Do moms really know best?

This much is true: Monday through Friday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the TV set at The STAR’s Entertainment Section is tuned in to QTV’s Moms, hosted by three of showbiz’s most glamorous moms: (according to seniority) Lani Mercado, Manilyn Reynes and Sherilyn Reyes.

The three moms blend so beautifully together that you can’t help but watch them and listen to what they’re saying. No, they’re not just pretty, they’re also intelligent, oftentimes drawing from their own experiences as moms in discussing the issues at hand (breast-feeding, dealing with fast-growing children, keeping a happy balance between home and career, etc.). Credit also goes to the show’s director, Gil Tejada, and its head writer, Anselle Beluso.

Lani is married to Sen. Bong Revilla by whom she has seven children (one died) – Bryan, Jolo and Inah who have followed their parents to showbiz; Gianna; Ludette and Ram.

Sherilyn is married to basketball player Chris Tan by whom she has a son, Quirsten, and another son, Paoie, from a previous marriage (to Jun Santiago, brother of Randy, Rowell and Raymart). Besides Moms, Sherilyn is also in the cast of the GMA Tuesday-night sitcom Bahay Mo Ba ‘To?.

Manilyn is married to actor Aljohn Jimenez by whom she has two sons, Kyle and Kirk. She’s also in the cast of the GMA soap Bakekang (as the friend of Sunshine Dizon who plays the title role) and in Regal Films’ trilogy Shake, Rattle & Roll (an entry in this December’s Metro Filmfest).

As I’m writing this piece, Moms is airing the episode about only children and, as usual, the three mom-hosts are engaging the guests (Yasmien Kurdi, Jackie Estevez, Ivan Carpiet and PJ Valerio) in a lively, free-wheeling discussion about the ups and downs of, well, being sibling-less.

Now one of the highest-rating shows on QTV, GMA 7’s sister channel launched only a year ago this month, Moms looks back to a year of exciting episodes and can look forward to many more years of the same.

As the three hosts always remind televiewers at the end of the show, "...magsama-sama tayong muling mga moms!"

What’s your mothering style?

Lani: I try to practice what I preach. It is best to show my kids a good example rather than make sermon to them just to prove a point or discipline them. But don’t get me wrong. I communicate with my kids, too. Despite their age differences, I talk to them like adults.

Sherilyn: I am a hands-on mom. Work does not get in my way of mothering my kids. I let my sons explore and become responsible. I support their hobbies and interests so as to empower them. I’m their playmate. I become even more hands-on when they get sick. I’m a worrier, too, even over little things concerning my kids. I love it when they compete for my attention. I’m very vocal and showy with my love for them. I love taking their pictures; I love giving/posting "I love you" notes in their room. I am makulit; I say "I love you" all the time. Pao always says "I know that already" or "You always say that. I tell him, "I don’t want you to forget." There’s one song only I could sing to them. I call it Praying is a Way of Life.

Manilyn: I would say that my mothering style is a mix of both the old and the new. I ask my mom and my mom-in-law and other mom friends for tips. I read books on how to take care of children starting when they are in my womb. I also learn a lot from my everyday encounter and experiences with my kids.

How do you divide your time between career and family?

Lani: Thursdays and Fridays are my taping days for Moms. Mondays to Wednesdays, I attend Bible classes and do office work. Saturdays and Sundays are devoted to family gatherings. Monday to Wednesday mornings, I run errands for the family. I take things one day at a time. It’s quite hard to give my career and my family quality time.

Sherilyn: I work only thrice a week. I am just happy with it because I wake up early every day to prepare my kids for school. If I don’t have work, I go with Chris in fetching the kids from school. Every day is family day for us. Chris and I let the kids sleep in our room. We are enjoying their company while they are small. Soon, they will want privacy. We have our pizza nights and late-night ice cream. We love watching TV/DVDs together in our room. We love snuggling together in bed; we fool around, tickle and wrestle with each other. We spend weekends out-of-town or strolling in the mall, hearing Mass. Basta, we make sure we always have family activities. But of course, our kids also understand mommy and daddy also want some time together, just the two of them.

Manilyn: My schedule is very hectic. I tape for Bakekang and Moms, and at the same time I’m shooting Shake, Rattle & Roll (the Regal Films entry in this December’s Metro Filmfest). But the good thing is that I still get to spend time with my family every day because we don’t have a driver so Aljohn and my kids take me to work and pick up afterward. We play in the car. I help my sons do their homework. And whenever there’s no work and Aljohn is not busy (he’s into editing and directing AVPs; he also directed my show She on RPN 9 last year), we go to the mall, watch movies, eat out, go fishing (our favorite family hobby) on weekends. On Sundays, we hear Mass in the morning and then eat out.

Do you learn anything about parenting from your guests and from your co-hosts?

Lani: Yes. Moms has enriched my knowledge regarding parenting and relationships. I have learned a lot from our guests and so from Sherilyn and Manilyn. Despite my being the oldest among the three of us, I have learned quite a few things from both of them. They’re not just my co-hosts; I consider them my best friends.

Sherilyn: Yes, a lot! That some parents are over-protective. I don’t think it’s healthy for the kids. Since my kids are boys, I believe I should teach them to be independent. Having many children is not good for the kind of mother that I am, who wants to be a superwoman that’s why I become sickly sometimes.

That having a yaya doesn’t make you less of a parent. In fact, it helps you nurture your marriage and have time for yourself.

That it is not safe to be a know-it-all mom where your family’s health is concerned. It won’t hurt to consult a doctor right away.

That it helps build a stronger foundation if your kids see you and your husband love each other.

That it’s never too early to pray for your kids’ future especially on their choice of "godly partners" so that they don’t commit the same mistakes that you did.

It’s best to treat your kids like your barkada so they would be open to you about everything and anything, including sex, so we parents can be properly guided.

Manilyn: Yes, I do. Like how we should deal with teenage children. I have no such problems yet since my older boy, Kyle, has just turned 10 and the younger, Kirk, is only four years old. Also, how to answer tough questions kids ask, and all that.

What’s your most memorable Moms episode so far?

Lani: My favorite so far is the episode where our guests were Bibeth Orteza, Tony Abad and Maritoni Fernandez, all cancer survivors. They made us experience the kind of strength that a woman can have despite her weaknesses due to an illness. I also like the episode with Regine Velasquez and Jaya. It showed how true friendship in show business could be possible despite the intrigues and competition.

Sherilyn: The Mrs. International episode. Moms having children by different fathers. It gave me a chance to assess my own feelings together with our guests. In that episode, I was able to express my feelings for my sons and to discuss my own fears.

Manilyn: Well, one favorite is the one with Ms. Jaclyn Jose and her daughter Andrea Nicole (Guck). I don’t know but their presence really touched me, especially when Andrea gave her message to her mom, crying. That was it. I really cried, too! Don’t we all three (hosts) do so all the time? He, he, he!

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