TO ALL the wonderful mommies out there, a BIG Happy Mother’s Day!

Of the many hats I wear (both literally and figuratively), being a mother is the one that fits best, and is my favorite and top priority. I enjoy celebrations with my children more than any other affair.

I would have loved having a dozen kids, if it weren’t for birthing pains and my pesky biological clock ticking away. Today, I am blessed to have four amazing children, and we are celebrating the day as best as we can.

A lot of loving and hugging were exchanged at a touching event, mounted by the chocolate sensation Toblerone for moms and kids. Entrepreneur and writer RJ Ledesma and I hosted the media lunch and discussion on how to say it sweeter with chocolate. Over the years, expressions of love have been said sweeter with Toblerone.

Heading the cozy, sit-down discussion was Pia Acevedo of the Love Institute. She is a life coach with expertise in family relationships, and author of the upcoming book “Born to be a Hero, Raising Heroes.”

Pia dwelled on the reasons young adults express affection, or don’t, to their mothers. Notable young professionals like RJ Jacinto, Jessica Tan Gan and Georgia Schulze-del Rosario shared their inputs.

It was a nice surprise when their mothers appeared at the end of the affair, and all moms were presented with a Mother’s Day gift box from Toblerone. The “Say it Sweeter with Toblerone” campaign is online and everyone is invited to join the promo. Call 8202866 for details.

If mommy has a sweet tooth, try whipping up a specially made banana split for her with Selecta’s new Super Thick Classic Chocolate-Vanilla-Strawberry. All three flavors are in one tub, making this delicious dessert so easy for the whole family to create.

Selecta’s Super Thick Classic is available at scooping stations in several malls this summer, specifically SM Megamall, SM Fairview and Sta. Lucia, SM MOA, SM Manila and SM North Edsa on May 19-20. Check Selecta’s Facebook fan page for the exact mall schedules.

Beach-themed party

Selecta favorites, including Magnum ice cream bars, were served at the beach-themed birthday party of our youngest daughter Athena, who recently turned seven. The banana-split station was mobbed by the kids, while the moms and dads stealthily enjoyed the Magnum bars.

To add to the sugar overload, a fantastic confectionery “DIY Sweets” by Mye and Bea Cruz (tel. 0917-8925527) delighted all the guests. Mye’s company, Adworks Graphics Designs, also created the colored invites, placements and tags for the giveaways.

Oishi snacks emanated from a super-tall O, Wow box, and Zen Zest personalized colognes and hand gels from owner Michelle Fontelera filled up the giveaways in colorful bayong bags. Inquirer columnist and blogger Ingrid Go featured all the details and posted beautiful photos in her new society blog www.manilasocialdiary.com. Check out her other posts for perfect Mother’s Day gifts, like the new scents of Ralph Lauren.

Athena loved the cute birthday cakes and beach-inspired cupcakes of Marita Laddaran of Hearts and Bells (tel. 2440255). Other May celebrators, like Virgie S. Ramos of Gift Gate, and Lia Veluz, Athena’s best friend, had their own cakes with candles to blow out.

Shakey’s brought in their Pizza on Wheels bus, which the kids swarmed to see how pizza is made. The Shakey’s Pizza on Wheels bus is available for catering and events. Call 8390154 for bookings.

Speaking of buses, “Extreme Makeover Home Edition Philippines” also has a bus. Now that our show is airing on TV5 every Sunday at 8:30 p.m., our bus is being recognized all over. EMHEP co-host Marilen Montenegro is a new mom once again, with her baby girl Elena Ysabelle to accompany son Santiago Alejo.

Athena and her friends totally had a blast. She met Adriana Zubiri, the daughter of Miguel and Audrey Zubiri, who will be her partner at the Children’s Couture Fashion show at Mothers for Others.

The special Mother’s Day presentation is for the benefit of Bantay Bata’s pediatric heart patients needing life-saving heart surgeries. Last year, through the efforts of generous moms, Bantay Bata raised over P2 million to provide medical assistance to the growing list of children needing immediate operations.

Fashion for a cause

This morning, the ballroom of Dusit Thani Hotel will be filled with happy and proud mothers as they watch their cute children take the ramp for a wonderful cause. Several top fashion designers are supporting the kids. Both Athena and Adriana will be wearing Cary Santiago, who will be the featured designer at the Red Charity Gala later this year.

Busy Kaye Tinga is part of the Bantay Bata Board and has asked the support of florist Robert Blancaflor for all the decorating and floral arrangements. Robert is a sponsor for the Red Gala as well.

Dusit will be featuring its famed Crossover buffet, highlighting the best cuisine from its award-winning Japanese restaurant, Umu, as well as from the most authentic Thai restaurant in the country, Benjarong, and its much-lauded Italian restaurant, Tosca, together with the classics of everyone’s favorite, Basix.

Mothers for Others also has a special family area where children can enjoy a variety of kid-friendly activities provided by Party Perks, and a studio corner where families can have their pictures taken by famous photographer Raymond Isaac, and receive their photos during the event through the magic of Canon.

Special gifts await all mommies attending the event, through the generosity of Colours, Olay, Villa del Conte Cioccolate, W/17 and Megaworld. Lifestyle Asia is the official media partner of Mothers for Others.

After the event, catch the latest vampire flick “Dark Shadows” at the IMAX Theater at SM MOA. Johnny Depp plays the lead and, as he says, “blood is thicker than water.”

And if you’re heading in the opposite direction, then head to the Rockwell Tent, where Havaianas continues its “Make Your Own Havaianas” event. You can create your own flip-flop masterpiece until tomorrow.

Follow Tessa on Twitter @tessavaldes or e-mail her at [email protected]