The Many Faces of Motherhood: Stories from Modern Parenting Moms

Because every mother’s journey is different—and always evolving

Over the last five years, Modern Parenting has celebrated moms from all walks of life. From entrepreneurs and creatives to actresses, content creators, and community builders, each woman has shared honest stories about raising children while continuing to grow into the women they are meant to be.

Motherhood today looks different for everyone. Some moms balance thriving careers and busy households. Others are learning to slow down, heal, redefine themselves, or embrace parenting on their own terms. Through every stage, one thing remains true: there is no single way to be a good mom.

This Mother’s Day, we look back at some of the women who opened up to Modern Parenting about family, growth, and the many realities of raising children today.

Sunshine Cruz

In her earlier covers with Modern Parenting, Sunshine Cruz shared how she remained strong and steady to raise her three daughters as a single mom. For her, open communication and respect are the two pillars that allowed her to stay tight-knit with her Tres Marias.

 “We should always have open lines of communication and respect for one another, especially since we are all girls. It can get emotional at times. I always tell them that if they have any problems, especially concerning boys—they can come to me,” says Sunshine.

Rosanna Ocampo

When she celebrated 15 years of her fashion brand with Modern Parenting, Rosanna Ocampo shared her journey of mastering her craft and her desire to pass that same disciplineDisciplineTeaching a child self-control and acceptable behavior through guidance rather than fear. Effective discipline is consistent and calm, explains the reason for a rule, and uses consequences that fit the to her daughter. After all, her father did the same for her as he often “walked the talk” at home.

“If it were lessons and virtues I learned from my family, one would be doing everything with excellence or nothing at all. That includes punctuality and consistency,” Rosanna admits. “I’m punctual to a fault; punctual to me is actually five minutes before the agreed time: not on time. For consistency, it was knowing that being consistent would get you places. That and taking risks — especially for younger fashion designers or creatives, take risks. Be spontaneous; it’ll get you to places.”

She also shared some fashion item tidbits on what moms should invest in to keep their fashion polished but easy to maintain.

Zeinab Harake

Despite being a big name on YouTube, Zeinab Harake reveals in her cover that a part of her always felt she was destined to be a mother. She also reflected on the many joys and struggles that helped her craft the personality she uses to interact with her fans today.

“Like, ikaw mismo, kailangan mo itayo ang sarili mo. Wala kang karapatan matakot. Kaya hindi mo pwede sabihin mahirap. Wala kang karapatan mapagod. You have to keep going,” she says.

Nicole Tantoco de los Reyes and Camille Tantoco Ng

Motherhood is not meant to be experienced alone. Such is the story of twins Nicole and Camille Tantoco as they went through the many ups and downs of being moms together as sisters.

“It’s great having a sister who’s also a mom,” Nicole beams. “We can relate to whatever’s happening to each other and offer insights. But it’s also great because there’s so much to learn from Camille as a parent, especially with her being so chill.”

“I think my being “chill” as a parent is because I’ve seen it happen with Nicole because she started [motherhood] ahead of me,” Camille shares. “I learned early on what works and what might not work.”

Keri Zamora

A breast cancer thriver, Keri Zamora appeared on Modern Parenting’s digital October cover to share the efforts she’s made to honor the journey. Besides holding charities, she continues to spread awareness so families do not feel so isolated when they fight the beast of a disease.

“Do not lose hope. I thought at first that cancer was my death sentence. Luckily and as God willed it, I am celebrating my sixth year as a “cancer thriver” this upcoming February 2025. I don’t particularly like the word “survivor.” This disease may seem isolating, but know that you are not alone,” Keri consoles. “There are other mothers and other women like us on this journey. You will meet other warriors and they will become your friends, they will get you and they will understand every single thing you are going through.”

Winnie Wong and Dominique Cojuangco Hearn

As moms pursue a more purposeful and intentional life, Modern Parenting’s January 2026 digital cover, Winnie Wong and Dominique Cojuangco Hearn, worked together to create an app to help moms solve every home’s perpetual problem: clutter. The new Sorto AI app would serve as a tool to help moms digitally manage their things and quash any potential clutter piles before they become too big to ignore.

“When you have an awareness of what you own, it really helps with your overall life and how you work through things, just becoming more conscious about ownership and understanding what you own and consume more intentionally,” Winnie explains. The invisible overload—the constant mental load of remembering, storing, and managing belongings—became a question worth answering, not just a task to simplify.

“It’s about understanding what you own, understanding how you see your style versus what your closet actually tells you about your style,” Dominique explains. “And also, how you want your style to evolve… really shaping it towards that and being a smarter consumer.” 

Vania Romoff Füglister

Every woman wants to have a thriving career while being forever present in motherhood. In the case of fashion designer and mom of three Vania Romoff, she’s done it. With an equally fast-growing fashion brand and family, she reveals that her ability to balance both comes from her ability to maintain a clear boundary between the two worlds and to accept that there are some things that just need to be delegated.

