Make Mom’s day...with some gifts

MANILA, Philippines - You ruined her figure for nine months, rendered her (and your dad, but mostly her) sleepless for the better part of a year, and had to be carried around for at least two more. (Three if you were a brat.) And if that wasn’t bad enough, you probably prematurely aged her by five years at a minimum when you went through your rebellious phase during your adolescence. There’s no stronger woman in the world than your mother; no one has had to put up with more. So, the least you can do is to get her a nice gift on Mother’s Day, right? She deserves it. Here, we give you some options; choose accordingly.

The Gift: A DIY flip-flops session at this year’s Make Your Own Havaianas (happening since yesterday at the Glorietta Activity Center, and running until Sunday)

Perfect for: Pretty much every mom, actually; also, if you’re on a tight-ish budget this year.

Why: Flip-flops are totally practical. If you’ve got a health-and-wellness-obsessed mom, she can wear them after her daily yoga session. If your mom loves to spend time at your Batangas beach house, well, I don’t even need to state the obvious, do I? If your mom’s the type to indulge in a weekly mani-pedi, then flip-flops are clearly the perfect thing to wear to her friendly neighborhood manicurista. And if your mom’s a lady of leisure, then there’s nothing more comfortable to pair with loungewear (a.k.a. her duster) than a pair of cute slippers. They’re functional, they’re fun, and the process of putting your own pair together is a great experience that you can both share after a hearty Mother’s Day lunch at the mall, if that’s where you’re looking to end up.

The Gift: An anti-aging serum

Perfect for: The mom who complains daily about how she’s been looking older lately. So, again, pretty much every mom.

Why: Sunscreen wasn’t really being advertised in your mom’s time as something absolutely necessary for maintaining great skin, and as a result, most women of her generation are dealing with more acute signs of photo-aging. Since prevention isn’t really an option at this point, repair is the best that the beauty biz has to offer. You’re probably the only person from whom she can accept a skincare serum as a gift without feeling offended. (If your mom’s low maintenance or lazy, give her Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair — she’ll only have to apply it once a day. Another great option for day and/or night: Clarins Double Serum.)

The Gift: A puppy (just make sure your house has room for one and none of the people living in it are allergic)

Perfect for: The Stage Five Clinger Mom who just doesn’t want to let you go, anak, even though you are pushing 30.

Why: Provided your mom’s a dog (if not, substitute with a cat) person, it’s adorable, it’s affectionate, and you’ll give her something to baby and smother and shower with attention — you know, something that isn’t you, for once. If you’re this close to moving out or have recently moved out, your empty nester mama might be feeling a little lonely, so some canine companionship may be welcome. (Run the idea past your dad first, though. He’ll have to live with the puppy, too.)

The Gift: A weekend getaway to Club Paradise in Coron, Palawan

Perfect for: Any stressed-out mom who needs a break and is not afraid of getting a little sun. (And you, too, duh.)

Why: If you both love the beach but the aftermath of Laboracay has turned you off its once-pristine white shores (guys, while I personally love Boracay, I still can’t see the appeal in bathing in the sweat of thousands of strangers. It’s like a scantily clad zombie apocalypse. Can you say eww?), may I suggest hopping a flight to a different — and equally if not more gorgeous — island getaway? Go to Palawan. Club Paradise in Coron is exactly as advertised: It’s paradise.

I first went to Club Paradise with my family when I was 12 and never forgot the experience. The island that the resort is on has an amazing house reef; mere meters (feet, even) from the shore, you already see an abundance of coral and brightly colored schools of tropical fish. I remember snorkeling with my mother and my little brother, one of our hands in each of hers; it’s one of my best memories. (YStyle shot our series of summer editorials there, and during a snorkeling session, our photographer Jake Verzosa spotted a small black-tipped shark. Sometimes you get lucky and see turtles. Plus, if you’re up for a little adventure, check out the lagoon and see if you can spot a bayawak!)

From there, you can also take a boat ride to Calauit Island Reserve, pretty much the only safari-type experience you can get in the Philippines, or take a short trip to a nearby island for lunch, swimming, and lounging around fabulously. (If you decide to tan, please, I implore you, use SPF.)

The resort itself is still a little rustic (though I personally enjoy this ambience; you’re on an island, hello), but it can only continue to improve now that it’s being run by the Discovery group. (I expect sooner or later the staff will start offering me cucumber slices for my eyes while I tan, too. Discovery, I love you.) Snorkels, fins, and lifejackets are all very clean and well-maintained, and can be borrowed for free; there’s a spa if you or your mom are the spa-going type; and you can totally stuff your faces at the lunch and dinner buffets because the people who visit Club Paradise are there to chill, not to side-eye you and your non-existent six-pack. No need to work yourself out to death to enjoy yourself here!

It’s the perfect place to go if you’re going to the beach to actually go to the beach, and not to show your sexy self off all along the shore and party all night.

The Gift: A cute new bag

Perfect for: The mom who always, always has the whole house in her purse. So, again, pretty much every mom.

Why: Big ticket items like major bling and Prada or Chanel or Hermès (or whatever) are definitely Daddy’s gifting territory (surely your mom wouldn’t expect you to shell out that much money on designer goods unless you’re an artista, right?), but that doesn’t mean you can’t give your mama a nice new purse to sling over her shoulder. Get her something neutral, so she can wear it with anything, and something roomy, so she can channel her inner Mary Poppins (like this Bauletto bag from Italian brand Liu Jo).

The Gift: Fabulous sunglasses, darling

Perfect for: The classy mom who gives off that aura of alta sosyedad and has probably been bathing in Chanel No. 5 since the second she turned 30, like her mother before her (your fabulous lola).

Why: Every mom should have the ability to channel that old school Hollywood glam, or even better, that much-coveted Cherie Gil-level elegant-contrabida-in-telenovela power, at any given time and in every possible place. What better way to do so than to pop on a pair of don’t-mess-with-me-I-am-the-HBIC sunnies? Plus, UV protection is absolutely essential for the sensitive eye area, and a good pair of sunglasses will do just that. So, your mom gets to look like the baddest haciendera on the block, and you’re helping her keep her look fresh. It’s a win-win situation. (Get her these Karen Walker specs, available at Ronnie and Joe, so you can borrow 'em.)