Spotlight

Beyond the Shortlist: The Parents Shaping Parents’ Choice Awards 2026

by Nicole Limlengco
August 14, 2026

What happens when real parents get a seat at the table? Find out their honest takes, hard-won wisdom, and wish list for next year’s awards

Five years ago, Modern Parenting set out to answer one question: which brands actually make parenting easier? The answer never stayed still. Categories multiplied, standards climbed, and the list of trusted names kept growing, right alongside a generation of Filipino parents who’ve grown sharper, louder, and far more particular about what earns a place in their homes.

Now the Parents’ Choice Awards marks it fifth year, and it’s arriving with its biggest lineup yet. It’s the largest class to date and proof of how far the search for what truly works for Filipino families has come. This edition brings expanded categories — something long overdue for pet brands and services (welcome news for the family’s other kids, the four-legged ones) — plus a new Dad Must Haves lineup that finally puts fathers in the spotlight.

“Five years ago, we started the Parents’ Choice Awards because we believed parents deserved more than marketing claims — they deserved honesty. Last year, we mounted our first-ever awarding event. Today, the platform has grown into something bigger than a list: it’s a community of parents who trust each other’s word over any ad campaign,” shares Modern Parenting’s founding editor-in-chief, Marga Tupaz. “When a brand earns recognition this year, it means they actually kept their promises to families. So in its fifth year, we’re not celebrating how far we’ve come, but how many parents we’ve been able to walk alongside.”

At the center of it all is a panel made up entirely of parents. This year, Modern Parenting’s editorial team is joined by a panel of moms and dads who nominated the brands they actually trust and use, then work out the final winners together, as a group, through discussion rather than a scoreboard. Every nominee is measured against five criteria: parent satisfaction, quality and safety, innovation, accessibility, and trustworthiness.

It’s a simple system built on a stubborn belief: no one knows what works for a family better than the family living it. Five years in, that belief has only gotten louder.

The results are in. The winners have been chosen, and the full list will be revealed on August 29.

Meet the Panel

They’ve already cast their votes and helped decide this year’s winners. Here’s who’s behind the picks:

Cristalle Belo Pitt

A serial entrepreneur and mom to Hunter (8) and Siena (6), Cristalle Belo-Pitt runs her household the way she runs a business: research first, decide later. “My husband, Justin, and I have very strong opinions about the products our kids use, wear, and even put in and on their bodies,” she shares. “We’ve spent years researching, testing, and comparing different brands.” That same research-driven instinct extends beyond her kids to her own well-being.

Raising Hunter and Siena between two cultures — Cristalle’s Filipino roots and Justin’s Australian upbringing — adds another layer to those decisions. Friday nights are for movie marathons and popcorn; everyday life is for chasing down what actually works. “There are a lot of things I learned from Justin and vice versa, but at the end of the day, we want what’s best for our kids and that’s the compromise.”

Her trust runs on delivery, not marketing. “If it’s high quality, easy to use, and delivers on its promises, it earns my trust very quickly,” she explains — but a product that’s overcomplicated or all talk loses her just as fast. “Parenting is already complicated enough. I don’t need products that make it harder.”

Recommendations from other parents outrank ads and even reviews in her book, and one line she won’t cross regardless of cost: sun protection. “Living in a tropical country, I make sure my kids always wear quality sunblock,” she says. “Protecting their skin now is an investment in their long-term health.”

Raffy Zamora

Dad to Becca (9), and Nalia (6), Raffy Zamora is the founder of Legendaddy, a Filipino fatherhood community of roughly 13,000 dads that started in 2020 with a simple gap he couldn’t ignore: “ Every website and resource I found on child development and parenting was almost always exclusively talking to mothers.” The community now has its own podcast, too, where Raffy, James Deakin, Rovilson Fernandez and Edu Manzano — four dads from different generations — talk kids, marriage, life and of course, fatherhood. “Somehow, we almost always end up in the same area when it comes to how we raise our children,” he shares.

He said yes to the Modern Parenting for the same reason he started Legendaddy. “Dads are usually the last ones consulted and among the first ones paying,” he explains. “Almost none of the marketing is written with him in the room.”

His read on brands is sharp and specific: he trusts the ones that admit what a product doesn’t do, and he’s out the moment an ad leans on guilt. “If your ad’s whole strategy is to suggest that a good father would have bought this already, you’ve lost me permanently,” he says. And the ones he remembers most aren’t the loudest — they’re the ones that showed up in a small domestic crisis and made it smaller.

“Our version of brand recall is a dad in a barkada thread typing ‘yung ganito ba, okay ba?’ and four guys answering within a minute,” he adds. “No ad buy competes with that.”

Hannah Khatibi Banal

A branding strategist, consultant and content creator, Hannah Khatibi Banal brings a professional eye for what makes a brand stick to her role on the panel — along with the daily reality of raising Luca (6) and Rumi (1). Half Persian, she says cooking authentic Persian food for her family is one of her favorite ways to share her heritage.

