Sharon Cuneta with baby Frankie Pangilinan (Image: Instagram.com/@reallysharoncuneta)
In a heartwarming birthday greeting, megastar Sharon Cuneta looked back at the infant days of “happiest, easiest to handle baby” daughter Frankie Pangilinan, who just turned 19 yesterday, Dec. 16.
Cuneta reminisced about how she went through “a whole lot of hardship and pain throughout most of the 9 months that she was in my tummy,” but still gave birth to a well-behaved baby Frankie, as seen in a pair Instagram posts yesterday.
“I first became a mother at 19. On April 7, 1985, at 10:20 a.m., a beautiful baby girl came into my life and changed everything!” the megastar said, referring to KC Concepcion. “Today, another beautiful and special girl, my second daughter, turned 19 at 4:41 a.m.”
The megastar’s sweet message was accompanied by a pair of throwback pictures of her holding baby Frankie.
Cuneta compared her pregnancy with Frankie to her first child, saying she “had the easiest pregnancy with KC.” The megastar emphasized how she worked with doctors to make sure she would safely carry Frankie the whole nine months.
The megastar’s efforts came in light of her losing “two babies in a span of only five months between KC and Kakie.”
“So I can’t say I wasn’t nervous about the possibility of losing Kakie every single day until she came out,” she stressed.
When Cuneta finally delivered Frankie, however, she said her life changed once again.
“Kakie was the happiest, easiest to handle baby. Just like KC. Parang walang bata sa bahay (it seemed like there was no baby at home) except for the joy she brought us all and the lingering smells of baby powder and milk all over our home — because she rarely ever cried!”
Cuneta then went on to describe everything she loves about Frankie: “We’d give her a bottle and she’d put herself to sleep, playing with her feet in her crib with gentle lullabies playing in the background. Kakie was like a little ‘Manang’ when she was small. Already advanced and super smart for her age, she would talk and ask questions constantly, often break into song, and just all around bring us never-ending happiness.”
“This girl knew nothing but love – which she received and gave back to anyone and everyone. Friendly and charming, happy and content, and was even called a little ‘fashionista’ by a magazine,” Cuneta added.
Cuneta said her daughter, who is currently studying in New York, “moved” her birthday to Dec. 19 “because by then she’ll be home with us for Christmas break and wants to ‘turn 19’ with all of us around her.”
The megastar also emphasized that Frankie has been one of her “biggest sources of pride and joy,” lauding her for being “God-fearing, sincerely loving, respectful, always grateful and (brutally) honest.”
Cuneta took pride in her daughter who is now 19, but “with a brain that seems like it’s 35 — and a heart so big she goes out of her way to help at orphanages and does good things even for her Dad and me without having to let anyone know.”
The megastar thanked Frankie for “being a dream of a daughter” to her and making her “a better woman, mom and human being.”
“Thank you for being mine. See you on your ‘other’ birthday!” she added.
Frankie could not help but cry for her mother’s emotional tribute, and in return came up with a short but sweet reply.
“I’m crying mama ko i love u forever. i cannot wait to hug and kiss u,” she said.
Image: screenshot from Instagram.com/@reallysharoncuneta
Frankie’s older sister, KC, also gave a short but heartwarming greeting for her, as seen on the latter’s Instagram yesterday.
“Happy birthday @frankiepangilinan! Although we’re 16 sweet years apart, you have mom and dad, and you’re learning to be independent, I’m here for you if you need me to show you some ropes. Have fun in NYC!” she said.
Frankie, born on Dec. 16, 2000, is Cuneta’s first daughter with her husband, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan. /ra
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