Sen. Risa Hontiveros. INQURER file photo
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros launched her new book on Monday where she shared her best practices to fellow mothers.
During the online launch of her new book, “Healthy Buhay, Happy Mama,” the senator talked about her experiences and the challenges she faced as a mother, among other roles, and how she addressed it.
“Pakiramdam ko, ito yata ang isa sa kakaunting pagkakataon na all of you will get to meet a different me, ‘yung sa tingin ko mas personal pa kaysa dati,” Hontiveros noted during the online press conference of her book launch.
(I feel that this is one of the few times that all of you will get to meet a different me, more personal than before.)
“Ang librong ito ay tungkol sa aking experiences bilang isang teenager, isang first-time mama, isang solo mom, isang breadwinner, at syempre isang lingkod-bayan,” she added.
(This book is about my experiences as a teenager, a first-time mama, solo mom, breadwinner, and of course, public servant.)
“Healthy Buhay, Happy Mama: Risa Hontiveros’s Journey Through Motherhood” is the senator’s first book and is published by Bookshelf PH, a boutique publisher and marketplace.
Her stories tackle four key areas: work-life balance, finances, health and wellness, and navigating this new normal as a mother.
“Sa tingin ko, napapanahon rin na magbahaginan lalo na tayong mga kabaro ng mga best practices kumbaga pagdating sa parenting, pagpapanatili ng malusog na tahanan, at syempre sa mas healthy pang paghahanapbuhay,” the senator continued.
(I think it is timely to share, especially among mothers, the best practices when it comes to parenting, maintaining a healthy home, and of course, a healthier livelihood.)
Hontiveros hoped that she, together with other mothers, may “continue navigating this complexity together” and uplift each other.
The senator likewise hoped that her readers would know that they are enough.
“If I were to choose the one thing that I’d like everyone who reads my book to take away from it, lalo na tayo mga (especially us) fellow women, it’s… you are enough. We are enough,” she pointed out.
“Whatever dream we dedicate ourselves to, whatever work that we devote ourselves to doing and pursue the realizing that dream, in any single day or even in our whole lifetime, magagawa ‘yun (it can be done) 100 percent,” she further explained.
As a mom, Hontiveros advised children to “follow their bliss.”
“One of the things I’ve always told my things… and something I love to share also with younger friends and any young people who ask is really follow your bliss,” she urged.
“Alamin mo kung ano ‘yung pinaka-love mo sa buhay tapos maging bihasa ka du’n. Be excellent at what you love most. Kasi ‘pag excellent ka, that would be your service… And kapag nagsisilbi ka, kapag naglilingkod ka, you will be happy,” she went on.
(Know what you love most and be excellent with it. Because if you’re excellent, that would be your service… And when you serve, you will be happy.)
She likewise reminded children that despite arguments with parents, they are loved.
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