For her, trust is built the slow way. “Trust isn’t built overnight. It grows over trial and time,” she says. “It’s such a green flag when a product makes our lives easier.” The opposite shows up fast, too, usually when “a brand overpromises and under delivers.”

When Modern Parenting’s editor in chief called her to be part of the panel, she agreed because she’s still in the thick of child-rearing herself. “I’m still that momma, constantly searching for the best products or services for my kids, and sometimes what you need most isn’t another advertisement,” she says. “It’s an honest recommendation from another momma who’s actually been there.” Her pick for next year’s categories: education, schools and learning programs — “one of the biggest decisions we make as parents,” and one she thinks deserves a seat at the table.

What makes a brand memorable, to her, is knowing what it stands for. “When I know what it stands for and those values align with mine as a parent, it becomes more than just another product,” she explains. Comfort and safety, meanwhile, are non-negotiable — “no matter how popular or convenient something may be.”

Erika Kristensen Lee

A news anchor, broadcast journalist and host, Erika Kristensen Lee spends her days reporting on the world and comes home to a smaller, more important story: her six-month-old daughter, Sabrina Riley. “As a journalist, I ask questions for a living,” she says. “As a mom, I ask even more.”

That instinct carries straight into how she vets what comes into her home. “Trust is earned in the everyday moments,” she explains. “A product gains my trust when it consistently does what it promises, especially at 2 a.m. when my baby and I need it most.” Transparency and science-backed ingredients are her green flags; guilt-tripping marketing is an instant red one. “Overpromising, vague claims, or making parents feel guilty instead of supported,” she says, are what lose her interest fastest.

Being on the Modern Parenting panel taught Erika a lot. Watching the panel deliberate helped her cut through the noise. At the same time, it gave her the chance to share fresh insights and updates on the products she’s currently loving. She already has one addition in mind for next year: postpartum wellness.

“We, first-time moms spend so much time preparing for the baby, but moms deserve support too!” she says. Safety is where she draws a hard line, no exceptions. “Convenience is nice,” she says, “but peace of mind is priceless.”

Alvin Miranda

A content creator and corporate executive, Alvin Miranda and his husband, Jappy Reyes, spent six years, four failed IVF attempts and a surrogacy agency’s collapse before their twins, Gia and Franc, were born. The Philippines still doesn’t legally recognize their marriage or their children having two fathers, but the couple has chosen to stay open about it, hoping that visibility helps other families like theirs feel seen. “Whether there’s one mom and one dad, only one dad or only one mom, if there are two dads or two moms, that’s a family,” Alvin shares.

That same advocacy is part of why he joined this year’s panel. “There’s a lot of noise for parents regarding what to buy and what not to buy. These days, there’s so much overconsumption and things quickly accumulate when you have twins. I genuinely think that having a trusted panel of parents giving their thoughtful assessment on certain products, brands and services is a lifesaver,” he says. “Jappy and I advocate for visibility of LGBTQ+ families, and to be in this panel is a platform for that as well.”

At home with twins nearly two years old, the stakes are refreshingly concrete. “Diapers is so basic, but it’s a big one,” he says. “If it leaks, causes itchiness or rashes, we usually don’t buy it again.” A brand earns real loyalty, though, in how it handles the moments it falls short: “When it delivers on its promise, and when it doesn’t and you reach out to it, there’s a timely, genuine and helpful response.” Safety, he adds, is the one thing he won’t compromise on, no matter the price.

Miel Coronel

Miel Coronel owns Flair Pop Up and Hitched Bridal Fair, and at home she’s mom to Natalia (7) and Olivia (2) — the younger of whom has very sensitive skin, which has made Miel a careful reader of ingredient lists. “A product really sticks with me when my kids love it, it works well for our family, and it’s cost-efficient and environmentally friendly,” she says.

Her wish list for next year’s awards isn’t about a product category at all. “I’d love to talk more about motherhood and how much we transition and change when we become a family,” she says. “Motherhood is such a beautiful experience, but you also lose parts of yourself as you step into this new chapter.” She’d like to see more support groups get the spotlight, because honest conversations about how to support mothers through this very important shift is everything. It’s a reminder that the awards, at their best, aren’t just about the best products on shelves — they’re about the community around the people using them.

Travel is her family’s one non-negotiable. “I truly believe it creates a special bond and shared experiences that shape your children — and you as a parent,” she says. And on knowing she’s gotten it right, she trusts something harder to quantify than a five-star review: “I also love the times when you trust your mother’s instinct, even when you’re unsure, and it turns out to be the right choice for your child and your family.”

