Saab Magalona’s experience with motherhood has been one marked with initial heartbreak, though raising baby Pancho with husband Jim Bacarro proves that she has much to be happy about.
Despite being born premature, Pancho is a picture of health and has hit another milestone since his life began in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The baby boy was baptized in a ceremony attended by family from both sides of his parents yesterday, July 14.
Saab Magalona holds baby Pancho in a picture with her extended family during her son’s baptism. Image: Instagram/@unniesushi
Image: Instagram/@unniesushi
Image: Instagram/@unniesushi
Magalona shared a picture of her small family on the day of the baptism and wrote, “Proud parents.”
Image: Instagram/@saabmagalona
Before the occasion, she recalled the emotional moment that she first laid eyes on her own son six days after she had an emergency C-section “because our baby girl’s heartbeat had stopped.”
Incidentally, that day was Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday. For Magalona, the holy day made her feel that God was telling her “not to lose faith.”
The picture shows Magalona in a hospital gown, puckering her lips for a kiss as she touched him. Her eyes appear swollen, perhaps from the distress of the past days.
“Our baby boy survived but I did not see him for 6 days [because] I was in and out of the ICU myself (it’s a long story),” she said.
Magalona recounted that her prior to meeting him, her only experience with her son was through photos and videos: “It was a dark time for me because without seeing or touching our boy, all I could focus on was the loss of our daughter.”
She also expected the worst: “Honestly, at the time, I just kept thinking our baby boy would not make it either especially with the initial tests they did on him.”
“It was Valentine’s Day when I was finally cleared to visit him and I cried,” the Cheats singer said.
She revealed that she freshened up with minimal makeup: “It was like a first date and I wanted to look pretty for my son.”
It seems baby Pancho was responsive to his mother’s presence because he made “tiny movements” when previously, “he wasn’t moving at all.”
Now, the little one is well-loved by his extended family and was even able to meet his great-grandmother on his mom’s side, graphic designer Edwina Koch Arroyo.
Pancho’s great-grandmother Edwin Koch Arroyo, Pia Magalona, Jim Bacarro, Saab Magalona, baby Pancho, Bing Bacarro and Gerry Bacarro. Image: Instagram/@saabmagalona
“I know Luna will also be with us,” said Magalona, referring to Pancho’s late twin sister. JB
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