Herself a proud Filipina

Being a mother to two lovely daughters (Sophia, four and Lily, one) and having an active career is definitely not an easy task, even for Daphne Oseña- Paez.

“The biggest challenge I’m going through right now is balancing my act as a mother and as someone who works,” says Daphne.

In fact, this is why she almost turned down the offer to host Q-11’s Proudly Filipina,  a primetime program that features outstanding Filipinas.

“But after program manager Melo Esguerra told me the concept of Proudly Filipina, I realized opportunities and honors like this do not come by everyday,” Daphne explains.

She also adds that “A show like this — positive, glossy and intelligent — can help and inspire a lot of people. As my mother put it, this is why I’ve worked so hard for 10 years. This is a show that can touch a lot of lives.”

Taking the challenge to host Proudly Filipina, which she describes as a “show that is intelligent, well-produced and has a lot of heart,” led to one concern on Daphne’s part.

“Proudly Filipina is a big title. I want it to be clear that though my ethics and education were formed in Canada, my values are still very Filipino. But I think what is more important is the fact that I came back to the Philippines to share the benefit of my experience of having been brought up and educated in Canada.”

Her passion to share and to touch the lives of many Filipinos was what made her return to the Philippines. “In the light of millions of Filipinos leaving the country, there is one Filipina-Canadian who went back to Manila armed only with two pieces of luggage and her University of Toronto degree in Urban Planning and Art History,” shares Daphne.

Being a mother herself, Daphne is most fascinated with women who are not only successful at work but in their homes as well.

“Success at work is achievable if you just work hard, do your homework, and persevere. But having confident, secure, intelligent and happy children is not easy, there is no guidebook for that. It (motherhood) is the hardest job but the most beautiful and most rewarding,” she stresses.

This is also why Daphne holds dear to her heart the words of Myrna Yao, founder and president of Richwell, shared in one of the show’s earlier episode.

Daphne relates, “Myrna Yao said that before a woman can think of starting a business, she should make sure her children are okay because no amount of success can compensate for your failure as a mother. It validated my position and values! My children are my priorities even if I risks losing my TV shows. A TV career is not forever, but my kids and husband are with me for life and I have to make sure they are okay and that we don’t miss out on life.”

That is why she considers balancing her life as mother and TV host one of her biggest challenges right now.

“It’s all about balancing — your role as a mother and also your role as a woman with self-worth. It is important for a woman to be fulfilled inside and outside the home,” states Daphne.

She remains very optimistic though, preferring to look at the perks of her career as host of Proudly Filipina, which does not require her to work everyday and to really be able to prioritize her daughters above everything.

“ I bring my daughter to school every morning and pick her up. I don’t work mornings and I don’t do out-of-town trips, not even out of the country. Weekends are sacred. They are infants and children for such a short time. I want to maximize my time with them – for their benefit and for mine too,” Daphne explains.

Career wise, this articulate host stresses, “When I am at work, I perform to the best of my abilities.”

Proof of her professionalism came when she went ahead with her interview with Winnie Monsod even though Daphne had a 39 degree fever. “

I went straight to the emergency room right after (the interview) and contracted the worst case of flu and cough that lasted three weeks,” she reveals.

Through it all, Daphne says the one person she gets most of her strength from is husband and life partner Patrick Paez, “He is my partner in everything I do. I need his support and approval for me to be a happy person.”

Her parents, especially her mom, also give Daphne that extra boost to carry as working mom. Inspired by her, Daphne believes it is all just really “about balancing your role as a mother and as a woman with self worth. My mother told me I should be proud of my work and that if I’m happy with my work I’ll be a better mother and person.”

For Daphne, being able to take good care of one’s family is really what makes a woman proudly Filipina.

“I don’t think women should be hung up about proving their worth all the time. I think first and foremost we have to get rid of this baggage that we still have so much to prove to the world about what being a proud Filipino is. Women in our country have already proven we can compete and excel in a man’s world, that we can be presidents and still celebrate our femininity. But what really sets us apart from the rest of the women of the world is our devotion and dedication to our families,” adds Daphne.

Asked if she considers herself a proud Filipina, Daphne was quick to say, “In whatever I do and wherever I go, even if I carry a Canadian passport, I am a Filipina at heart and I am simply proud to be a Filipina.”