MANILA, Philippines —The enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) may have limited the people’s mobility and activity options, but this will not stop the 2019 Miss World Philippines queens from celebrating Mother’s Day.
“This year’s Mother’s Day celebration is a challenge because of several restrictions. With social distancing, there’s limited access to restaurants except those who adapted and are now online,” Miss World Philippines Second Princess Casie Banks told the Inquirer in an online interview.
“It is actually going to be more meaningful because we’ll have to be more creative with surprising our mothers with baking the cakes for them and with those cute hand-written ‘I love you’ cards,” she added, telling people to think of going back to more traditional ways of celebrating events.
This will also be the first time for Banks to be away from her mother Francilin on Mother’s Day. “I will not let this pandemic stop me from showing my mom that I love her more than anything in the world and that it is her special day,” she shared.
Miss Multinational Philippines Isabella de Leon is also away from her mother, a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) frontliner as a scientist in Seattle in the United States.
“I could serenade her with my guitar, and sing her favorite song. I think it would be a simple yet meaningful way to celebrate,” she said.
Miss World Philippines Michelle Dee, daughter of 1979 Miss International and actress Melanie Marquez, said she will make her mother’s favorite “munchies” to send to her.
“As much as I would want to see her, her health takes top priority for me, so it will be a contactless celebration this year,” she confessed.
“What matters is not based on how far our efforts go, but also how we make our moms feel,” Dee added.
Miss Eco Philippines Kelley Day, meanwhile, appealed to the people to not only acknowledge and applaud their own mothers, “but all mothers around the globe who are working extra hard to protect their families during the pandemic.”
She said she has not been living with her mother Lenie, so she just gives her a call on Mother’s Day. “But I think the difference about this year is, when I finally get to see her, I will be giving her the biggest and tightest hug ever.”
For Miss Eco Teen Philippines Daena Resurreccion, people “must always turn to the brighter side of life” amid the pandemic.
“It has given us the opportunity to be with our mothers and all our family members to celebrate motherhood and be thankful for the wonderful woman that has given us the blessing of life,” she shared.
Aside from her mother, Diana, Resurreccion also expressed gratitude to all the mothers in the world “for having you by our side.”
Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas Katrina Llegado shared Resurreccion’s optimism.
“I am so grateful that we are spending all the time together with the rest of my family,” Llegado said.
She said it has been her family’s tradition to eat out to celebrate her mother, Wayne. But home cooking would have to do for this year.
Miss World Philippines First Princess Shannon Kerver, meanwhile, said the pandemic has “highlighted the importance of family, especially parents.”
But because of the ECQ, Shannon would be away from her mother Belinda on Mother’s Day. However, she will take advantage of modern communications technology to keep in touch.
For Miss Tourism Philippines Glyssa Perez’s mom, Yolita, the Mother’s Day celebration would still be the same, because it has been her family’s tradition to serve her breakfast, and then help her prepare lunch.
However, Perez said, “this Mother’s Day will be extra meaningful, especially for my mom, because it will be the first time in four years that I will be celebrating with her.”
Perez continued: “Something that my family always practices is being grateful even during a difficult season.”
Llegado surmised, “I think what makes this Mother’s Day more meaningful is having the opportunity to show appreciation and love for our dear frontliners fighting this pandemic, and also help those people who are most in need.
Day continued: “I think it is safe to say that this pandemic has made us all further reflect on just how precious life and family really are.”
The government imposed the ECQ in March to address the COVD-19 pandemic. As of this writing, the Philippines has recorded 10,794 confirmed cases with 1,924 recoveries and 719 deaths.