Best lessons from moms
Taking a breather from doing heavy drama in Area, the indie that won awards in international film festivals (including Best Actress for her), Ai-Ai delas Alas returns to comedy in her latest movie, Regal Films’ Our Mighty Yaya.
She plays the nanny to the children (played by Sofia Andres, Lucas Magallano and Alyson McBride) of widower Zoren Legaspi. Ai-Ai claimed that she has to be “uglified” so that she won’t upstage her co-star 2013 Miss World Megan Young who plays Zoren’s fiancée. “Siempre ayoko siyang talbugan,” Ai-Ai deadpanned (a Papal Awardee, she has declared a “no-sex” fasting until she and her beloved Gerald Sibayan get married in November this year…yet!). “Kawawa naman siya.” Since Our Mighty Yaya, directed by Joey Javier Reyes, is Regal’s advance Mother’s Day (set for May 14) presentation opening nationwide on Wednesday, May 10, Funfare asked those involved what’s the best lesson they have learned from their moms and how it guides them. Regal Matriarch Mother Lily Monteverde: I learned from my mother how to live a simple life. When I was eight years old, I already learned how to clean my bedroom and to wash the dishes. I learned many more lessons from my mom, like how to be honest and humble, and to focus on my studies. Roselle Monteverde, Mother Lily’s daughter: My mom taught me a lot. But most important, how to be inde-
pendent, love for family, to develop a strong will and to be honest. She allowed us independence to experience a lot of things whether right or wrong because they helped me sharpen my instincts, develop decisionmaking skills and make good judgment. Yes, strong will to go on even during tough times; honesty which helps me build strong relationships; love for family because at the end of the day, you’ll feel appreciated, loved and happy since you give to people you love without condition and you see it coming back to you.
Ai-Ai delas Alas: From my biological mother, ‘yung pagtitiis niya and pagka-iyakin. And from my adoptive mother, to be brave and to study, at maging matapang sa buhay.
Megan Young: The best lesson from my mom…to be always kind. It’s a constant reminder for me in my daily activities. (Aside: Although Mikael Daez has admitted that he and Megan have been going steady for six years, even before she won Miss World, Megan said that no wed-
ding is in sight in the near future. “Malayo pa,” she said.)
Zoren Legaspi: What I have learned from my mom is the spirit of giving and sharing whatever you have. I’ve been subconsciously carrying this trait and passing it on to our children.
Sofia Andres: The best lesson that I’ve learned from my mom is to never give up. She’s the one who keeps me going.
Joey Javier Reyes: Mama was a survivor. She passed away three years ago at the age of 101 and she always reminded me that in the end what matters most is not what people think of you but how you value yourself in the lives of people. She lived her life simply but with a preoccupation for activity. She gave up so much to be a wife and mother and NEVER demanded a payback but only the respect she deserved. She taught me that we do good because it is what is right and not because we expect something in return. That’s my Nena.
Tips on how to stay young
I just got a text message from my good friend and loyal STAR reader Narciso Chan (of Curve Entertainment) who reminded me to share it with Funfare readers. He called it “tips on how to stay young.” Narciso didn’t say if he himself thought of the tips or he got them from someone else.
Throw out non-essential numbers, including age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them.
Keep only cheerful friends; the grouches pull you down.
Keep learning…learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain die. Remember this: “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” And the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s. Enjoy the simple things. Laugh often, long and loud; laugh until you gasp for breath.
The tears happen. Endure, grieve and then move on. The only person who is with us our entire life is ourselves. Be alive while you are alive.
Surround yourself with what you love whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
Don’t take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to a foreign country but not to where the guilt is.
Tell the people you love that you love them at every chance you get.
(And always remember: Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away.) (E-mail reactions at entphilstar@yahoo. com. For more updates, photos and videos, visit
www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)