What I Learned from Metro Ayala’s Baby Expo 2013: Lessons from Supermoms
by SingleMomInCebu.com
It’s time to clear cobwebs now.
I’ll just start from where I left off—the Baby Expo in Cebu.
Unfortunately, I failed to attend any of the interesting child’s health and parenting talks during the event.
Well, the Friday talks were set on office working hours then Lance’s only first cousin Sean came in Saturday for the much-awaited visit and bonding time until Sunday.
Good thing I was still able to squeeze in some time to cover assignments for Cebu Daily News, interview supermoms Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan and Dawn Zulueta-Lagdameo, and learned some lessons on motherhood.
Both were fun and enriching interviews.
You may check SingleMomInCebu Facebook Page (Hope you’d also LIKE. :D) to download and read the full articles.
What I like most about doing celebrity interviews is directly learning from the bits and pieces of the personal lives they rarely share. I mean you don’t normally get to sit down and make chika-chika with these celebrities, right?
Plus, I grew up watching the films of these ladies. Both of them are award-winning actresses. So for a Pinoy movie fan like myself, it’s like a dream come true. Yes, I’m always thankful and consider myself lucky every time I get a chance to interview a celebrity though I’ve been doing that for years.
So how are they in person?
Though surprised to be greeted with a bunch of young writers (which includes myself of course :P) during her presscon, Maricel jibed with the group. Dawn, on the other hand, was very spontaneous, accommodating, and very beautiful!
Maricel attended the Baby Expo to give a parenting talk and do a Cebu launching of her latest children’s book “Kuya Na Si Bunso” while Dawn is a mom ambassador for Breeze, which is one of the exhibitors in the expo.
Again, you may read the interview for yourself and gain a different perspective but for now please allow me to share some of their inspiring insights that affected me the most as a mom.
5 Lessons from Pinay Celebrity Supermoms
1. “Motherhood is a career and I take it seriously.”—Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan.
Moms should always take pride of themselves. We have the toughest and most important job in the planet. We are like CEOs running a company but only in a household setting. Excelling in this role is in fact like winning the Miss Universe title or even more. 😀
2. “When I love myself, I love other people more.”—Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan.
We love our kids and we should always make them our top priority. However, we should also not forget about ourselves. When Lance was born, I made sure that he gets everything he needs. It came to a point that I no longer cared about getting things for myself as long as his needs are met. I didn’t have any qualms about it really but when I started to get my finances right and balance the budget among Lance, my family, and myself, things got a little more better. I don’t just feel happy for Lance but also for myself.
3. “You can’t always be popular. I have to be bad sometimes.”—Dawn Zulueta-Lagdameo.
Tough love as Dawn puts it can look harsh but rewarding in the end. I tend to spoil Lance and give in to his whims because first, he is still a baby and second, I just want him to shut up.
Yes, crying has been his successful blackmailing tactic but I’m now starting to discipline him and telling him “no” firmly. I let him cry all he wants until he stops and go to me for a hug. Sometimes he kisses me. His last resort perhaps to get me to giving him what he wants but I talk to him and explain why I won’t give in. Sometimes he cries back again but most of the time he listens.
4. “Try as much as possible not to overwork myself because if I’m not well rested, I can’t spend time with the kids.”—Dawn Zulueta-Lagdameo.
Work means money so it’s good. When I became a mom, however, I learned to say no especially if it means compromising time with Lance. Though sometimes if the situation permits, I bring Lance to my coverage.
5. “Chill.”—Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan.
Moms tend to worry so much. Well, I do especially for Lance. I usually worry about his future though I work my ass to ensure that a bright one awaits him. So, the best word of advice is “chill.” 😉
SingleMomInCebu 
Wow! I now officially envy you for having interviewed celebrities!! Hahaha 😀 Thanks for sharing these insights. They are indeed true and apply to all moms like us.
Thank you for dropping by, Rea. 🙂 I only do it part-time now. It is fun to be with them but not always. 😀 Some of them can be a real bitch, men included. Maricel and Dawn, however, are really nice and super machika. Are you into showbiz ba? I’ll post more showbiz-related stories for you. 🙂
I definitely am!! Hahaha I’m so much of a fan-girl, hehehe 🙂 Looking forward to read your stories then! Thank you!!
