Celebrities’ favorite memories with mom

MY LATE great mom was the gift I was born with. To this day, people still call me “Anak ni Inday Badiday” and it makes me feel so proud. If I could choose to be anyone else in this world, I would still choose to be her daughter.

As a post-Mother’s Day thought, I asked some celebrities about their  favorite memories with their moms as kids, and as adults. Mine would be the ballet classes I took up under my mom when I was young. Not too many people know that before she joined show biz, my Ma was a ballet teacher.

As a grown-up, I’ll forever treasure all my trips abroad with her because that was the only time she became a “normal” mom—away from the maddening circus of show biz.

Happy Mother’s Day to all moms out there (whether biological, surrogate or even sugar mommies, he he). Take a bow for the tough balancing act we’ve instinctively mastered, for learning how to love even the unlovable and forgiving even the unforgivable. That’s in the job description of motherhood. It may be high-maintenance, but it is also highly rewarding.

Ces Drilon: “As a kid, what stands out in my memory is how we would scour bargain places to look for clothes and shoes for me. Despite the limited budget we had, my mom would always succeed in making me look worth like a million dollars. We even found knee-high boots for me in the Baguio market and the tela for my JS prom dress was sourced from Farmer’s Market Cubao. As an adult, I can never forget the first hug we had when I was freed from captivity in Sulu. There is no match for a mom’s unconditional love.”

Marvin Agustin: “My mom’s cooking is the best! Since I live on my own now, I miss the smell of her cooking when I wake up. My favorite food will always be there any time of the day. My mom sacrificed a lot for us. Her love and guidance made me, and my siblings  better people. She is the source of our strength.”

Kean Cipriano: “As a kid, I relish the memory of watching my mom sing at the wedding of my Tita. I was a fan of my mom. She was the one who influenced me to love music. As an adult, I will never forget the day she finally allowed me to join the band scene.”

Dingdong Avanzado: “My fondest memory was the time my Ma taught me a neat card trick when I was a kid, which I still do now during family gatherings. As an adult, I don’t get to see her much because she lives in Iloilo. That’s why I cherish our lengthy phone conversations. She really looks after me even if we’re miles apart.”

Jessa Zaragosa-Avanzado:  “My kuya and I used to live with our lola in  Malabon and my mom used to live with my stepdad in Binangonan. Every single day, my mom would call us before sleeping just to check on us, and make sure we brushed our teeth and said our prayers. She never failed to make us feel loved even when she was not around.”

Luke Mejares: “As a kid, every time I had an asthma attack, mom took good care of me. As an adult, ’pag may marital problem, ako uuwi ako sa Bohol para humingi ng advice sa mom ko. I feel  relieved ’pag nayakap na niya ako.”

Juris: “As a kid, I treasure the times I would just stay at her clinic and we would order our favorite merienda. It has been 10 years since my parents moved to Davao, so I cherish the times when we get to talk na para kaming friends, and not mother and daughter.”

Sam Pinto: “As a kid, when my Ma just got back from the US, it felt like Christmas. As an adult, it’s just having dinner and talking about anything and everything.”

Candy Pangilinan: “As a kid, Ma would bring me to all her trips. She took me to Arcegas to watch Niño Muhlach films. As an adult, when I was devastated by a failed relationship, she told me to move on. She’s a woman of strength and faith.”

Say Alonzo: “My favorite moment was when my Ma attended my recitals for choir and girl scout events. She always brought a camera to document those moments. Till now, she is very supportive of me.”

Personal:  Muchisimas gracias to the fab couple Jorge and Trish del Rosario of Panasonic for making it Christmas in May, and cute couple Vince and Inna del Rosario of KServicio for their newfound friendship.

My heartfelt condolences to TV5’s  “ace” Perci Intalan and his family. May the soul of his dad, Pablo, rest in peace.

My deepest condolences to the family of my loyal reader from Davao, Bong Gualberto.

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