Karla Estrada explains why being a ‘stage mother’ is sometimes necessary
Karla Estrada has her mom, Thelma Ilago, as her best role model when it comes to caring for a child. She remembers how her mom would keep her and her siblings under close watch no matter what, always providing safety and warmth during their childhood years.
“We were like chicks of a mother hen,” described Karla of her mom’s way of protecting them when she and her youngest daughter, Lella Ford, made a guest appearance on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.”
“Ang nanay ko mahilig i-gather all her children, na kahit anong mangyari, ipagtatanggol niya kaming mga anak. So, ‘yun ‘yung naging katauhan ko rin (bilang nanay), although not in all aspects,” she added.
Apart from Lella, Karla is mom to Daniel “DJ” Padilla, Jose Carlito “JC” Padilla and Margaret “Magui” Fiona Ford Planas.
DJ and Lella grew up under the care of their Lola Thelma. “Si DJ lumaki sa lola kaya mahilig sa mga old songs. Si Mama ang nagpalaki sa kanya at umabot hanggang kay Carmela (Lella’s real name),” said Karla.
“My mom is really present sa buhay ng mga anak ko kaya lahat sila grabe ang endearment nila sa elders. Even their influence in music (also from Mama Thelma), makaluma ang mga tugtog,” added she.
Lella, on the other hand, said she has inherited her courage from her Mommy Karla, but if there is one trait she doesn’t want to emulate in her, Lella said in jest, “It’s her being OA (overacting).”
Karla admitted to being “OA” sometimes, and she doesn’t mind being called a stage mother, either.
“I won’t deny it, especially at the start (of her children’s acting careers) to guide them, and when the time is right, then I let go of them,” said Karla, who has shown strength and dedication in raising her children alone.
I asked Karla to take me back to her 20s and which part of her younger days she wishes Lella not to experience in life, and the actress-host admitted that she’s vulnerable when it comes to love.
“We’re all different (in falling in love). Ako mabilis magtiwala, mabola at pabola din,” she laughed.
Lella said her mom would often tell them her life story, which led her to discover the many hardships her mom had experienced. She also revealed how her mom would openly talk about her dad.
“Yes, we would talk about my dad, whom I am so close to. I inherited my adventurous spirit from him. He taught me about sports like shooting, martial arts and everything. I’m really just grateful that he’s never naman po nawala si Dad. He’s always there for me, even though we live in different houses. He’s always present, especially on important occasions.”
It’s admirable that Karla encourages her children to maintain good relationships with their fathers. For those unfamiliar, Karla’s four children have different fathers. DJ is the son of actor Rommel Padilla, JC is the son of Naldy Padilla and there’s Magui, whose father is former Quezon City councilor Mike Planas. Karla has yet to reveal the identity of Lella’s non-showbiz father.
Karla believes it’s not right to speak ill of their dads because it’s her children who will suffer from anxiety. “So, hindi ko bibigyan ng ganung pasanin ang mga anak ko, even if there was heartache in every separation from their (respective) dads. I set aside that heartache not for their fathers but for my children.”
None of her children ever questioned her about having different dads. Karla said it never became a topic “because it’s always the conversation. It’s an open conversation in the family because I’m true to my children, I am straightforward, and even before they could ask me, I already explained (to them) the situation with their dads. I would tell them, ‘Magkaibigan kami ng dad mo, so you have to be friends with your dad also.’ It normalized the whole situation, but of course, I also told them what was wrong.”
Karla finds nothing to be ashamed of in admitting that she trusts men easily, only to discover later that she has already fallen, “perhaps because I grew up without a father.”
Does Lella also trust a guy so easily?
“‘Yun po ang hindi ko namana kay Mama,” replied Lella, who was named the Kapamilya Big Winner in the recently-concluded Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Collab 2.0.
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