Great insights! Especially number 1. It is a tough job and there’s just too much at stake. Who our kids grow up to be in the future, is greatly influenced by us, the parents.
I totally agree! 🙂 Thanks, V. Can I call you V? 😀
I’m Missus V. on my blog, but you can call me Jhanis. Other bloggers call me Mrs. Vanilla, TVH or The full The Vanilla Housewife LOL It doesn’t really matter I guess 🙂 I just liked your FB page btw 🙂
Wow! Now I have a name. Thank you, Jhanis. 🙂
What name are you using in FB, Jhan? I can’t seem to find your profile in my FB page. 😀
Jhanis. I even liked a couplr posts i think. Wait lemme check I may have liked you using my fb page. I’ll leave a comment.
I hope there’d also be an event like this in DVO! I’ll surely attend talaga. By the way, Maricel Laxa is my cousin, 3rd degree. She doesn’t know me though. Haha! 😛
Whoa! Naku sayang. Had I known before sana nasabi ko sa kanya. Hehehe
Actually, it crossed my mind na baka related kaayo when I first found you online.
Alam mo dati, when I read posts about mommy or baby expos in manila, I also wished na sana magkaroon din dito sa Cebu. So finally, thanks to Metro Ayala. (Plugging ba? Hehehe) Pero don’t worry, Sis. Davao is a lucrative market for events sooner or later magkakaroon din dyan. 😉
I really love Ms. Dawn Zulueta! She’s so gorgeous! ^^
Hello Airam. 🙂 Thank you for dropping by. Yes, Dawn is really gorgeous and very humble pa. If you’ll read the interview, you’ll know how much she loves her fans. She’s even surprised why she has young fans. 🙂
Maricel Laxa is one of the celebrities mom that I really look up to. She seems to know how to keep a balanced life – health & wellness, family while sharing what she learns to other moms too.
And this is exactly the same with what I believe in.
“When I love myself, I love other people more.”—Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan.
I believe that for you to love others, most especially your own child, you gotta love yourself. A little time off from work and taking care of your child is very much important especially to single moms like us. Yes, we are supermoms, but you see, we also have our alter ego that we need to nurture too. And that’s what I am doing right now while I’m here in Cebu before I move back to Manila where Elmo is since June.
It isnt easy to be living away from him especially that this is the first time we’re apart. It’s been 3months now, though I visit her once a month. But I have also used this chance to go out and do the stuff I was no longer able to do so since I got pregnant like traveling. So far, so good. And I couldn’t just wait to be with Elmo. I feel like my soul has been renewed!
I’m with you, Vic. 😉 I wish I can also have that break soon. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I could not agree more for #2 and #5.
I am not a mom yet, but mag lagot ko maminaw if my friends (who are already married) would tell me that it’s for their children and they already forgot their selves. They do not have time for themselves na maski manicure and pedicure dili na mabuhat. I understand that they only want the best for their child’s future, but it is not also right na mag “lusyang” nalang. Mag self-pitty dayon when they realized how much they have changed. I always encourage them to go out once a while and hang out with us. Budget/money is not always an issue because we can eat pungko2x or siomai sa tisa. Daugon rana sa chika. Hahahahaha…
Mao dyud, Kareen. Those kind of moms just need some push sometimes because motherhood can really be overwhelming. Good that you are there for them. 🙂 Sus, kalami sa siomai sa tisa. Mura’g nangala na hinuon ko paghisgot nimo. 😀
It’s good that a lot more celebrity moms are hands-on with their children. Intended or not, people tend to look at them as role models. The more they share their family stories, the more others will be inspired to make their own families bond better. 🙂
You’re totally right, Anj. I. myself, was inspired after the interview. Hehehe
Good pointers from celebrity moms! 🙂 I can say they are the better actresses and the best persons, I think. 🙂
Check! Mga award-winning actresses dyud ni sila. 🙂
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