SOME WEAR power suits and power heels and rule in the corporate world, while others prefer more sensible flats and reign in their respective homes with all of Martha Stewart’s skills and none of her prison history.
This Mother’s Day, we thought we’d celebrate a varied group of extraordinary moms by talking to their kids and asking them about the women who are responsible for the people they’ve become.
Protacio Empaces Jr., fashion designer
On his mom, Leonidesa Deiparine Empaces
Three words that best describe your mom: Strong, happy, spiritual
How are you alike? We are similar in so many aspects. I grew up seeing her as my icon. Like her, I face any challenge with ease, and if in the end I fail, I can always give myself a pat on the back and move on. I guess this mindset is what makes us both happy people. All this strength stems from the fact that we are both deeply spiritual. Also, we both love clothes!
How are you different from each other? Most of our differences only come from being a generation apart, so they are actually just slight distinctions in the things that make us similar. For example, while we are both spiritual, we have different expressions of faith. My mom goes to church frequently and prays the novenas regularly, while I only go to church on Sundays and do my prayers on a more personal basis. I guess one big difference though is that she loves farming, while I only love the produce. This is due to the fact that I hate the sun and she does not. In other words, I am vain while she is not!
The biggest life lesson your mom taught you: My mom always taught me to believe in all of my capabilities because, as she says, this is the key to my success and survival. And she always reminds me that in all of my triumphs, I should give praise to God.
What do you plan to do for her this Mother’s Day? I know best how to tickle her fancy; I’ll probably buy her one beautiful and functional tote.
Justine Cabatingan, lawyer
On her mom, Joy Cabatingan
Three words that best describe your mom: Strong, supportive, selfless
How are you alike? My mom and I are deeply passionate individuals. I learned from her to go after the things you want in life and to love what you do.
How are you different from each other? My mom is a good cook and a graceful dancer, while I have two left feet and cannot even fry an egg. She enjoys parties and gatherings with family and friends, while I would rather study and read my law books. In many ways, I am the boring version of my mother.
The biggest life lesson your mom taught you: Although she was always there to guide, Mommy never made decisions for me. I always picked my own clothes and toys as a child. Growing up, I chose my schools, college course and career direction. My brother and I did not follow our parents’ paths in life, but we created our own.
What do you plan to do for her this Mother’s Day? Instead of the usual restaurant dinner for Mother’s Day, we plan to spend a nice, quiet weekend by the beach in our Borbon home.
Kristoffer Lambert Lance Cuizon, Political Science student
On his mom, Chingbee Poca Cuizon
Three words that best describe your mom: Inspiring, dedicated, funny
How are you alike? We both love to eat—a lot! And we both enjoy watching TV series. We sometimes spend time together eating and just making fun of each other. And we just love to crack a joke, sometimes even when it’s not appropriate to crack one.
How are you different from each other? My mom is a more careful and cautious person, while, sometimes, I let my emotions get the better of me and I just act or say things without thinking them through (I think I got this from my dad. Kidding!).
The biggest life lesson your mom taught you: As a kid, I was never the typical boy, and even now I would say I’m not the regular guy’s guy. I’m not sporty, stoic, and I don’t give off a tough-guy vibe. I’m emotional, loud, and I’m that guy that makes the awkward historical or movie reference that everyone finds odd. I felt insecure about who I was for a while. People made me feel bad about it (some people still do), but she made me embrace who I am and taught me that being a man isn’t about being whatever society’s idea of a man is. Rather, my mother taught me that being a man is about being yourself—that a man is someone who embraces who he is, someone who can take a stand and stick to his principles, and someone who treats those below him or lesser than him as equals and with respect.
What do you plan to do for her this Mother’s Day? We would probably go out for lunch or dinner with her, talk for a bit, and then watch some DVDs while eating a lot of chips and chocolates.
Izabelli Selma, Fashion Design student
On her mom, Evelyn Selma
Three words that best describe your mom: Giving, God-fearing, selfless
How are you alike? People tell me I look just like her. It’s all in the genes!
How are you different from each other? Actually, the older I get, the more I’m becoming like my mom, and I love it. I’ve always looked up to her.
The biggest life lesson your mom taught you: To love God above all else, to believe in myself completely, and to value the importance of family. She also taught me that all things are possible if you believe.
What do you plan to do for her this Mother’s Day? I plan to just give Mom the day off so she can just sit back and relax. I’ll probably cook a special meal for her with my siblings and just make her feel special, because she deserves it.
Don Gerardo Frasco, cinematographer at Waverly Pictures (www.donfrasco.com), marketing director at Titay’s (www.titays.com)
On his mom, Lilian Jordan Frasco
Three words that best describe your mom: Tenderness, modesty, grace
How are you alike? We both enjoy good movies.
How are you different from each other? She’s very patient and understanding, and I hear I’m quite impatient and stubborn.
The biggest life lesson your mom taught you: When I was growing up, she used to manage Titay’s store in Liloan, Cebu. During summers, I’d help her out. When buses arrived, there were usually an influx of hungry customers wanting some bread and biscuits, so you had to be fast at making the transactions. Everything was done quite manually back then, so along the way, she taught me how to count the change without using a calculator, by just adding up to match the exact amount a customer gave. It was speedy and accurate, and less complex than subtraction. Thus, she taught me efficiency and instilled in me some sense of urgency.
What do you plan to do for her this Mother’s Day? Mother’s Day would most probably involve some chocolate cake with family.
Ian Baol, assistant director of Possibilities at A~List Events, PR and Advertising
On his mom, Rhodora S. Estolloso
Three words that best describe your mom: Generous, encouraging, sincere
How are you alike? We love food, shopping, travel and bags!
How are you different from each other? She’s very nurturing while I’m not—at all.
The biggest life lesson your mom taught you: To try things out before forming an opinion. “There’s only one way to find out,” she always says. I am then able to form genuine judgments, having tried and learned something first-hand.
What do you plan to do for her this Mother’s Day? I will show her this feature. It’s a unique gift and it will definitely make her smile!
Marielle Montenegro, High school student
On her mom, Marian Montenegro
Three words that best describe your mom: Big-hearted, selfless, supportive
How are you alike? With her presence and guidance, I’ve adapted some of her morals and values into my own life, and found them useful in dealing with daily life situations. Often when stuck with a difficult decision or problem, I put myself in her shoes, because I’ve learned that mothers, indeed, always know best. Also, I’ve acquired her love for baking, cooking and technology.
How are you different from each other? I prefer to be more outgoing and ambitious, whereas my mom likes to play it safe. However, this can probably be attributed to her age, as she is clearly more mature and has experienced enough for her to be more reasonable in her actions and decisions. Also, we do not share entirely similar beliefs. Growing up in a Catholic school all her life, my mother holds more traditional religious views than I do. However, this is one of the things I value about her, because it keeps me grounded.
The biggest life lesson your mom taught you: The one lesson I will always keep with me wherever I go is to always be thankful for what I have and to make the best of every bad situation. I learned from her that a home is not simply the physical presence of shelter or a person’s home country, but it is where a family belongs, where they are able to appreciate the simple joy of being together.
What do you plan to do for her this Mother’s Day? I plan on giving my mom a day off, a day where she can kick back, relax and be carefree for once.
