The good news is that Patricia is giving birth to her and Robert’s first child, a boy to be named Robert Douglas Walcher IV, in January next year, leading the pack of star moms also with impending dates with the stork, including Kris Aquino (gender of her and husband James Yap’s first child not yet known) and Donna Cruz (to a boy, her and husband Dr. Yong Larrazabal’s third child) in late May, and Claudine Barretto (to her and husband Raymart Santiago’s first child) either late July or early August.
Here’s an exclusive report on Patricia from Funfare’s New York correspondent Edmund Silvestre (news editor of The Filipino Reporter):
The very pregnant – but still beauteous – Patricia Javier is both nervous and excited about the arrival next month of her and hubby Dr. Robert Walcher’s first baby – a boy! – who will be christened Robert Douglas Walcher IV.
"I’m super excited to see my baby," Patricia said while resting in her stylish San Diego, California home. "Super ready na ako for another chapter of my life.
"But I think my husband and mother-in-law are more excited," laughed Patricia who never gets tired of praising her husband (for his "unconditional love") and her in-laws Mike and Andrea (for their "warmth and genuine love"). "They are the ones who are restless."
Added Patricia, "Rob’s mom doesn’t want to be called ‘grandma Andrea’ so she settled for ‘Lola Andrea.’ She said lola sounds cute... Lola Andrea and Lolo Mike."
To date, Patricia said her husband has accompanied her to at least five baby showers, and more are coming until before her due date second week of January. "People here are so kind and generous especially my ninongs and ninangs," she said. "Our baby already has a lot of things that he may need."
Patricia said she will have a natural delivery at a San Diego birth center which provides a peaceful, homelike atmosphere, and personal attention under the care of certified nurse-midwives. "It will be a water birth," she said. "Para siyang bahay and they make birthing a natural experience for the mother and the father. They take care of you physically and emotionally...it’s actually an alternative to a hospital setting and the whole family can be present during the labor. Galing, ’no?’
"I will do my best to be a good mom," the singer-actress declared. "With so much violence and unpleasant things happening in the world, I’m thinking how I will be able to protect my son. It’s going to be a big challenge for me and my husband, and we will raise our child with love and abundance. We’ll teach him to be compassionate, respectful and God-fearing, mga Filipino values."
Patricia said her mother, Jean, will fly to California first week of January to assist her. "But of course, I won’t make my mother a yaya (nanny), except when I have to exercise. I gained 25 pounds and I need to swim and walk a lot to lose the extra poundage."
Meanwhile, Patricia confided that her diamond wedding ring, which vanished during her last visit to the Philippines a few months ago, was reportedly tracked down to a pawnshop, and someone was trying to contact her family reminding the P50,000 Patricia earlier promised to whoever would find the precious ring.
"I told my family not to communicate with those callers anymore to avoid any untoward incident," said Patricia, whose Viva album Songs From My Heart is still available in record stores. "Rob has already replaced the ring and I’m no longer interested in getting the original back. They can have that ring. It’s now between whoever got it and his conscience. Bahala na silang managot sa Diyos."
Patricia said she feels so blessed that she can now easily let go of life’s little hassles. All set to become a full-time mom and wife, Patricia has put to market her Villa Patricia Resort in Antipolo and her Quezon City condo unit in Timog Ave. (e-mail genesis1675@hotmail.com for inquiries).
"I cannot attend to many other things because my time is devoted to my husband and our future child. I can’t believe that I am living the kind of life that I have always dreamed of. I hope and pray this fairy tale will have no ending."
The Red Ribbon BakeShop opened a branch in Jersey City, New Jersey, last Nov. 2, the first Red Ribbon branch in the US East Coast.
Red Ribbon already has 18 stores in California.
Among those present at the inauguration were Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and his Fil-Am Deputy Mayor Ador Equipado, Philippine Consul General Cecilia Rebong, Red Ribbon Holdings president Gina Bautista-Navarette, Red Ribbon USA president Danny Moran and Red Ribbon East Coast operations manager Tony Castro.
Next to open next year are branches in Queens, New York; Bergenfield, New Jersey; and Toronto and Vancouver in Canada. All these areas have larger Filipino communities.