When Anne Curtis talks, it's good to listen. The actress, host, and mom of one recently shared her heartfelt reflections on motherhood and career during the Step in the Name of Love segment on the noontime show It's Showtime on June 2.
The topic came up when co-host Vice Ganda posed a thought-provoking hypothetical question to a contestant: If both partners are equally invested in their careers and then have a child, who should give up caring for the child? Without hesitation, the female contestant said she would gladly sacrifice her career for her future family.
Anne Curtis, Vice Ganda on mothers sacrificing their dreams
Vice weighed in with a striking reality check: "Yun talaga 'yung isa mga hindi masyadong magagandang issues kapag nag-asawa. Merong isang kailangang mag-sakripisyo ng kanyang career, o goal sa buhay. Yung personal goal, 'di ba, lahat tayo may personal goal?"
He added, "Maraming nawawalan ng choice kung hindi mag-sacrifice ng kanilang kakayahan at potensyal sa buhay dahil sa pagbibigay ng pangangailangan ng pamilya. And most of the time, babae ang nagsasakripisyo. 'Di ba?"
'I took a break to become a mother, but don't give up on your dreams. There's always a time for you to go back and pursue your dreams. And that's why napaka-importante mahanap mo 'yung tamang tao.' —Anne Curtis
Vice continued, "Maraming babae na magaling sumayaw, hindi na naipupursue ang husay niya sa pagsasayaw the moment siya ay maging isang ina. Diba? Maraming modelo, diba, na ititigil niya na ang kanyang pagmumodelo dahil sa kanyang pagbibigay ng pangangailangan ng kanyang mga anak. Most of the time, babae ang nagsasakripisyo ng kanyang full potential to be a mother, and a parent, and a wife."
Vice is correct. According to recent data from UN Women, more women than men are shifting from paid and unpaid work to full-time childcare, giving up paid employment. This was intensified from 2019 to 2020, due to the economic fallout of COVID-19.
'[Napaka-importante mahanap] 'Yung tamang tao na mauunawaan ka—'yung pangangailangan ng iyong kaluluwa na i-pursue 'yung iyong potensyal at pangarap.' —Vice Ganda
Anne chimed in with her own experience, saying, "For mothers, I just want to add din na parang after the time na syempre kailangan talaga, like me, I took a break to become a mother, but don't give up on your dreams. There's always a time for you to go back and pursue your dreams. And that's why napaka-importante mahanap mo 'yung tamang tao. Para ma-support ka niya."
@abscbn You can still pursue your dreams kahit isa ka ng ina ???? #ABSCBN #ItsShowtime #StepInTheNameOfLove #AnneCurtis ? original sound - ABS-CBN
Anne gave birth to her daughter, Dahlia Amelie, on March 2, 2020. She and her husband, Erwan Heussaff, announced her pregnancy around their second wedding anniversary in November 2019. After taking a two-year hiatus to focus on motherhood, Anne returned to It’s Showtime in May 2022. Anne and Erwan have been together for 14 years.
Vice agreed, saying, "Yung tamang tao na mauunawaan ka—'yung pangangailangan ng iyong kaluluwa na i-pursue yung iyong potensyal at pangarap."
Anne's message is clear: while motherhood is powerful, moms can't—and shouldn't—be expected to do it all alone. Having a supportive partner who understands and shares parenting responsibilities is the game-changer. It's not just about chasing dreams; it's about building a life where both parents uplift each other, so no one has to give up who they are to become who they need to be.
With the help of a support system, motherhood made these women better leaders. Read here.
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