Anne Curtis Explains Why Her Parenting Style Is Neither Pinoy, Aussie, Nor French

Anne Curtis may have been born and given birth in Australia, but the Philippines will always be home to her, her Filipino-French husband Erwan Heussaff and their 2-year-old daughter Dahlia Amelie.

The actress-TV host says her daughter "will grow up naturally knowing" the Filipino culture. The little girl, for instance, enjoys having taho and other local food items. (Read here why Dahlia is maganang kumain.)

She adds that her daughter speaks Taglish as first language and can count in Ilocano with the help of her own mother Carmencita Ojales, who hails from Pangasinan (read here).

At the same time, Anne believes her Dahlia's multicultural upbringing will also "just come naturally as she grows" in such an environment.

Anne, however, refuses to label what Dahlia picks up along the way as Pinoy, Aussie, or French.

"I don’t think any of that," she tells Smart Parenting in an interview at the UNICEF's celebration of World Children's Day. It was held on November 20, 2022 at the Music Hall events venue in SM Mall of Asia.

"At the end of the day, we’re all human," the UNICEF celebrity advocacy for children points out.

That's why, Anne says her parenting style is likewise neither traditional Pinoy nor Westernized.

"Gets ko naman ang sinasabi mo," she tells us. "Pag Pinoy, hinahabol ang bata."

She goes on explaining: "The parenting style that Erwan and I are doing, the core of it is love...It’s our own personal way. I think with each parent, you’ll have your own personal journey when it comes to parenting."

As a UNICEF ambassador

Anne's involvement in UNICEF, an international aid agency tasked to promote the rights of every child, began in 2009 as a major donor. She then became a goodwill ambassador in 2015, upon her appointment as a Unicef celebrity advocate for children.

"It prepared me for the whole journey of being a mother," she beams. "From the time Dahlia was in my womb, I was able to prepare myself because I did a field visit where in I learned the first 1,000 days of life.

"So it really prepared me now for the information that I need as a mother and to share with other mothers that may not have access, the knowledge. So that’s where I come in now, as a mother, to be able to help them educate about the importance of the first 1,000 days of life, the beauty of breastfeeding, and its benefits for the children."

She adds, "Before, I was looking from the eyes of an ate to the kids. The moment I became a mom, ’yung tingin ko sa kabataan ng Pilipinas is really like a mother.

"I want whatever you can give to your child to every child in the Philippines. Having the opportunity to play, to study, having a safe place to go home. All the more the passion and the fire, ’yung pag-intindi ko ng mga rights na ’yun is on a different level pa now looking through the eyes of a mother, as a mother.

"Hindi naman sa hindi seryoso before, pero nag-mas deepen pa ang pagkakaintindi ko now that I’m a mother. Not just an ally or friend. Nag-deepen talaga."

Read here on how, like Anne, you can help your children develop their curiosity.