A slice of sweetness: Lifestyle Pursuits honors moms
Over shared plates, flickers of candlelight, and slices of Goldilocks’ new Mango Empress cake, women— entrepreneurs, creators, consuls, wives, and most especially mothers—gathered to hold space for joy, reflection, and connection ahead of Mother’s Day.
With its high ceilings, latticed French doors, and tables adorned with Ecuadorian roses and carnations in soft shades of white, pink, and yellow arranged by Il Fiore, Casa Buenas in Newport World Resorts became the dreamy backdrop for the Mother’s Day edition of Lifestyle Pursuits on April 29. Guests were welcomed with a live watercolor portrait session and a DIY flower bar that added thoughtful, personal touches, perfectly reflecting the event’s goal of honoring moms with gifts and meaningful moments.
Among the mothers present were Sheila Catilo, a photographer; Cerah Hernandez-Co, host and voice artist; Yen Dreyfrus, a PR specialist and lifestyle content creator; and Marie Faith, chemical engineer and founder of Pinoy Girl Boss. Also in attendance were Joana Gube, founder of Hey Jow PH; Vanessa Ledesma, Consul of Montenegro and founder of Mercato Centrale; Tim Tam Ong, jewelry designer; Em Sulit, owner of Game Changer Agency and Origins Jiu-Jitsu; and Jessa Tandayu, a breastmilk donation advocate in the Philippines.
Between bites of Filipino food, cake, and bursts of laughter, the women opened up, sharing the quiet victories, struggles, and transformative lessons that come with motherhood.
“Motherhood has humbled me,” said Hernandez-Co. “When you’re young, you’re just looking forward to checking things off your bucket list, being able to hit some goals. But when I became a mom, that’s when I realized that every single mundane thing that happens is so special.”
She said her greatest pride is seeing her children grow into kind and compassionate individuals. These moments reassure her that she is doing something right. But she also acknowledged the guilt that comes with motherhood, particularly when she finds herself losing patience with her kids, an experience many mothers relate to. She has learned that part of being a mom is making sure that she doesn’t empty her own cup.
Love language
Dreyfrus had her kids after she finished college. Her kids are now grown-up even when she herself is still so young. She’s extremely proud of both of them. It posed a different challenge for her at that time.
“I dropped everything for them so that I would be there for them at every milestone,” she said. She recognized that her love language is quality time because she came from a broken family. It was her non-negotiable when she became a mom. She wanted to spend every single moment with her children.
Jewelry designer Ong is preparing to send her eldest abroad to college. It led her to reflect on the joy of being present.
“My proudest moment is when I know my kids are the happiest,” she said. “I’m not the best mom, I still have a lot to learn. But when I see them in a good place, that’s enough.”
Motherhood has changed her because she now sees the world through the eyes of her children. She has become more selfless, understanding, and compassionate. Her youngest is playing soccer and has faced the son of Ledesma in one of the games.
The entrepreneur said that being truly present is key. She applies motherhood like she runs her company, and that is: Listen to what your kids have to say.
“I work from home. So when my children come home from school, I’m there. Whether it’s work or working out, I’m at home for them,” she said. She acknowledges that parenting is not always about what she wants for them but how they perceive life. “Sometimes, their perspective even makes more sense than mine.”
Motherhood has led Faith to empower the community of women.
A woman’s strength
Goldilocks, a brand that has long been part of Filipino milestones—birthdays, weddings, baptisms—now adds Mother’s Day to that list with heartfelt intention. Through the Inquirer Pursuits, Goldilocks celebrates the women’s strength and care.
It’s something that Tandayu can relate to very well.
“I think motherhood is one of those phases in your life where you’re really going to understand how strong you are as a person, how strong you can be for not just your family, but also other people in your community,” she said.
Women are strong on their own, she said. But she says it’s more of a personal strength, and motherhood often leads you to understanding other women more.
“My proudest moment as a mom is pushing for breastmilk donation advocacy,” she said. “I helped hundreds of babies. I extended their lives.” She had breastfed her own son Tyler Ace for two years and donated her milk to more than 100 other babies. She kept strangers’ babies fed and not just her son.
Sulit says that her pride as a mother comes from seeing her kids very healthy and respectful to everyone, including their elders and schoolmates.
“(It’s about) having kids who know how to say ‘thank you.’ When you see your kids being respectful… at least you know you’re doing something right,” she said. One of the things that keep her sane is being around other moms, too. She said just having that support group of mothers is good for one’s sanity.
There was a shift in mindset for Gube when she became a mom because she stopped focusing on herself. She wanted women to remember that every season has its own joy — being childless, married, and with kids. But if you’re a mom, the little things are what the children remember.
“Sometimes we don’t know the effect of what we do… but they remember. Even the birthday parties you think are fleeting? For them, it’s core memory,” she said.
Catilo, who went to the event with a camera around her neck, wanted moms to keep telling themselves that “Rest is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.”
She echoes Hernandez-Co’s thoughts that “You can’t give from an empty cup. We achieve more by resting.”
The moms received a surprise tribute from their children in the forms of letters and artworks. Marie Faith’s daughter Sophia, representing all the kids, read her message to her mother.
After the confessions and the introspection, the Goldilocks’ Mango Empress cake was served. Each slice had picture-perfect layers of delicate cashew wafer, cashew nuts, mango mousse, ganache, fruit, and whipped cream. It’s a cake that says, “The best ka, mom!”
Goldilocks’ newest creation was inspired from stories of mothers’ strength and endless love-because they deserve to be celebrated like the empress that they are. They are honored because in the heart of every joyful celebration that features a Goldilocks cake is a woman who made it all possible.
It’s a way to show appreciation to the women who give so much and ask for so little.
Guests also enjoyed mango-infused drinks and brought home mango-scented candles from Lumi Candles as tokens of the afternoon. This edition of Lifestyle Pursuits, held in partnership with Goldilocks through the Mango Empress, was all about celebrating moms—honoring their work, sacrifices, and the love they give so freely—with the sweetness they deserve.
