Angeline Quinto and her adoptive mother, ‘Mama Bob’. Images: Screengrab from YouTube/Toni Gonzaga Studio, Instagram/@loveangelinequinto
Angeline Quinto might’ve been moving forward as a first-time mother to her child Sylvio, but she admitted that the death of her adoptive mother a year prior made her lose her passion for singing, as well as her desire to live.
Quinto opened up about mourning over her adoptive mother, Sylvia or Mama Bob, who died in November 2020, during an interview with singer-actress Toni Gonzaga uploaded on her YouTube channel on Saturday, April 8, which lasted until she was pregnant with her son.
“Naalala ko na grabe ‘yung grieving process mo kay Mama Bob kasi [11 months ‘yun since her death], at hindi ka pa strong. Nagli-linger pa ‘yung pain tapos buntis ka pa. Edi iyak ka nang iyak lagi,” Gonzaga asked the singer-actress. (I remembered that you were grieving since it was 11 months since her death when you found out that you were pregnant, and the pain remained while you were carrying your child. So, you must have cried a lot.)
“Noong nalaman kong buntis ako, nandoon pa ako sa [bahay ni Mama Bob]. Pero after mga ilang months, lumipat na ako ng ibang bahay. Alam kong sinabi ko kay Mama, hindi ko kaya kasi gusto ko kapag nanganak ako, gusto ko ng bagong simula,” Quinto said in response.
(When I found out I was pregnant, I was still living in Mama Bob’s house. But after a number of months, I moved to a different place to live. I remember telling Mama, I can’t handle being in pain because when I eventually give birth, I want to have a fresh start.)
Quinto then admitted that since she was staying in her adoptive mother’s home during the earlier stretch of her pregnancy, she usually found herself in distress most of the time.
“Noong buntis ako, hindi ako makapagtrabaho so lagi akong nasa bahay. Diba, ang lungkot? Iyak lang ako nang iyak. Minsan, gigising na lang ako nang madaling araw tapos iyak ako nang iyak,” she said. (When I was pregnant, I wasn’t able to work so I was always at home. Isn’t it sad? I kept on crying. Sometimes, I would wake up early in the morning then I would just cry.)
During the interview, the emotional “Single Bells” star also tearfully confessed that her Mama Bob’s death even made her contemplate about quitting her showbiz career.
“Noong nawala ang Mama, ayoko na. Ayoko nang gawin ang lahat, ultimo ang pagkanta ko. Parang nawala na ‘yung laging papalakpak para sa akin. Kaya ngayon, kapag kumakanta ako, gusto ko laging may isang upuan para [maramdaman] ko na lagi siyang nandyan,” she said.
(When I lost Mama, I couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t find the drive to do anything, even singing. It’s like I lost the person who would clap for me. This is why whenever I perform, I always make sure to have one seat reserved so I can still feel her presence.)
When she finally gave birth to Baby Sylvio in April 2022, the singer-actress admitted that being a first-time mother helped her cope with her loss as it taught her about re-aligning her priorities in life.
“Dati, noong tapos na ako sa trabaho, gagala na ako kasama ng mga kaibigan ko. Ngayon, alam kong meron nang naghihintay sa akin at naiintindihan [‘yun ng mga kaibigan ko.] Mas gusto ko nang umuuwi agad kay Sylvio.
(Before, when I’m done with work, I would go out with friends. Now, I’m thankful that my friends would understand that there is someone waiting for me to get home. I prefer going home right away for my child.)
Quinto confirmed that she was pregnant with Baby Sylvio in February 2022, then welcomed her first child two months later at exactly 10:22 p.m. of April 27 in the same year.
The singer-actress then announced her engagement to non-showbiz boyfriend Nonrev Daquina in September 2022. EDV