It is Mother’s Day all over the world. And on this day, we focus the spotlight on the person who has molded us into what we are today.

We ask 5 powerful and inspiring women 5 simple questions.

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At what age did you become a mother? How were you able to handle it?
Although I got married on June 6, 1982, I became a mother on February 3, 1984 at the age of 30, after being made to take a fertility pill because I could not conceive. I was, then, first year Resident in Training in the Department of Medicine at Capitol Medical Medical Center, Quezon City.

Fortunately, I did not experience hyperemesisis gravidarum during the first trimester of my pregnancy, hence, it did not hamper me from carrying out my duties and responsibilities as a Resident.

If not for the fact that my abdomen was growing bigger, no one could have suspected that I was pregnant because I still ran around when called for emergencies at the Emergency Room, Intensive Care Unit, or patients’ rooms. I, however, suffered from asthmatic attacks during my last trimester and had to sleep while sitting upright on bed. I was on duty when I started experiencing contractions and simply walked to the Labor Room for admission. Surprisingly, I did not experience labor pains even when my bag of water ruptured spontaneously. Not knowing how to bear down, Mark was born through forceps delivery. Since I was exposed to all sorts of illnesses of patients I handled, the question I asked was not what my baby’s sex was but if my baby was normal. Thank God, he was!

What has been the hardest period of motherhood for you and how did you deal with it?
It was heartbreaking for me whenever I had to leave my son with my husband, his yaya, and my mother-in-law when I reported for duty as a Resident, followed by my years of Fellowship Training in Endocrinology and Metabolism at PGH. I always had to call and check how he was doing. Upon arriving home, the first thing I did was take a shower before carrying him. Seeing him wiped away my exhaustion from work! When he started going to school, I also always called to find out what he needed so that I could buy them on my way home. Weekends, off-duty days were spent making up for lost time with him.

The hardest part of motherhood was when, after ten (10) years of marriage, I filed for annulment, for personal reasons, and had to make my son understand why we needed to live with my parents and why I had to transfer him from Ateneo Grade School in Loyola to Benedictine Abbey School in Alabang.

Fortunately, my sister’s family who had come home from Australia was also staying with my parents. Their two (2) children became Mark’s playmates. He and my nephew became best friends up to now. While still in Grade School and High School, I never failed to attend any of Mark’s school activities that required my presence. Being popular among his classmates, I was even chosen to be the Guest Speaker during their pre-High School Graduation retreat when parents were invited to welcome the students back from the retreat. My son was so proud of me because he was not informed about it, as a surprise for him.

To this day, I have kept his touching letter which he wrote during their retreat, expressing his deep gratitude for my love and how I had been taking good care of him as a solo parent.

Again, after my fellowship, I found myself practicing my profession in Angeles City as a member of the aculty of Angeles University Foundation and the first endocrinologist at AUF Medical Center. Being a part-time mother and part-time professional was, indeed, a big challenge for me during my son’s growing years!

What, for you, has been the best part of motherhood?
Being my son’s best friend (that’s why my weekends are sacred so that I can be with him) has been the best part of motherhood. Although Mark had a girlfriend for five (5) years, which had to end, leaving him still a bachelor at the age of 38, he is happy living alone with me now. My siblings kid me that he will not get married until he finds a girl with my same qualities. ☺ We do a lot of things together, by ourselves or with our clan, which we enjoy to the max!

Is there anything you wish you had done differently?
My only regret is not having been blessed with a daughter, but, my nieces, female grandchildren, my “inaaanaks”, my friends’ daughters have compensated for it. ☺

As a mother, what is your biggest dream for your child?
I pray for Mark’s continuing success in his career and my biggest dream for him is to find the right wife who will love him as much as I do and with whom he can have children (for me to spoil ☺) who will complete his life.