This mother from Pasig City is currently living her best life for the second time around, thanks to her children!
Mommy Marilou Etrata recently shared on social media how her children let her experience things for the first time like going to concerts, music festivals and even traveling around the Philippines.
“‘Yung mga hindi ko nagagawa noon, nagagawa ko ngayon. Masaya. Hanggang kaya ko pa, gagawin ko. Kaya sinasamantala ko habang ngayon na kaya ko pa, may lakas pa ako. Ie-enjoy ko talaga. Sa tulong ng mga anak ko, nagbibigay sila ng pang budget sa’kin, kaya ayon nagagawa ko,” she told The Philippine STAR.
On TikTok, she shared clips while attending concerts, music festivals and visiting new places. Netizens were quick to react to Mommy Marilou’s “bagets” lifestyle.
“You’re so cute tita. Glad you enjoy going to concerts,” a netizen said.
“Goooo miiiiiii forever young 🫶,” another said.
According to Mommy Marilou, everything wouldn’t be possible if her children were not supportive.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa mga anak ko kasi ‘yung mga hindi ko naranasan noon, pinaparanas ng [mga] anak ko ngayon. Kaya tuwang-tuwa ako.Ngayon nararanasan ko na, nakakapunta na ako sa iba-ibang lugar. Pinaparanas nila ‘yung gaya doon sa Twice, sinama nila ako,” she said.
Mommy Marilou didn’t grow up in a wealthy family. At a very young age, her mother died, and her father worked hard to sustain the needs of their family.
She finished until second year of high school before getting pregnant with her first child.
“Twenty years old ako no’n. Habang single mom ako, nakatira ako sa kaibigan ko. Naging kasambahay ako para lang may magpakain sa aming dalawa,” she recalled.
In 1989, she met her now husband, “Alam niya na talaga na may anak ako, na single mom ako. Tinanggap naman niya ‘yon. Kahit mahirap ang buhay, masaya kami.”
She worked as a seamstress for several years before trying to enter the parlor industry.
“Pero [nung] natuto na akong mag-manicure, mas madaling kumita sa pagma-manicure. Nagpupunta sa bahay, nagpapalinis o kaya magpapa-manicure, pedicure. Tapos ‘pag Sabado [at] Linggo, ‘yung panganay ko nag-aalaga sa mga kapatid niya. Ako naman, nagse-service,” she said.
Adding after years of hardwork, “Kung ikukumpara ko ‘yung buhay namin noon tsaka ngayon, mas maginhawa ‘yung buhay namin ngayon. Siyempre mahirap magpalaki ng mga anak, nagpapaaral sabay-sabay apat, ‘di ba? Tapos magkano lang naman ang kinikita namin. Pero naitaguyod namin sila.”
After taking care and making her family her priority for years, Mommy Marilou said that it was now her time to enjoy her life.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanila, ‘tapos na ko sa inyo.’ ‘Yung tungkulin ko sa kanila tapos na kaya sarili ko naman. Syempre, sumusuporta rin sila. Kagaya sa concert nililibre nila ako. Kung may mga pinupuntahan silang lugar na hindi ako kasama, binibigyan nila ako ng budget,” Mommy Marilou said.
In the future, Mommy Marilou wants to visit Korea and attend the concert of BINI and Taylor Swift.
With her experience, she has a message to fellow parents.
“Ang mga nanay priority talaga mga anak nila. ‘Yung pag-aaral, pagsuporta. Pero kung nabigay n’yo na ‘yun sa mga anak n’yo, bigyan n’yo rin ‘yung sarili n’yo. Kasi, hindi pa huli ang lahat. Konting panahon na lang tayo kung tutuusin. Kaya i-enjoy na natin,” she stressed.