“I work full-time. I run a business. I’m a CEO. And I’m also a mom of three (Emilia, Elias, and Leon).” With everything on Vania’s plate on a daily basis, one must wonder how she manages everything. “I try to do it all but I’ve always accepted that I cannot. With this comes the wisdom that I’ve learned that it is very important to delegate,” shares Vania. 

Katarina Rodriguez

Beauty queen Katarina Rodriguez sheds light on what many moms have called the “fourth trimester.” With hormones crashing and bodies trying to figure out what’s next, Katarina shared in the April 2022 digital cover—as a first-time mom—that no amount of books, articles, videos, and podcasts can prepare a woman for the rollercoaster called motherhood. Because at some point, all she could do was go with the flow.

“I did not feel like myself. And it wasn’t a bad experience for me at all. It was just interesting,” Katarina admitted. “I really just went with the flow and took everything as is. I try not to put pressure on myself like, ‘Okay, I need to be back to who I was pre-pregnancy in 2 or 3 months.’ I’m really embracing being a new mom; being a young mom. And it’s almost like a rebirth for me, too. That’s how I look at the whole experience.”

Pauleen Luna Sotto

If anyone were to ask what a “quiet love” looks like, then Pauleen Luna Sotto’s story may be the example they need. Although everyone had something to say about her relationship with Vic Sotto, Pauleen focused on the one thing that did matter: keeping a peaceful home for Vic, herself, and her two daughters—Tali and Thia. And what fuelled her efforts? Respect that came from both sides.

“True love doesn’t have to be performative,” she says softly. “It doesn’t need to scream to the world. It just needs to be authentic.”

Andi Eigenmann

At the height of the pandemic, Andi Eigenmann showed how island living helped her family thrive. But her decision to slow her family’s lifestyle and settle in the Philippines’ surfing capital wasn’t something that happened overnight. “Instagram magic,” she says, is what made the decision-making look so easy when in reality, it took a lot of vacillating and thinking.

“For me, the most important thing is, the move or this change in your life has to be something that you really want,” she says. “That you really think would work better for your family or would make your family happier. Because it’s not just about convenience. Sometimes you think that it could be easier or better because people there are happier. But, for you, it might not be the same.”

The Baby Bunch Moms

As the very first Modern Parenting cover stars, the Baby Bunch—Amanda Griffin-Jacob, Cristalle Belo-Pitt, Vanessa Matsunaga-Sunga, Tricia Centenera, Patti Grandidge-Herrera, and Jessica Tan Gan—have grown alongside the platform itself.

When they reunited for Modern Parenting in 2025, many of them were already raising multiple children while continuing to pursue their careers and passions. Their conversations reflected how motherhood evolves with every season.

Amanda shared how parenting continues to shape her as a person.

“Every step I take in my personal journey makes me a better human and a better mum to Kieran, Kalon, Lila, and Kyle, and that’s the kind of energy I want to continue bringing into our family’s future,” says Amanda.

For Cristalle, motherhood became a lesson in balance.

“Over the years, what surprised me most was how much motherhood is really about balance—giving my kids all the love and care they deserve, while also guiding them into becoming resilient, respectful little humans.”

Tricia reflected on the kind of relationship she hopes to have with her children as they grow older.

 “My kids are my world and in the future, I want to be the kind of mum they’ll be proud of and want to hang out with when they are adults.”

Jessica spoke about how motherhood can be both grounding and transformative.

“What amazes me most is how motherhood can soften you and strengthen you at the same time… It’s the real school of life—one that continues to reveal parts of myself I never would have discovered otherwise.”

Patti highlighted the beauty of growing together, not just as mothers, but as friends.

“We’ve gone from swapping our favorite baby brands to celebrating milestonesMilestonesSkills most children reach by certain ages, such as smiling, sitting, walking, speaking, and sharing. They serve as general guides rather than strict deadlines, and parents should talk to a, navigating bigger life transitions and being there for one another, holding space for what each season brings. Our kids are growing up together, and so are we.”

Vanessa, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of community and support.

“I’m incredibly grateful for these girls. We cry together, laugh together, and it feels wonderful to belong. They have been present through it all. I also love how our kids are growing up to be the best of friends.” 

Marian Rivera Dantes

While many know Marian Rivera as one of Philippine entertainment’s biggest stars, at home, she is simply mom to Zia and Sixto. Over the years, she has spoken openly about intentionally prioritizing family despite a demanding schedule.

In her 2024 Modern Parenting interview, Marian shared: “Kung alam mo kung ano yung priority mo, hindi magkakagulo lahat eh. Like, for example, priority ko talaga is my family, and everything else follows.”

Her perspective resonates with many modern moms who are learning that balance does not always mean doing everything perfectly—it means knowing what matters most.

Ruffa Gutierrez

Ruffa Gutierrez appeared on Modern Parenting covers twice, first alongside Sarah Lahbati and Alexa Uichico, and later with Vina Morales, Sunshine Cruz, and Karla Estrada.

