Iya Villania and son Primo
I love being a mother,” says Iya Villania, who’s having fun raising and spending quality time with her 1-year-old son, Primo.
“It’s heartening seeing his progress; how he relates and processes things around him. He can say a lot of words now. And every day, you get surprised with the new things he learns,” Iya proudly told reporters at a recent press conference for the coming third season of “Lip Sync Battle Philippines” on April 1.
Some of Iya’s favorite bonding activities with Primo are reading, doing puzzles, cuddling and “making gigil.” The boy also loves it when her mom “throws and flips” him around.
“But the dream, of course, is to someday take Primo to our travels,” related Iya, who often goes on adventures with hubby Drew Arellano.
As much as the celebrity couple wanted to have a girl for a second child, they recently announced they are expecting another baby boy.
“We’re considering having three children, but we will be happy with two. But, we would have to assess first what it’s like having two,” Iya related.
This time around, the television host said she was a lot more “chill” about her pregnancy. “It’s not something new to me anymore, so I didn’t have to prepare for it like I did the first time. I just have to mentally prepare myself again for the sleepless nights,” she said.
Nuisances
One of the nuisances many celebrity parents have to deal with in this age of social media is that just about everyone will have something to say—good or bad—about how they take care of their children.
One time, Iya couldn’t help herself from responding to a nitpicky netizen on Instagram asking why Primo is made to wear the same clothes often.
“What’s wrong? We wash his clothes! I mean, hindi ka ba nag-uulit ng damit?” she said, laughing. “I just joked…well, if you want to buy him some new clothes, then go ahead!”
Thankfully, she said, not a few of her followers, who are also moms, came to her defense. “Mothers chimed in, saying that their children do have favorite clothes, and they’re usually butas-butas na sando! I’m happy with hand-me-downs, because babies grow up so fast. I would rather keep things basic.”
Iya, who recently fell prey to thieves at a mall, said: “I’m just relieved my son wasn’t hurt…these people don’t care who their victims are.”