Michiko Soriano Gaeng

An executive and parent coach, Michiko Soriano-Gaeng brings a coach’s eye for detail to raising Nora (4 1/2 years old) and Evan (5 months) — down to the family’s names, each tied to an archangel, with three first names apiece. Her radar for good brands runs on the same attention to detail. “A green flag is having that ‘wow factor,’ brands that have thought of every tiny detail,” she says, pointing to something as small as milk storage bottle caps built for one-handed opening. The brands that lose her, on the other hand, are the ones with one weak link in an otherwise solid lineup — “a not-so-user-friendly stroller accessory” from a brand she otherwise trusts, for instance.

She was excited to join this year’s panel to keep parents from having to trial-and-error their way through decisions the way she has. “If it could help save time, money, and effort for a fellow parent… I am happy to contribute,” she says — and she came with a long list of categories she’d love to see added, from family-friendly restaurants to more eco-friendly brands and products.

Her non-negotiables are specific, too: quality food, sustainable materials, breathable cotton and linen, and nothing with harmful chemicals anywhere near her kids’ skin.

Grace Carillo Balaguer

Content creator and mom of seven, Grace Carillo Balaguer runs a household with a blended family setup that spans a six-week-old newborn to a 16-year-old, with five kids in between.

“We love traveling together and making memories wherever we go,” she shares, and healthy, home-cooked food is a household rule, not a suggestion. It’s the same instinct that led her to choose home water births for her four youngest after two hospital deliveries left her wanting more say in her own care. “You have rights and you can say no,” she now tells other expecting moms.

Trust, for her, is earned in repetition. “A brand earns my trust when it’s consistent,” she explains. “It’s easy for a product to make a good first impression, but if it continues to deliver every single time, that’s when it becomes part of our home.” The opposite loses her fast: “A red flag for me is when a product overpromises but doesn’t perform, or when it isn’t made with children’s safety and well-being in mind.”

She said yes to being a part of the panel for the same reason she built an audience in the first place. “Having seven kids means I’ve tried so many products across different ages and stages, so I feel I can offer practical insights that other families may relate to,” she says.

Safety and quality are where she draws the line, no matter the cost. “Peace of mind is worth investing in,” she says.

Trish Villanueva

A garment manufacturer, entrepreneur and content creator, Trish Villanueva is a self-described boy mom of two — Bullet (8) and Rocket (2) — who keeps the house loud with pickleball, travel and karaoke nights. Being immersed in content and trends all day has made her a sharper filter for her own family, too. “I’ve become pretty good at asking myself, ‘Do I actually need this or do I just want it because I keep seeing it on my feed?'” she says.

Her real test for a brand is simple: would she message a friend to rave about it? “A green flag for me is when a product is actually something I can recommend to another mom, and if I’d buy it again,” she says. The reverse loses her fast — “when the marketing is better than the actual product.” Her pitch for next year: a Little Tycoon category, honoring kids who are already building, creating and problem-solving on their own. “I think it’s never too early to teach kids that their ideas can become something real,” she says.

Quality is where she won’t cut corners. “I’d rather buy something good once than keep replacing something that doesn’t hold up,” she says.

Selena Antonio Reyes

Entrepreneur, operations manager, content creator, and athlete, Selena Antonio-Reyes is raising kids in three completely different stages of life — Theon Arlo (14), Savannah Nicola (11), and Damian Levi due in September — while training for marathons and Spartan races as the brand’s Philippine ambassador. She’s no stranger to the public stage, either: in 2024, she made the Top 20 at Miss Universe Philippines, later reflecting that racing and pageantry “require discipline, dedication, and determination… to achieve your end goal and cross that finish line feeling proud.”

That same discipline shows up in how she vets brands. “I trust a brand when it does what it says it will do,” she says. “I read labels, check reviews, and see if it’s something I’d confidently use for my own kids.” Her personal litmus test is simple: “If I wouldn’t recommend it to another mom, I won’t use it for my family either.”

Her pitch for next year’s awards is to expand the category for parental wellness. “We always talk about taking care of our kids, but happy and healthy parents are just as important,” she says. And on getting it right: “It’s not about being the perfect parent because no one is. It’s about doing my best every single day.”

A Panel Built Like a Family

Ten parents, ten completely different households, and one shared instinct: does it work, is it safe, would I recommend it to another parent? Those same questions built a support group from scratch, carried a mother through four home births on her own terms, and pushed an LGBTQ+ family to ask for the visibility they deserved.

Hundreds of nominations were submitted. The deliberations are finally done. The 101 brands that made the cut are already decided. On August 29, we will find out who earned the seal of trust from parents, for parents.

Words NICOLE LIMLENGCO
Photography KIM ANGELA SANTOS
Sittings Editor MARGA TUPAZ
Make-up TWINKLE BERNARDO and DIA DEL MUNDO
Hairstyling ANGELI ALFONSO and JAYSON DUÑO
Styling SIYA DARYANI and ROSHNI MIRPURI of LUXME
Shoot Coordination and Social Media CLARA UMALI and BIANCA AYAT
Production Coordination TONI MENDOZA

Shot on location DISCOVERY PRIMEA