A Precious mom

She’s part of a new TV show, but it’s really her role as a mom that has former Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman all excited these days. Noah Lamar, her five-month-old son by husband Marco Alcaraz, has all but changed the actress’ routine.

At a recent Anmum-sponsored gathering to discuss pregnancy and birth concerns, Lara — who’s back to her pre-pregnancy, beauty-queen figure — related that the hardest part of the whole experience was in the beginning when she had to keep it a secret from the public. When she found out, Lara was on her way back to Manila from Bhutan where she filmed scenes for Princess & I. When their flight stopped over in Bangkok, she bought a pregnancy test kit and the result was positive. Although she was excited about becoming a mom, Lara waited to share the news face-to-face with her husband when she got back to Manila. When she finally did, she and Marco began planning their civil wedding, which happened in January 2011. But it wasn’t until their big wedding that a formal announcement was made.

The joy she felt was something that even now, she has trouble putting into words. “Pero sobra talaga,” says the actress-beauty queen, who’s gone back to work and is starring on ABS-CBN’s Little Champ.  Despite her taping schedule and occasional guest appearances, Lara insists on being a hands-on mom. She and Marco don’t have a yaya and take turns in taking care of Noah. “As a mom, I’m very protective. Gusto ko ako ang nag-aalaga. Kahit kay Marco hindi ako masyadong nagtitiwala,” she says with a laugh. “Si Marco, hands-on siya pero sobrang gusto na niyang kumuha ng yaya kasi nahihirapan siya kapag siya ‘yung nag-aalaga.”

That’s not to say that Marco isn’t a good father. On the contrary, the actor-athlete is now a changed man. “The best siya talaga,” says Lara of her husband. “Hindi mo i-e-expect kung hindi mo kilala si Marco. ’pag nakita mo siya parang easy-go-lucky, relaxed na relaxed lang sa buhay, gulo-gulo lang, tawa-tawa — pero sobrang very hands-on talaga si Marco. At kahit anong antok niyan, kapag ginising ko at sinabi ko na ‘Ikaw naman, padedehin mo na ‘yang anak mo,’ gigising naman siya.”

She is thankful because Noah is what parenting experts would describe as a good baby. He doesn’t cry much, and from the time he was born, he slept through the night, occasionally stirring and moving only his head from side to side, then he’ll go right back to sleep. According to his mother, “iiyak lang siya kapag pagod, pero sobrang bihira ‘yon at sobra talaga siyang palangiti.”

Becoming a mother has made Lara feel more fulfilled as a woman. It’s like her whole life was working toward this moment. Although she has a steady career, she says being a mom is infinitely more rewarding. “Ever since talaga, pangarap ko maging mommy,” says Lara. “And now that I am one, parang ang feeling ko talaga is there’s this joy that you can’t really describe, it’s like this gift na bigay sa iyo ni Lord. That even though I sometimes feel I don’t deserve this wonderful gift, it’s here. So definitely I feel very fulfilled as a mom and as a person.”

Lara has no plans of quitting her career. She began taping for Little Champ when she was still pregnant with Noah, and now that he’s five months old, Lara doesn’t really expect anything to change. Work will continue, but she will also make sure that there is time to rest and time for the baby.

Talking about her experience of pregnancy: “I think women who are pregnant should just enjoy the pregnancy,” she says. “Ang dami ko rin kasing nakasabay na friends na buntis — and a lot of them would worry about every little thing. Parang kasi bawal daw ang ganito, kasi bawal daw ganyan, di puwede ganito, di puwede ganyan, but if you know sa sarili mo that you have the right diet, you’re doing everything right, then things will be okay.” The bottom line, she adds, is that pregnancy is — and should be — a wonderful experience for every woman.