MANILA, Philippines - Celebrity mom Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan (photo) and Philips Avent, the leader in parenting and baby products, have teamed up recently to give moms in the country a peek in her experience on motherhood. Maricel, who is married to motivational speaker Anthony Pangilinan, is now a proud mother of five: Ella, 16; Donny, 14; Hannah, 12; Benjamin, 11; and one-year old Solana. And for Philips Avent, Maricel is the perfect ‘spokes-mom’ for the job.
‘I was 26 when I became pregnant with my first daughter, Ella. It was a great blessing,’ says the multi-awarded actress. ‘When I gave birth to Solana, our baby for nine years, Benjamin, struggled with the idea of being dethroned as the bunso. So I assured him that every time a mother is pregnant with a new child, not only does her tummy grow, her heart also expands to be able to overflow with love for everyone who needs it.’
Based on this experience, Maricel had actually written Kuya Na Si Bunso, a children’s book on how one can help older siblings and parents adjust to the arrival of a new baby in the family. It was written for moms in a more hopeful, enlightened and supportive manner. So when Solana was born, everyone in the Pangilinan family was ready to welcome their youngest member with love.
For Maricel, motherhood is a career. ‘For me, being a mom is a dream come true. It is my vocation,’ she says.