Call her ‘Mamu’ Tintin

Most people, especially women, balk when they hear younger colleagues refer to them as “Mamu” or “mommy,” but TV personality Christine “Tintin” Bersola-Babao considers it a compliment when they do.

Tintin, wife to fellow broadcaster Julius Babao and mom to kids Anya and Nio, believes it has nothing to do with age. She knows that when people call her that, it’s a sign of respect. “It’s about pakikisama,” says the hardworking host of Good Morning Club and Face the People, children’s book author, newspaper columnist and mom-preneur. Having been in the industry for a number of years, Tintin has learned how to work and get along with different types of people — and she sees nothing wrong with them calling her “mommy” or “mamu.” When they do, it’s not just an affirmation of her seniority, but an acknowledgment of who she is. She never feels bad when people call her that; it’s part of pakikisama, a skill that, aside from hard work, luck, blessedness, good timing, being in the right place at the right time, resilience and having passion for what she does, has helped her survive the ups and downs of the industry. “I’ve worked with many people of different characters and temperaments and I’ve learned na importante talaga ang marunong kang makisama. As for being called “mamu,” I don’t mind. In fact, I love it when the staff of my shows does that. I consider it a term of endearment.”

If at all, she considers it a compliment, because of the many things that she does, being a mom is one of, if not, the most important to Tintin. She is much respected for her views on parenting and recognizes this as her core competency, although she has never let it stop her from pursuing other activities. She manages to stay relevant and competitive by reinventing herself in ways while sticking to that core.

And this isn’t just mere lip service with her: Tintin puts her money where her mouth is. For instance, despite her busy schedule, she exerts extra effort to keep the communication lines between her and her children open.

Explains Tintin: “I’ve been having my ‘OFW’ days wherein I leave the house on Mondays when Nio is still asleep, and I arrive so late from my work that he is already asleep. And then if there is an early call time the next day, he is still asleep and when I come home, he is already asleep. So I call my son and talk to him via phone. Kinukumusta ko siya. When he tells me ‘Mahal kita Mommy’ ay happiness na and tanggal pagod ko!”

Daughter Antonia, or Anya, is nine years old and in grade four already. There are times that Tintin gets to drop her off at school before she heads to her tapings. That’s when they bond. It’s tough being a working mom, says Tintin. “But thank God for cell phones, there are ways of communicating with my kids even when I am busy working. Hearing their voices assures me that they’re OK. The rest of the week, I am with them at home and reading to my son or playing with them.” Sometimes, they are even able to work together, but Tintin insists that for both kids, school remains a top priority.

As for Julius, her husband remains extremely supportive of Tintin despite the fact that they do not work together like they used to. But Tintin refuses to give up on that and says there’s no shutting the door on the possibility of becoming an on-camera tandem again in the future. “I miss it, yes, but in the future who knows? That TV partnership might come along again,” she says.

In the meantime, they each have their own individual goals to pursue. Tintin feels both lucky and blessed to have reached this point in her personal life and career.

From here, things can only get even better.