From ‘Inay Ko Po’ to ‘Inays, Level Up!’: Why parenting shows matter more than ever

For years, I have spent my career asking celebrities about their biggest successes, their heartbreaks and those moments that changed their lives. But if there’s one thing I’ve realized after more than a decade in entertainment journalism, it’s this: the stories that resonate the longest are rarely about fame. They’re about family.

Perhaps that’s why “Inays, Level Up!” has endured.

Now on its seventh year on One PH and 105.9 True FM at 10 a.m., our program has humbly evolved alongside the Filipino family. What started as “Inay Ko Po” has grown into something much bigger. It’s now a trusted community where mothers, fathers, grandparents, caregivers and even young professionals come together to learn, laugh and navigate modern family life and topics that should not be avoided!

The author with Mamu Tin before the revamped ‘Inays, Level Up!’.

This show is deeply personal to me because beyond being a broadcast journalist, I am also a wife, a working mom and someone who’s still learning every single day. “Inays, Level Up!” has become more than just another program I host — it has become my personal advocacy. I believe that no parent, no woman and no family should ever feel like they have to navigate life’s challenges alone.

Mamu Tin with her Mama Ching, who was diagnosed with dementia. It is also her advocacy to raise awareness about the condition through the program.

In a world that’s constantly changing and often overwhelming, we all need a trusted community that empowers us with credible information, practical solutions and honest conversations. Every episode is an opportunity for us to level up together — to become healthier, wiser, financially smarter, more resilient and more intentional in the way we raise our children and care for one another.

Chef Gracie embarks on a culinary adventure in Luzon.

If our show can help even one family communicate better, make a healthier choice, find hope in a difficult season, or realize they’re not alone in their struggles, then we’ve fulfilled our purpose. Because at the end of the day, when families grow stronger, communities grow stronger, too.

So the title may have changed, but the heart remains the same.

Aside from her culinary expertise, Chef Gracie has spent decades producing travel and lifestyle shows for international channels.

Today, more than ever, families need spaces where conversations are grounded in facts, compassion and shared experiences. Social media gives us unlimited information, but not always the wisdom to process it. Every day we’re flooded with parenting advice, health tips, financial hacks, relationship opinions and lifestyle trends. Everyone seems to have an answer.

But not every answer is the right one.

That’s why “Inays, Level Up!” continues to matter.

Our goal has never been to tell families how they should live. Instead, we bring together experts, professionals, experienced parents, start up businesses and everyday Filipinos to discuss the issues that affect our homes — from women’s health and mental wellness to setting healthy boundaries, raising resilient children, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, nutrition, practical life skills, and even the pop culture conversations shaping today’s generation.

We talk about what moms are watching, what families are struggling with, what children are experiencing, and how parents can continue learning alongside them.

Because parenting doesn’t come with a manual.

Every season teaches us something new.

One of the greatest privileges of this journey has been sharing the stage with veteran television host Christine “Mamu Tintin” Bersola-Babao, whose warmth and wisdom have guided countless Filipino families for more than three decades.

When I asked her what makes someone credible in today’s digital world — where virality often seems to matter more than substance — her answer perfectly captured what our show stands for.

“Speaking for myself, I’m no viral mommy, but I am credible in many things,” she said.

Professionally, Mamu Tintin has spent decades earning the trust of audiences as a broadcaster. Personally, she’s raised two children who are now navigating adulthood and their teenage years.

“Having surpassed my children’s infancy, toddler years, grade school, high school and now adulthood, I take pride in saying, ‘I am credible.’”

She admitted that parenting as a Generation X mother raising Generation Z children hasn’t always been easy.

“The generational gap is daunting.”

Yet her measure of success isn’t based on social media engagement.

“My children have grown up to be kind, charitable, spiritual, prayerful, obedient and loving. I don’t think one has to go viral for people around the world to adore you. For me, it’s more important and meaningful when your own family honors, respects, loves and celebrates you for what you have done as a mother.”

Her message couldn’t be more timely.

In an era where algorithms reward attention, perhaps credibility is still the greatest influence anyone can have.

Looking back on motherhood, Mamu Tintin also shared one parenting decision she treasures most.

She chose to homeschool her eldest daughter because it was what her child truly wanted. Later, during the pandemic, their son also experienced homeschooling.

Every family, she reminded us, is different.

“There is no singular formula. There are many ways to solve problems. Celebrate all mothering styles. Be ready to be surprised,” she said.

Those words embody what “Inays, Level Up!” has always believed.

There isn’t one perfect parent or family. There are only families trying their best.

This season also welcomes an exciting addition to our growing family, adventurous celebrity chef Gracie Chua.

Many viewers know Chef Gracie for her culinary expertise, but fewer know that she has spent decades producing travel and lifestyle shows for international channels. After years of sharing stories around the world, she’s finally bringing that experience home to Filipino audiences.

Her perspective reminds us that family often begins with something beautifully simple: sharing a meal.

“The dining table is still one of the most powerful places to build a family,” she told me.

“Dining together is one of the best ways for families to have undistracted communication with each other. That’s why people gather around dining tables — not only for family meals, but also for meetings, reunions and special occasions.”

It’s such a simple image, yet one that feels increasingly rare.

In a world where everyone is glued to their phones, uninterrupted conversations have quietly become a luxury.

Chef Gracie also hopes to change how Filipinos think about healthy eating.

“The biggest misconception is that healthy food isn’t delicious and that it’s expensive,” she explained.

“Eating healthy is really about the overall balance of your diet — having enough protein, eating whole foods and practicing portion control. It’s not just about eating vegetables.”

It’s a practical reminder that wellness doesn’t have to feel intimidating or impossible.

Sometimes, it starts with small, sustainable choices made consistently at home.

And if every busy Filipino parent could only commit to one habit every day?

Her answer wasn’t about elaborate recipes or perfectly prepared meals.

“I’d tell them never to sacrifice having conversations with their kids about their daily activities and experiences.”

Because children rarely remember the menu. They remember being heard.

That’s the spirit of “Inays, Level Up!”

We celebrate the everyday victories that don’t always trend online: the parent who learns to set healthy boundaries, the family that finally starts talking about mental health, the mother who begins prioritizing her own wellness without guilt, the father who becomes more present, the child who feels safe enough to speak honestly, and the household that learns to dream together financially. And the list goes on.

These moments don’t always make headlines but they shape the next generation.

As someone who also spends her week covering entertainment and interviewing some of the biggest stars in the country and abroad, I appreciate having a platform that reminds me where the most meaningful stories begin, which is inside our homes.

Seven years ago, “Inay Ko Po” set out to become a companion for Filipino mothers.

Today, “Inays, Level Up!” has become so much more.

It is a trusted community platform where mothers, women and families come not just for information, but for inspiration. A place where viewers discover practical advice, wellness solutions, financial guidance, trusted experts, meaningful conversations and products that genuinely improve everyday life.

Most importantly, it’s a reminder that every family is still a work in progress.

And perhaps that’s exactly what Filipino families need today. It is not perfection, but a community that reminds us we’re never alone in the journey.