are now homeschooled, and this helped us understand that we could live anywhere.That’s the most important part,” He smiles. Giving credit where credit is due, he adds, “I have to hand it to Kat because she really handles all the day-to-day operations at home.”
The greatest lessons begin at home
Coming from a creative background, Sid explains that he and his wife consider their parenting style to be quite non-traditional. “We grew up with our parents telling us that we had to study hard or we needed to get good grades. Personally, that’s not our focus. It’s not about getting medals and accolades.” He clarifies, “I’m not condoning failure, but I’m saying that it’s okay. That’s what we tell our kids.”
“A good barometer of success for me is for our kids to grow up as good and respectful people. I’m happy with that. As a parent, if we are able to achieve this, I’d say my job is done. It’s really more of a reflection on how I got to this point, which is how you answer one simple question: Have you found what you want to do for the rest of your life?”
Sid explains further, “If you can answer that, and figure out what makes you happy— not because it pays well, but because it fulfills your creativity and your curiosity, and you find joy in doing it, then I believe you’ve lived your life. And I want that.”
Steadfast with the belief that pursuing your passion is the key to a life well-lived, Sid and Kat strongly apply this in how they raise their children. Allowing them to flourish as individuals is not up for debate. He speaks with certainty, saying, “The validation happened during this pandemic. We believe that the best education is at home, and the best teachers will always be the parents.”
Manifesting their dreams into reality
“It has been a total slow down, but it doesn’t mean I’ve become sedentary. I’m actually busier now with a lot of things, like motorcycles or getting back into fitness, and really spending time with the kids,” shares the former triathlete turned motorcycle enthusiast. “I’m not exaggerating when I say I was really in the dumps before all of this. Mostly because of the stress and unhappiness with work. I even had a talk with a close friend of mine, who is a life coach.”
Sid shares a snippet of that conversation about how he was asked to quickly draw his ideal life. He obliged, “I drew myself sitting on a log by the beach with my wife. The sea in front of us, and the kids playing in the background. This was my ideal life. He asked me to describe that moment, and I could smell the salt in the air and really feel the sand beneath my feet.” He ties it all in with their experience in Baler, which happened no less than a week after that talk— completely unplanned, but exactly what they needed.
“I was ready to give up, you know? And then this pandemic happened. We’re back in the city, but our minds are still set on making that a reality,” says the dedicated husband and father. A man with vision, he declares with full conviction, “All of my decisions now are really focused towards manifesting that image in our heads and living that dream.”
Grateful for the blessings amidst a difficult time, Sid Maderazo is soaking it all up. His foundation is unshakeable, and his determination now stronger than ever— it looks as though 20 years of purpose-driven passion was only the beginning. “Everything just fell into place, and this is how I want to work as a family. I do work more, but I don’t lose time when my family is just an arms-length away. I’m happy with this setup and it has really changed my life.”
Love this article about Sid Maderazo? Here’s more we think you’ll love:
Thank The Pandemic For This New Mother ‘Hood
Modern Parenting Pandemic Survival Guide: How To Make It Through GCQ And Beyond
