To celebrate Mother’s Day, Cinderella picks out these women who are special, like every mother is, and style-unique, thanks to the love of their families.

Patricia Agunod-Cheng is cardiologist at the Philippine Heart Center and The Medical City. She loves her work, as she gets to “help people live longer and live with a healthier lifestyle.”

She is also a proud mother. She has two children with her husband and cardiovascular surgeon Christopher Cheng: the eldest, Adriel, is graduating cum laude in psychology and will pursue medicine. The youngest, Bianca, is also graduating with honors from elementary.

“I cannot imagine my life without my children. They are my pride and joy,” says Patricia. She is “quite strict.” But this doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a close relationship with her children; she makes sure they bond over meals, while studying or when traveling. “Whenever they feel they trust me enough to confide a secret, I feel like I am their best friend,” says Patricia.

When it comes to style, she opts for Esprit’s “smart casual to semiformal wear” for when she goes to the hospital, and “casual with fun details and accessories” on her days-off.

She chooses Esprit as her go-to because it “can go from work to fun places; change the accessories and the outfits can even be used for a formal meeting or dinner.”

For mom’s special day, her son and daughter have decided to surprise her with her favorite Esprit pieces. Adriel chose an Esprit floral-print button-up top because “I can show my love for my mom by giving her this blouse with pretty flowers on it.” Bianca picked out an Esprit navy blue cardigan as the color enhances “my mommy’s fair complexion, and it can be worn over any outfit that she has. It fits her personality—easygoing and classy.”

‘Your children are your heart’

Carissa Evangelista is an accessories designer for her own label, Beatriz, which exports to the US, France, Singapore, Spain, Japan and Thailand. What she loves most about her job is that each day is different, and that she gets to “work with different types of livelihood groups, manufacturers, artisans and other creative Filipinos.”

Carissa, married to businessman Juju, has two lovely daughters, eight-year-old Isabella Beatriz and six-year-old Gabriella Francesca.

“Having kids is like having your heart outside your body, because your children are your heart—they carry all the love, concern, dreams and hopes that you have. It is such a joy to have children, and I realize I am growing with them and learning as they grow up with me, too,” she says.

As mom, Carissa describes herself as permissive but firm. “My husband and I encourage them to speak their minds and have opinions of their own, but to also be respectful with other people.” She makes sure to spend a lot of time with her children. At home they bake, play, read and talk about their day. When they go out, they run errands, like doing groceries as a family, and eating “at a Japanese restaurant or a place that serves fried chicken or pizza.” They also love to travel as a family. “I want to share all the beautiful places I have seen on my own or with Juju, my parents and friends and show them to Isabella and Gabrielle, and build happy memories with them.”

Carissa’s easygoing and fun nature trickles down to her style. She chooses her clothes, depending on her mood; she can be in something structured and boldly colored one day, and in something airy and bohemian the next. “On some occasions, I also enjoy wearing British India, something edgy or something super-feminine and elegant,” she adds.

Her go-to brands at Cinderella include Esprit (the label she grew up with), British India (a brand she says she has patronized since it opened, for its prints and materials of choice) and “the super-comfortable shoes of Clarks.”

Her daughters picked out pieces from British India they think she will love during one shopping day together. Isabella said, “I chose a British India blue-and-green blouse with beautiful embroidered details because those are her favorite colors.” Gabrielle chose another blouse from British India, something airy, bright and sunny, and said, “Mom, it looks happy like you, and is great for summer.”

Cinderella is at Glorietta 3, Vmall Greenhills, Alabang Town Center, Festival Mall, Robinson’s Ermita and Sta. Lucia.

For a minimum P1,500 purchase, get a special gift.

Cinderella is the exclusive distributor of Esprit, Clarks and British India.