Janine Gutierrez Reveals Joining Showbiz To Help Her Yaya With Cancer, 'Second Mommy Ko'

Kasambahays are considered family members in many households. The nanny of Janine Gutierrez, for instance, is called "second mommy" by the actress, whose parents are actors and former spouses Lotlot de Leon and Ramon Christopher Gutierrez.

Janine, the eldest in Lotlot and Ramon Christopher's brood of four, recalled in an episode of the ABS-CBN talk show Magandang Buhay that her yaya, Pat Espera, had been with her family even before she was born.

"So talagang second mommy ko talaga si Yaya," said the actress, who's part of the cast of the hit drama series Dirty Linen. "’Tapos no’ng nag-aaral na ’ko, tinuturuan niya ’ko ng homework. Regalo niya sa ’kin, mga dictionary. Siyempre may mga times na mahirap ang buhay, di ako iniwan ni Yaya."

Janine turned teary-eyed when her Yaya Pat made a surprise appearance during her guest stint in the talk show hosted by Jolina Magdangal, Melai Cantiveros, and Regine Velasquez.

She went on sharing a turning point in her life: "Actually, mahiyain talaga ’ko. Di ko naman talaga inisip na mag-aartista ’ko. Pero no’ng college ako, si Yaya, nagkasakit. ’Ta’s parang di ako makatulong. So sabi ko sa Mommy ko, ‘Ma, gusto ko nang mag-artista para may panggamot si Yaya.'”

"Si Yaya ay isang cancer survivor," she added, when asked by Regine about Yaya Pat's health issue.

Yaya Pat then gestured to her breast to imply that she had breast cancer, and said in reflection: "Alam mo, nang ma-detect ko na may cancer ako…Sa doctor, hindi ako umiiyak. Matapang ako. Okay lang po. Pag labas ko sa pasilyo ng St. Luke’s, ’yung haligi na bilog, niyayakap ko."

She was thinking, "Kawawa naman ang mga alaga ko. Baka pag may ibang mag-aalaga, baka sigawan, apihin, takutin. Parang wala akong tiwala sa ibang mag-aalaga. Baka kurutin, sigawan."

Regine then commented on having the good fortune of finding committed nannies: "Nakakatuwa na gano’n din ang tingin nila sa mga bata. Parang anak na talaga nila."

Yaya Pat gave an example on how she took care of Janine and Janine's siblings Jessica, Diego, and Maxine in their childhood: "Pag nanood sila ng TV, ayaw pa nilang kumain, magsasangag ako, ilalabas ang malaking plato...sinusubuan sila habang nanonood ng TV. Hanggang matapos [ang pinapanood sa TV], busog na sila."

Janine nodded, "Sobrang suwerte namin talaga."

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Isang post na ibinahagi ni JANINE ??‍???? (@janinegutierrez)

Yaya Pat gave another example of how protective she is of Janine and Janine's siblings. It happened after the kids' parents separated, and new helpers came to work in the house.

She recalled, "Sasabihin ko sa katulong na papalit, ‘Huwag na huwag n’yong tatanungin ang mga alaga ko kung bakit naghiwalay sina Mama at Papa nila. Kasi pag tinanong at nagsumbong sa ’kin, papalayasin ko na kayo.’ May pinalayas nga ako. Sabi ko, 'Di ’yun ang pinasok n’yo dito. Ako lang ang may alam.'"

Janine reacted with gratitude: "Guardian namin itong si Yaya Pat."

Melai then asked Yaya Pat, "Totoo bang sweet and thoughtful si Janine noon pa?" The nanny replied in the affirmative, remembering the time Janine was still a student: "Tuwing galing sa school, kahit hindi ko birthday, pag gising ko sa umaga, ‘I love you, Yaya.’" Turned out Janine had the habit of leaving notes for her yaya.

Yaya Pat clarified that Janine's siblings were similarly affectionate and thoughtful to her. She then shared her foremost bilin to her alagas: "Sabi ko sa kanila, ‘Basta’t ako ang nag-aalaga sa inyo, gusto ko makatapos kayo ng pag-aaral. Kasi kung hindi kayo matapos ng pag-aaral, ibig sabihin, hindi ako magaling na yaya.'"

She added, "'So pag nag-graduate kayo ng Grade 6, diploma ang ireregalo n’yo sa ’kin.’ Binabantayan ko sila sa school, eh. ’Tapos sabi ko, ‘Pag Grade 6 na kayo, kailangan high school, mag-diploma pa rin kayo. Akin pa rin ’yun.'"

Janine went on graduating from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in European Studies, and her siblings earning their own college diplomas. they all made their Yaya Pat very proud and fulfilled, indeed.

Read here on more yaya success stories.