As a mother to Lorin and Venice, Ruffa has consistently encouraged her daughters to become independent, confident women.

“I always tell them to be strong, God-fearing individuals—to not just be a follower. You have to create your own destiny,” she said in 2021.

Regine Velasquez Alcasid

In 2022, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid opened up about parenting her son, Nate, while also navigating her role as a stepmom to Ogie Alcasid’s daughters, Leila and Sarah.

She candidly shared the importance of respecting boundaries while still showing up with care and support.

“I wanted my husband to do the parenting. They both wanted that. So I was just on the side watching. But after a while, I kind of stepped in because she’s a teenager. And a lot of times, dads have a hard time understanding their teenage daughters, right? So I kind of had to step in. I just make sure I’m careful and that I don’t step on anyone. That I’m not trying to establish any other kind of parenting because she’s already got that. It’s more of just reminding,” she said of the relationship between Leila and Sarah.

Dimples Romana

Dimples Romana was pregnant with her third child, Elio, when she graced Modern Parenting’s March cover in 2022. She shared what it was like during the pregnancy then.

“I’ve also never felt so empowered. I’ve never felt so strong as a woman. I feel like when you are carrying another life in your body, it makes you even braver. It makes you want to do more things for yourself and for your own family. Being a mother has also taught me to take care of myself more because I’m carrying another life in me.”

Stephanie Zubiri

These days, Stephanie Zubiri is busy doing workshops since the launch of her project Soulful Feast, which also includes cooking videos, retreats, and a podcast. During her interview with Modern Parenting, Stephanie shared how her spiritual journey helped her be a better mother to her sons Seb and Max.

“It has made me a much more patient and much more self-aware mother. I have also become more intuitive in my parenting and really try to tune into what each boy truly needs at that moment without my ego at play. It’s not what I want for them but what is truly best for them. I also love sharing this side of me with them. We cast protection ‘spells’ together, smudge rooms with bad juju, wear crystals to amplify our positive energy, meditate together, and learn about different beliefs and practices together. They allow me to Reiki them every night before bed after prayers.”

Kim Abelar

Kim Abelar, the woman behind Kim’s Diary, shared why it was important for moms out there, working especially single moms, to thrive on their own.

“You need to be ready,” she told Modern Parenting in its November 2023 cover. “Kapag may nangyari sa iyo, kailangan ready ka sa mga panahon ng pangangailangan.“

“And if you are a mom, lalo na kung single mom, being ready for anything is a must,” she adds. “If you get sick and you have the financial means, you can get better and get back to work and to your family. ‘Pag nagkasakit ka and wala kang pera, paano na?”

Karen Davila

Award-winning broadcast journalist Karen Davila took on the task of researching everything she could about her son David’s autism condition and the importance of having good support in raising him. Speaking to Modern Parenting in 2025, Karen emphasizes the importance of the community.

“You need to find a tribe of people that will love your child, that will talk to your child, that will be friends with your child. The community in school is one thing, but you also need to build one at home with immediate family and friends,” she advised.

Iza Calzado Wintle

When Iza Calzado graced Modern Parenting in 2023, she was a new mom to daughter Deia Amihan. She spoke about how Deia has unleashed a different side of her.

“I never knew I could love another human being like this,” she says softly. “That I have patience. I never knew selflessness. Because I would play mother roles so many times, and I knew, like, there is a certain level of selflessness I do not get. Hindi ko talaga siya fully maintindihan. Ngayon naiintindihan ko na.”

Janella Salvador and Elisse Joson

For Janella Salvador and Elisse Joson, one thing they love about being a mom to their kids, Jude and Felize, is seeing them grow up before their eyes.

“I think that’s the most amazing thing about being a parent and being able to watch someone grow. I love that I can be there for him and guide him every step of the way,” says Janella.

“I think the one main thing that I love about being a mom is just having a little me. Having a little girl just feels like we have an instant connection and that she’s very much a part of me,” Elisse reveals. “She’s my younger self and my future self at the same time.”

Different Faces, Different Stories

Every mother has a story worth telling.

The women featured by Modern Parenting over the years remind us that motherhood cannot be defined by a single experience. Some moms lead businesses. Some raise children quietly behind the scenes. Some navigate blended families, solo parenting, special needsSpecial NeedsA broad term for children with developmental, physical, learning, or behavioral differences who need extra support. Early assessment, therapy, inclusive schooling, and a loving family help each child reach their parenting, or rediscovering themselves after becoming mothers.

“Parenting doesn’t come with a finish line—it grows with us and our children. And just as parenting evolves with every season, so must we,” says Modern Parenting’s editor-in-chief Marga Tupaz.

No matter what their journeys look like, each story reflects the same truth: motherhood is constant change, shaped by love, resilienceResilienceThe ability to bounce back from setbacks, disappointment, and stress. Children build it through supportive relationships, chances to solve problems, and adults who show that mistakes are part of learning, and the courage to grow alongside your children.

To all the moms and mother figures everywhere, Happy Mother’s Day!

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