In celebration of Women’s Month this year, I decided to share the list of Filipino women that I adore and look up to. These are the Filipinas that I often talk about with my daughters because of their personality, attitude, and way of living. These are the women who brighten my day whenever I think of them or read something about them online.
1. Heart Evangelista – she is a true fashion icon for me. I love her style, the way she talks, and the way she loves and respects her husband Chiz Escudero. She is demure and yet sexy at the same time. Though I don’t know if Heart has any plans of having a baby very soon, I know that she has a kind and generous heart and thus will become a wonderful mom. I also like Heart because although she came from a very rich family, she doesn’t make me feel that she is unreachable. I almost always wish that Chiz Escudero will run again as President only because I want her to be the first lady.
2. Mary Grace Peckson Dimacali (owner of Mary Grace bakeshop) – not only because she owns and runs one of my most favorite bakeshop and restaurant but also because I love her story. She is a simple mom of five kids and worked her way up, learning and making her own cakes and pastries. I see myself in her, with my kids, when I’ve read how she loves surprising her kids with her cakes. Someday, maybe, I’ll also have my own cafe or if not, just being able to delight my kids and relatives and friends with things that I cooked or baked will always give me happiness.
3. Lucy Torres Gomez – Lucy has one of the prettiest faces but she is also very intelligent. She has been a politician for many years, juggling her time in managing her home, as a mother to her daughter Juliana, and wife to another actor-politician. Despite the power and fame, Lucy is very soft-spoken and yet strong-hearted and can stand on her opinion like when she advocated the Anti-Terrorism bill despite being bashed by so many anti-government people.
4. Vilma Santos Recto – another celebrity mom-turned politician, I also look up to Vilma Santos because of her dedication to her career and being able to be a good mother and wife. I really admire Filipino women who are able to use their influence in helping others and dedicate their time in doing so. She has been a politician for more than a decade and doesn’t seem to be stopping in the near future. I’m not a Vilmanian but I’ve watched some of her films and there’s no arguing that she is one of the best actresses our country has ever had. That’s because Vilma has a passion for doing her craft and this is the quality that I really love about her.
5. Tita Baby – this last spot was reserved for my favorite aunt who was my first teacher. Since I didn’t grow up with my own mother, my young Tita Baby back then was the first one who taught me how to read, write and do math after she came from work. Everyone in our family respects my Tita and now that she lives abroad, we always wish for the days when she will come back to visit because we love her dearly for her kindness, generosity, and intelligence.
My list might look simple and it’s maybe because I am not acquainted to big personalities nor do I look up to women who talk or write loudly about controversial topics/being part of controversies themselves. For me, I look up to women who do the works even without saying a word. That’s how I am at home so, in a way, I also admire myself for that. As my favorite saying goes:
Silent water runs deep.
anonymous
How about you, who are the women who inspire you the most?
