Mothers for others
MANILA, Philippines - On a searing summer morning, supremely stylish women Audrey Zubiri, Kaye Tinga and Nanette Medved-Po, in their sleek, minimalist outfits, defy the odds and remain unwilted in the heat. A casual observer may dismiss them as ladies who lunch but that would be a big mistake. These women are serious. As part of the Bantay Bata Advisory Board, they realized that children with cardiac problems were largely neglected and needed extra attention. Along with heart surgery survivor/businessman/artist Manny Padilla, they came together to form Mothers for Others and organize a charity champagne brunch to benefit children in need of cardiac operations. To celebrate Mother’s Day in a more meaningful, memorable way, they conceptualized this fun event featuring the country’s top designers, coming up with children’s clothes for a change.
As Nanette says, “At first we were just dreaming. What would be the best venue? Shangri-la Makati. What would be the best thing to do on a Sunday? A champagne brunch at Red. And when we came up with our dream list of designers, we got it! So it’s really good to dream big.”
Audrey adds, giddily: “Imagine, it all started just as simple children’s party and now these kids will be able to model designer clothes!”
The final list of designers includes Inno Sotto, Rhett Eala, Pepito Albert, Rajo Laurel, Dennis Lustico, Paul Cabral, Randy Ortiz, Cary Santiago, Patrice Ramos Diaz, Jojie Lloren and Ivarluski Aseron. When they approached Wilkins, they were very happy to know that they had found a staunch ally. Ma. Theresa Jae Sonza, group brand manager for Wilkins, declares with pride and conviction: “It’s an honor for us to be working with such an incredible group as Mothers for Others.
These discerning moms have always strived to keep their families safe and happy from the littlest to the grandest of gestures and sacrifices. These moms go beyond caring for their own families to help raise hope and uplift the lives of children in need. We’re proud to partner with them in the same way that we join hands with every Filipino mom in giving safe drinking water and enduring protection for her entire family.”
Nanette Medved-Po with mom Faye Seeing the easy banter and genuine camaraderie among the Mothers for Others, I remember what a veteran philanthropist once told me: “Service is not a luxury for a few, but the duty of everyone. But that being said, volunteering should also be fun. Or else you won’t be able to keep it up!”
Spending even just a little time with Kaye, Audrey, Nanette and Manny was heartwarming and uplifting. They showed that rather than a burden, motherhood can truly make a woman blossom, and as a beauty queen once declared, “The giving of life is the essence of womanhood.” These mothers prove that once a mother gives life to one child, the lives of all other children become part of their hearts as well.
PHILIPPINE STAR: When Madonna had her daughter Lourdes, she said that she chose to name her after a place of miraculous healing because she felt that her daughter healed her.
Did your children do the same for you?
KAYE TINGA: Yes, I think that’s true.
Because, in the course of your day, this or that may happen and upset you, but once you see your kids, all is well.
MANNY PADILLA: (You realize) that everything is connected in the universe.
AUDREY ZUBIRI: I wouldn’t say that motherhood healed me, because that would be unfair to all the family and friends I had even before I became a mother.
But I can say that it brought out more in me; made me more sure of who I am. I became more conscious of how I could be the best person that I could be. And then you hope that your children imbibe that somehow.
Mothers for Others Kaye Tinga, Nanette Medved-Po, Audrey Zubiri and Carla Ramsey NANETTE MEDVED-PO: I have to say that in a very real sense, my children healed me. Before I had kids, there were a lot of gaps in my life. For example, I may have concentrated on my career but forgot other aspects of my life. But when I became a mom, I had to become more whole, I had to become a better version of myself.
How did your desire to help others grow?
AUDREY: I was lucky that my mom raised me to be aware. I would celebrate my birthday in orphanages and so I knew that I had to share. And then I married a husband who really prioritized giving back to society.
KAYE: I came from a very private family. When I married into my husband’s family, they were they were the exact opposite of private. My mother-in-law already had Stage 3 cancer when we got married but she was always checking on her livelihood training projects, even from her sickbed and so imagine, I realized that there are no excuses. I offered to help her with some of the projects and that started it.
NANETTE: I didn’t grow up with a lot, and so I have truly met a variety of people, and that was such an inspiration for me. When I saw just how wide the gap was across the different sectors of society, I began to think, “We’ve got to level that gap.” And we are fortunate to live in an era where people like Bono use their celebrity to do something. So though I am nowhere near that level of fame, I felt that whatever little celebrity I do have, I would use it to help, and make a concerted effort to level the playing field.
Audrey Zubiri with kids Adriana and Juan Miguel KAYE: Or even Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook guy, he said that the richer you get, the more you should give away, and that you shouldn’t shy away from paying higher taxes that can help others.
NANETTE: Even our modern politicians, such as Mandela, Clinton, they show the way. Or someone like Bill Gates who became the richest man in the world, and now wants to save the world, it’s all so very inspiring.
MANNY: I think what distinguishes us is our presence.
AUDREY: Yes, when Manny gets the details of the kids’ operations, he’ll even go as far as meet them at the port or at the airport.
MANNY: Some of these parents, they have no idea what’s happening to these kids. They don’t know what the machines are. So the fact that I have gone through heart surgery, and every child who has to get connected to a machine, I know what that’s like and I can explain to the families what machines their kids are hooked up to, and what’s going to happen, it’s a big help.
KAYE: And the good thing with most pediatric cardiac patients is that once they get their operations, for the most part, they’ll be okay.
AUDREY: A big reason we wanted to do this (event) was because many people are aware of pediatric cancer, and there are quite a few organizations focused on that, but not so much on pediatric heart patients.
A beautiful partnership: Rhett Eala, Dennis Lustico, Randy Ortiz, Audrey Zubiri, Ivar Aseron, Nanette Medved-Po, Rajo Laurel, Jackie Lhuillier-Hess, Manny Padilla, and Kaye Tinga celebrate the beauty of a mother’s nurturing love for her child in “Mothers for Others Charity Gala Champagne Brunch” today at Makati Shangri-La Hotel. MANNY: Most of them, when you see them, their fingernails are black, they’re pale, because of lack of oxygen. And then immediately (after the surgery), they turn pink.
What were the most memorable moments of planning this event?
KAYE: It’s the friendship we formed.
AUDREY: Oh, yes, definitely the friendship.
NANETTE: Yes, we did form an unlikely friendship.
So, if your group were to be compared to a family, what positions would each of you take?
KAYE: I would so be the middle child. I am the classic middle child.
MANNY: Okay, I’ll be the mama’s boy.
AUDREY: Sige, na nga, I’ll be the bunso. (Okay, I’ll be the baby of the family.)
And Nanette is the Ate.
KAYE AND MANNY (together): Definitely!
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As the interview wound down, Nanette brought out some paperwork, the event’s publicist aired some concerns, and the group quickly got to work. As more and more press people arrived, they all stood up to graciously welcome them. I couldn’t help but think that there was a cosmic symmetry to their cause; that these people of such generous hearts would reach out to children with heart problems. It’s really all about giving from the heart.
