This mom from Quezon City would definitely win the super mom award!
29-year-old Mariz Sharmaine Matibag gave birth to her triplets on January 11, 2023 at the Ortigas Hospital and Healthcare Center.
According to Mommy Mariz, she went through hard times during her second pregnancy both physically and mentally.
“Two weeks right after namatay ng dad ko, dun ko nalaman na pregnant ako. At first, nagulat ako na naiyak ako kasi sabi ko hindi pa ako prepared. After nagpa-ultrasound ako, nalaman ko na triplets. Naisip ko rin na times three ‘yung gastos,” Mommy Mariz told The Philippine STAR.
“Na-depress ako nung napanood ko ‘yung mga videos kasi most of them, namamatay ‘yung isa, dalawa–worse, namamatay ‘yung tatlo. So by that time talagang dumating ako sa point na parang ayaw ko nang ituloy kasi kamamatay lang ng dad ko tapos mamamatayan ako ng anak,” she added.
Mommy Mariz also shared a glimpse of her pregnancy journey.
“Sobrang petite ko ta’s bigla akong may triplets. Ganun kabigat, sumasakit talaga ‘yung spine ko, ‘yung balakang ko. Pag umiikot ako sa kama, kailangan kong buhatin ‘yung tiyan ko pakabila,” she recalled.
But aside from physical pain, Mommy Mariz faced the biggest challenge in her life—facing post-partum and embracing her life as a single mom.
“Nung lumabas ‘yung triplets ko, two weeks after, nawala rin ‘yung husband ko. Ako na lang talaga mag-isa. Hindi ko alam kung saan pupulutin lahat [ng] mga kailangang gastusin para sa mga anak ko,” she noted.
She had to juggle her home-based work and business while taking care of her eldest daughter and triplets all by herself.
“Mahirap. Dumating ako sa point na gusto ko nang bumigay pero naisip ko lang ‘yung mga anak ko, na wala na akong magagawa ‘pag nawala ako. Bumangon ako nag-reset ako. I started a new life,” Mommy Mariz said.
Thankfully, with the help of her mom and a helper at home, she managed to take care of her four children.
Mommy Mariz said that she spends around P50,000 for her triplets’ needs.
“Ayaw ko kasing ma-experience nila ‘yung mga bagay-bagay na na-experience ko as much as possible kung kaya ko naman kumayod, kaya ko naman dumiskarte, why not, ‘di ba? Eh, nagagawa ko naman so bigay ko sa kanila lahat kahit wala nang tulog, okay lang ‘yan kasi marami pa namang time, next time ka na lang matulog. Ngayon, ibigay mo muna sa kanila lahat kasi darating ‘yung point na ikaw naman din ‘yung magpapahinga kasi malalaman nila ‘yung pagmamahal na binigay mo,” she said.
Mommy Mariz hopes that her story would motivate fellow single moms.
“Nakakatuwa kasi despite of all my anxieties, natulungan ko ‘yung mga tao na nakakaramdam na, “Ako nga, isa pa lang, hirap na ako. Paano ka pa, Mommy?” So, lumalakas ‘yung loob nila. Kung namatayan ka man o iniwan ka, ituloy mo lang ‘yung buhay. May batang umaasa sa’yo, keep going. Iniwan ka nila? Their loss. May anak ka eh, panalong-panalo ka do’n,” she said when asked about her message to fellow single moms.
“To Athena, Royce, Daniel, and Matthew, I want to let you know na lumaban ako, ‘di ako nagpabaya, binigay ko lahat. Hinding-hindi ko kayo iiwan,” she noted.
