Call Me Mother: Celebrating Our Favorite Filipino Influential Moms
Moms are the real superheroes of our world. They’re our first caregivers, providing love, support, and guidance in our lives from the very beginning. They’re our primary educators and role models. Undoubtedly, their influence on us is long-lasting — it helps shape our identities and prepares us for how we live our lives.
This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating our favorite influential moms. From leaders, influencers, pop culture icons, and even fictional moms — we believe all of them deserve their spotlight for rising to the responsibility when “mothering” calls. See our full list below!
1. Lumen: The Millennials “Wais na Misis”
Screen grab from Surf Commercial Series: “Lumen” Wais na Misis
Remember Lumen? If your answer is yes, we’re taking a wild guess that you’re also a millennial whose back and joints are also now starting to hurt.
“Lumen” is a fictional character born from a series of detergent commercials from Surf. In the commercials, we see Lumen grow and navigate family life while keeping her family’s clothes clean. The series started with Lumen as a wife, often appeasing the satisfaction of her mother-in-law, “Lola Obang.” Then, it continued with Lumen giving birth to twins until they grew up.
Why we love her: Lumen is a household icon. Back in the day, when television was king and telenovelas were the Filipinos’ favorite form of entertainment, Lumen became a welcome and familiar face every time she showed up on TV screens.
The creative genius behind Lumen’s story is also amazing: in her series of commercials, we saw how Lumen navigated each stage of womanhood and how the product, Surf detergent, helped with the problems that arose with each stage. When Lumen was still a wife, we saw how she had to solve clothes stains for her husband’s shirts and how she had to pick a good white sundress, all with the approval of her mother-in-law. When her twins were christened, she made sure their clothes were pristine white and clean, all thanks to using the right product. In short, she was a good representation of the Filipino woman — a real “Wais na Misis” — and we all adored her for it.
2. Mommy Grace Tan-Felix: The Internet’s Favorite Mom
Image from GMA Network / Youtube
Mommy Grace Tanfelix, the internet’s new favorite mom, is a social media star in her own right.
Known for her signature cue “Okay na ‘to”, she says these three words every time she finishes cooking a meal. She rose to prominence for her cooking videos, which usually involve cooking in large batches while donning her hallmark look of a shirt, an apron, and a pink headband.
Why we love her: In a social media landscape filled with noise and negativity, Mommy Grace Tanfelix’s videos provide a nugget of comfort. Aside from the mouthwatering appeal of her home-cooked meals, her cooking videos are fairly easy to follow; they’re straightforward. Most of them feature Filipino recipes, so the ingredients are easy to shop for. She cooks in large batches, too, which is something Filipino moms who cook for large families can appreciate.
In addition to this, we love how Mommy Grace has successfully crafted a social media identity of her own, aside from being a celebrity mom to Kapuso Star Miguel Tanfelix. Check out her cooking videos for yourself (just don’t watch them at midnight, unless you’re ok with having sudden midnight cravings).
3. Mama Pao: The One Who “Mothered”
Screen grab from Drag Race Philippines / HBO Max
As RuPaul would have it, call her mother.
Meet Mama Pao, also Paolo Ballesteros, who’s known for his impact on the LGBTQ+ and drag community.
Paolo first gained recognition for his hosting career on the Filipino noontime show “Eat Bulaga” before venturing into acting. In 2016, he won the Best Actor Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival for his role as Trisha in the movie “Die Beautiful”. Then, in 2022, he took on the role of main host and judge in Drag Race Philippines, where he earned the moniker Mama Pao.
Why we love her: Mama Pao has always been a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. From his first appearance as his drag persona, Precious Paula Nicole, in Eat Bulaga way back in 2005, to his amazing makeup transformations that earned him international recognition, Paolo has always mothered, to say the least.
When he officially came out in 2019, the LGBTQ+ community welcomed Mama Pao with open arms. He became an inspiration to young members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially those who are still in the process of coming to terms with their gender identity and sexuality. His involvement in Drag Race Philippines has also been pivotal, as he continuously provides mentorship, advice, and support to the drag queens competing in the show.
4. Karen Davila: A Strong and Ausome Mom
Image from Modern Parenting
Karen Davila is primarily known as an award-winning broadcast journalist and news anchor, particularly for her work in the TV network ABS-CBN. Since the beginning of her career, we’ve been seeing her on our TV screens — from TV Patrol to Bandila — delivering evening news daily. As a senior journalist, she’s covered almost everything in current affairs, and she often earns praise for her insightful questioning in interviews and fearless approach to reporting.
What most people don’t know about Karen is that beyond the strong journalist lies an empowered and hands-on ausome mom. Karen is a mom to two sons. Her eldest, David, who’s 23 years old, was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum when he was only a toddler.
Why we love her: Karen Davila stands as a prominent figure representing empowered women in Philippine media. Her award-winning journalistic career has not only made her widely recognized but has also solidified her position as a highly influential and trusted voice in the Philippine media landscape.
Beyond the newsroom, we love how she’s always been vocal about her advocacy for social justice and autism awareness. Despite being a working mom, Karen has always been hands-on in raising her children. Her unwavering passion, dedication, and commitment to being present and supporting her neurodivergent son in his growth and development are what helped him thrive and become the best version of himself.
5. Risa Hontiveros: The Woman’s Advocate
Image from Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ FB account
When she speaks into a mic, it’s easy to get lost in her soft-spoken voice and quiet charm. But don’t be fooled by her gentle demeanor — Risa Hontiveros knows how to breathe fire when necessary. Since the start of her political career, Risa has always amplified women’s voices.
She’s a staunch health and women’s rights advocate and a voice for the marginalized sectors. As a legislator, Risa has authored various landmark laws such as the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, the Philippine Mental Health Law, the Cheaper and Quality Medicines Law, and the Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act.
Why we love her: Aside from advocacies for social justice and progressive policies, we admire how Risa keeps her calm and poise. May it be during heated senate hearings or busy press conferences, Risa always knows how to answer with dignity and grace.
Plus, she’s always been consistent when it comes to her commitment to public service. As the sole opposition member in the senate, we love her for standing her ground and showing us how to mother despite the murky waters of Philippine politics — calm, level-headed, yet never afraid to speak out.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible mothers out there! Looking for the best momfluencer to collaborate with and help your amplify your brand’s message? Send us a message and let’s talk about it!
