Carla Guevara Laforteza (sixth from left) with KATSEYE and her fellow KATSEYE mamas. Images: Instagram/@sylvialee808
Wherever KATSEYE goes, their moms will follow — at least that’s what the “KATSEYE mamas” agreed to do.
Interviewed on the sidelines of KATSEYE’s press conference, theater actress Carla Guevera Laforteza admitted that she was emotional seeing the female sextet in the Philippines, one of whose members is her daughter Sophia Laforteza.
The global girl group was in the Philippines from Sept. 17 to 19 as part of their mini Asia tour. Aside from press interviews and meeting Filipino fans, they also performed on the noontime show “It’s Showtime” and the Wish Bus.
“I have so much pride for my daughter. She’s representing the Philippines and Southeast Asia,” said Carla. Also joining her in the girl group’s visit were fellow “KATSEYE mamas” Kavita (Lara) and Sylvia (Megan).
The theater actress also showed her love for Jina (Yoonchae), Daniela (Manon) and Anna (Daniela). “They’re superstars in their own right. For us to have daughters [in KATSEYE], kailangan ng nanay (they need their moms),” she said.
This mutual support extended to a lifelong friendship between the six of them. They even have a WhatsApp chat group called “KATSEYE mamas.”
“We put up a WhatsApp group ever since the girls started. We’re just so proud of our daughters. We call each of them our own daughters. We made a pact that whichever country they go to, there should always be a mom,” shared Carla.
KATSEYE MOMS 🫶🏻
WATCH: Theater actress Carla Guevara Laforteza (Sophia Laforteza’s mom) said she and her fellow “KATSEYE moms” made a pact that “at least one mom” will be present in the global girl group’s activities. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/YBsBmz5PiF
— Hannah Mallorca (@HMallorcaINQ) September 17, 2024
For Carla, being a parent means giving 100% support to their children no matter what path they choose. “I believe that every child – it doesn’t matter how their parents raised them – it’s really their own personality.”
“I’m not being judgmental, but for me, love means supporting and accepting your children 100 percent, whoever they are,” she continued. “It’s how you show your love for them.”
During KATSEYE’s visit, the “One More Chance” musical star said the Laforteza household treated KATSEYE to a feast that included the dishes Sophia missed eating back home.
“She wants sinigang so I made two — baboy and salmon — adobo, balut, strawberry taho, halo-halo, lechon, and a dish my husband made, stuffed chicken, it’s like binusog na manok,” she said.
On Sophia’s success
As soon as KATSEYE arrived in the Philippines, Carla said she was emotional throughout the whole stint. She also kept “crying” when it comes to Sophia’s success.
“My husband watched all her videos on YouTube. My husband hasn’t seen her for three years. [For me], I see her. Wherever she is, I would go out to see her,” she said.
The theater actress admitted that Sophia as a pop star was unexpected for her, although her daughter would take dance classes and workshops. When the 21-year-old singer was young, she was a straight-A student who wanted to be a doctor or businesswoman.
“Never kong inasahan ‘to. Gusto ko lang mag-perform and kumanta. But for Sophia to be a superstar… nakakaproud talaga. And she did it all on her own. Hindi siya nagpaalam!” she said. “Ginulat niya talaga kami! Sabi niya, ‘Mom, I’m moving to LA, be part of a global girl group, and be a star.’”
(I didn’t expect this. I enjoy performing and singing. But for Sophia to be a superstar, I’m so proud of her. And she did it all on her own. She didn’t ask for our permission! She surprised us! She said, “Mom, I’m moving to LA, be part of a global girl group, and be a star.)
While being a pop star in a different country is daunting, Carla is very supportive of whatever Sophia wants in life. “It’s her life. I come from a conservative family of businesspeople. I’m the only artist in the family, and also my mom. I was always pressured to go to school and finish college.”
“[They said] there should be a fallback. I told myself, ‘Why do I need a fallback when I can be a performing artist and be successful?” she recalled. “So when my daughter said she wanted to be a performing artist, I told her to just work for it. Once you have it, hold onto it.”
Carla also believes that a person’s talent is a “blessing from God,” saying people have to be happy in what they want to do.
“It’s always my advice to anyone. Whether you’re a journalist, artist, lawyer or doctor, you have to be happy with what you’re doing. Your [talent] is a blessing from God. So whatever blessing is given to you, make the most out of it, because when you’re no longer happy, it’s not a good thing,” she said.
The theater actress is among the cast members of “One More Chance” musical, which runs until Oct. 27. She will also be part of the “Going Home to Christmas: A Jose Mari Chan Musical” in November and hold a solo Christmas show in December.