Winwyn Marquez: How Being Authentic Empowered Her as a Parent
Having been in the showbiz industry for a long time, Winwyn Marquez explains why authenticity matters especially now that she’s a mother.
Winwyn Marquez used to have a full schedule of tapings, photoshoots, and various showbiz commitments. These days, the actress and Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 winner has slowed down to be a mother to 10-month-old Luna, whom she welcomed last year.
During her interview with Modern Parenting, Winwyn admits that she is still finding her groove when it comes to time management. “I’m so honest that I really don’t know how to balance my time,” Winwyn explains in a mixture of English and Filipino. “Like I have no idea how to fix my schedule. But I know one thing: Luna’s my priority.”
Winwyn Marquez on motherhood realizations
Winwyn admits she is not comfortable leaving Luna alone with a nanny. For her, it’s important that a family member or her partner would be present to take care of Luna while she is away for work.
If there are work commitments, she would request at least a heads-up of one to two weeks so that she and her partner can iron out their schedules, a fact she continues to figure out.
“I think that’s the reality of motherhood. If you are a first-time mom, you have a lot to figure out,” she said.
Unlike other first-time moms, Winwyn has been gracious in sharing her experiences and Luna’s milestones. As someone who has grown up in the spotlight herself, it’s something that she will continue as long as it helps people.
“I am very generous in showing my life with Luna. When I post my vlogs, a lot of moms are messaging me on what I do and if I have tips for them,” she shared.
It takes a village
Just like any new mom, Winwyn is blessed to have her parents, actors Alma Moreno and Joey Marquez, as well as her siblings, guide her with Luna. They all advised her to spend as much time with her daughter as much as she can.
“As much as possible, give time to her. Like my dad, he would often tease us and say you’re already leaving me one by one,” Winwyn laughed.
“Now I get him. Because every time he says that, I already imagine what if Luna grows up and leaves me. Thinking about it already makes me cry! I get it why bakit nung bata kami gusto niya kami kasama, na may experiences kami together.”
Daddy’s girl
With a daughter in tow, it’s normal that Winwyn would be protective of Luna. At this point, she sees her parenting style as that of her dad’s, Joey Marquez.
“My dad wants to be part of the things that I do. Yung mom ko kasi is more of spoiling like ano ba yung gusto mo. Yung dad ko naman is like okay, let’s go to the mall, samahan ko kayo pero on a budget,” she giggled.
“I feel like I’m on my dad’s side such as I like to bring Luna out and experience things. For example, going to the zoo or anything that’s active.”
Luna’s arrival is something her dad cherishes and sometimes he would simply drop by their house and play with her while Winwyn is out on showbiz work or errands. She recalled that there were many instances her dad would tell her to go back to work and he’ll handle Luna.
“Kulang na lang dalhin niya si Luna sa farm niya!” Winwyn exclaimed.
Self-care matters
Although she enjoys her life as a mother, Winwyn also had her struggles, most notably when she battled postpartum in the early stage after giving birth. For her to take care of Luna, Winwyn knew she had to push herself to be better.
“I always kept thinking that if I can’t take care of myself and kept thinking negatively, how can I take care of my child?” she pondered.
“I don’t want to be selfish. So that’s what kept me going kasi akala ko nung una yung postpartum kakayanin ko. It was different when it hit me. So iyon lang yung inisip ko na number one, kung hindi ko lalabanan ito at hahayaan ko lang ang sarili ko na ganito, si Luna yung maapektuhan, even my partner.”
A good support system helps
It’s not only Winwyn Marquez’s family that has given her support. A number of her showbiz friends have also either married or started having kids themselves. What used to be meet-ups for showbiz commitments and hanging out in bars transitioned to comparing baby products and arranging playdates.
Winwyn chuckled as she recalled the conversations in their group. “Like oh my gosh, anong ginagamit ng anak mo? Paano siya nakakatulog? It’s all about our children!”
“Before it was like, where are we going to meet up, let’s drink! Or ano ang gagawin mo, ano ang mga events? But now it’s like, can we schedule a playdate? It’s a very mature conversation,” she added.
It’s a big transition for her and her friends given that schedules now revolve around their children. But one thing is for sure, they help one another. “It’s really sending messages of how we can help each other as parents.”
Accessories by The Closet Culture
The importance of being authentic
In showbiz and beauty pageants where aspirants are molded and transformed, there are instances one’s personality can get lost. Winwyn points out that being real towards oneself matters, more so now that she is a mom.
“I just want to be authentic,” she shared. “I want to show everyone this is who I am. This is the real me. I don’t think I have to maintain na ganito ang itsura ko kasi beauty queen ako. Hindi na siya makatotohanan.”
The authenticity she brings to her stories on social media also reflects how the term influence has changed for her. “In social media at this stage, you really don’t know what’s real and what’s not. When I was pregnant, nakikita ko yung mga Instagram moms – perfect and beautiful. I really wanted to be that way because it might help me also,” she shared.
“I realized that I can help and influence more when I was just being real and not trying hard to be that Instagram-perfect mom.”
If the experiences she had gone through can help out mothers, then she knows that she did something right. “Mas no filter, the better. Kasi mas nakakadating yung message and mas important yung reach na iyon kaysa doon sa picture-perfect feed.”
Uplifting women
While she has cut down on showbiz commitments, Winwyn Marquez happily shared that she’ll be returning to TV soon. She is just ironing out some details so that when taping starts, she’ll be able to balance mommy duties and showbiz work.
Having gone through the cutthroat competitions of showbiz and pageantry, the term empowerment is very different for Winwyn now that she is in a different chapter of her life.
“I was empowered before but now that I am a mother, it’s a different level already,” she muses. “Because I am taking care of another life and the power of social media, I know that I am also helping other moms which is very impactful already.”
While women are now more vocal about being career people and living their respective lives, Winwyn hopes more and more women will help one another.
“I want women not to bring other women down. It’s easy to be blinded by the glitz and glam, but we need to be more aware of that. I hope that [women bringing down other women] changes.”
Words ALEXA VILLANO
Photography EXCEL PANLAQUE and RON MENDOZA
Art Direction MARC YELLOW
Makeup TAMARA PINEDA
Hairstyling PATTY INOJALES
Styling ROSHNI MIRPURI and SIYA DARYANI for THE CLOSET CULTURE
Shoot Coordination ANTHONY MENDOZA and MJ ALMERO
Sittings Editor MARGA MEDRANO-TUPAZ
Shot on location at RIZAL PARK HOTEL
Special thanks to MICHELLE GARCIA-ARCE
Read more about this month’s cover:
Shamcey Supsup, Winwyn Marquez, and Francesca Taruc: Slaying as Queens and Moms
