What makes a super mom?

What does it take for a mother to be called a Super Mom?” 

MANILA, Philippines - This was the question that Jocelyn T. Dulay set out to answer in her essay nominating her mom, Margarita P. Tubang as Super Mom in Wilkins’ Search for Mother of the Year 2012.

Launched on Mother’s Day, the nationwide search aims “to celebrate moms as real heroes,” says Barry del Rosario, group brand manager for water of Coca-Cola Philippines, makers of Wilkins, the distilled drinking water brand most trusted by mothers, especially nursing moms and pediatricians all over the country.

“Seven out of 10 pediatricians recommend Wilkins. It is pure and safe even for babies,” del Rosario shares. “It is a discerning market. They know what to get, and Wilkins ranks number one in drugstores and supermarkets.”

The purpose of the search is to look for heroes as advocates of safety for the Filipino family, del Rosario explains. Out of thousands of entries, 14 finalists were chosen, each one representing an SM Mall where the search was conducted on consecutive weekends in the past four months. The nominators, mostly family members —  a daughter, a sister, a husband, a son — submitted their personal essay, written on the spot, where they explained why their nominee should be chosen as Wilkins’ Super Mom.

Clarencio Tan from SM Dasmariñas nominated his 30-year-old wife, Anni-Mae Oribello Tan, for being a caring wife and mother, especially to their daughter who was diagnosed with an emotional disorder called Low Frustration.

An only child, Martin Robert S. Ramirez from SM Manila nominated his mom, Jennifer S. Ramirez, who had to find work to support her family when his dad suffered from a heart ailment.

Christine Anne C. Lomuntad from SM Southmall, who nominated her mom, Elvi C. Lomuntad, wrote: “I just want the whole world to know how special and important she is to me.”

Romalyn P. Cabungcal from SM Lipa echoed the same sentiment when she nominated her mom, Alma A. Platon. “One of the best things in our life is to have a mom who will do anything for her children despite the hardships and difficulties,” she wrote.

From SM Marikina, Katrina Mae DG Cruz nominated her mom, Emelda DG Cruz. “An optometrist by profession, she single-handedly raised her children to be professionals in their respective industries” while their father worked as an engineer overseas, Katrina wrote.

Another virtual solo parent, Consolacion T. Castro was nominated by her sister, Consolita T. Chu from SM San Lazaro. A nurse by profession and clinical instructor at Chiang Kai Shek College, School of Nursing, and “with her husband working in Dubai, she manages to keep her children safe, loved, and prioritized at all times,” Consolita wrote.

The nomination of Irene Taniegra, a single mom, by her son, Van Alfred Taniegra from SM Naga, was his gift to her on her 44th birthday, “to make her happy,” he wrote.

Her 10-month-old son is still too young to be aware of the sacrifices that his 30-year-old single mom goes through daily as she struggles through a drug-resistant illness while caring for him, so it was a thoughtful friend, Peter Graham Patrick from SM Clark, who nominated Evelyn H. Lapie.

A school principal and later, an education program supervisor after taking her PhD, Socorro Lim Ibañez, a single mom after 13 years of marriage, was nominated by her son, Carlo Vincent Lim Ibanez from SM Bacolod, who wrote: “I’m proud to tell you, how great is my mom.”

High school math teacher Humphrey U. Soliman Jr. from SM Bacoor lovingly  nominated his young wife, Lalaine G. Soliman, who cares for their two young sons with tireless devotion.

Drawing from her experience as a mom herself, Kathleen Lara D. Arceta from SM Cebu nominated her mom, Emilia D. Arceta. She wrote: “I later realized the value of her words when I became a mother myself, having a child to care and protect on my own.”

In her essay, Rose Anne G. Bondoc of SM Fairview, who nominated her mom, Rosalie Gregore Bondoc, wrote: “I may have disappointed her at one point or another, yet I never heard her complain; instead she makes me feel how proud she is of having a daughter like me.”

Karl Zion Montemayor Remojo from SM Novaliches described his 45-year-old mom Maritess Montemayor Remojo as “a neurosurgeon, lawyer, financial manager, and call center agent” all rolled into one as she selflessly cares for her four children.

Jocelyn T. Dulay from SM Baguio is the second to the eldest of 11 children, including twins, of Margarita P. Tubang, 55 years old. Of the 11, six have graduated from college, from Baguio’s prestigious St. Louis University, no less. This is no mean feat considering that when her husband had to stop working in the mines after an accident, Margarita had to take on all sorts of odd jobs, such as doing laundry for other people, collecting empty bottles and old newspapers to sell, as well as making homemade peanut butter for sale. In 2000, she and her husband were honored as the “Centennial Couple” in their community.

A common theme runs through the stories of all 14 finalists, del Rosario observed, that “most moms would go out of their way to make ends meet.” In the case of Margarita Tubang, she had to endure extreme challenges to be able to do this. When she was declared Wilkins Super Mom in its search for Mother of the Year 2012, she openly shed “happy tears.”

The 14 finalists won P10,000 each plus P5,000 worth of products and P2,000 for the nominator. The grand prize winner got P50,000 and P5,000 for the nominator.

Jocelyn T. Dulay already knows what they will do with their prize money. They will get a complete general health check-up for their mom since she has not been feeling too well lately. Margarita P. Tubang has been tirelessly taking care of her 11 children all these years. Now, it is her turn to be taken care of.