MOMA: A boon for moms

CEBU, Philippines - The October 2013 opening of Modern Mama Baby Shop (MOMA) is inspired by the desire to provide Cebuanos with an access to specialty products for babies, kids, moms - and even dads.

In a press conference on January 20 this year, held at the shop located at the first level of Banilad Town Center, proprietor Anne Gretchen Choa-Uy told the local media that they opened without much noise in deference to the series of catastrophes that hit the country at that time. "It came at a time when the country was having a lot of problems related to the disasters, so we waited for the new year to go full blast in launching the store," she said.

Uy disclosed that Moma was conceived when she realized the lack of choices in Cebu for products that she herself would want to buy for her own kids or godchildren. Being a distributor for various brands of baby items, which are primarily sold in Metro Manila, Uy thought that she could try her hand at retailing. She counted on her husband, Rodrick, to help her.

Moma is the first baby boutique in town that provides a range of top-quality products for mommy and baby. Uy claims that Moma knows that "many parents today, especially the moms, want to give their babies the best." She claims, "Moma knows parenting done with style."

Moma is the authorized partner of Medela Moms Inc., exclusive Philippine distributor of Medela breastfeeding products. Given this, Moma offers Cebuanos original accessories and spare parts, and servicing for warranty-covered repairs - a first in Cebu.

Moma is an advocate of breastfeeding - the shop has a private breastfeeding station where moms may nurse their little ones. The room has a comfortable chair with backrest, and on the wall a nice poster that reads: "Keep Calm and Breastfeed."

One of the products that Moma carries is Baby Mum Mums, rice biscuits that are perfect for introducing solid food to baby. Made especially for teething babies, the rice biscuits dissolve easily in the child's mouth with no mess. The biscuits are sized right for the small hand of the child to hold, to allow him to feed himself.

Another interesting product that, according to Gretchen Dy, is making many customers happy is called Wink Shapewear. She said that former Davao City Mayor Sarah Duterte is one such customer. A product flyer qouted Duterte claiming that Shapewear is "such a relief!" for her; that she lost at least two inches of waistline because of the product.

Moma continually adds to its products line. More and more are coming in - from books, mommy journals, hair accessories, strollers, cribs to organic clothing. (FREEMAN)