Success After Motherhood: How 4 Women Did It

Krissie Pacia
Baker
Mom to Laura Noelle, 1 year old

I always thought becoming a baker was a faraway dream. it never really crossed my mind that I could pursue this dream and make it happen,” Krissie Pacia confesses.

Krissie spent seven years working in the hotel industry, until she decided to give it up to start her own family. “After I stopped working, I thought of ways to earn an income. When I gave birth, I wanted to make a cake for my baby every month,” she says. “When I made her first cake, everybody loved it, and each time I’d [bake] something, people would encourage me to start a business.”

The boost from family and friends gave Krissie the push she needed to turn her hobby into an enterprise, and Krazylicious Desserts was born. Building a business and raising a daughter, she says, is like having two babies at the same time. “It was a little difficult in the beginning,” she reveals, “but because my business is based from home, it’s easier to manage. While I’m baking, I can take a short break to check on my baby.”

Now, Krissie’s days are a happy balance of baby and baking. As a one-woman team when it comes to her business, she says, “I have to pace myself. I have my baking days, and then I do meet-ups and deliveries. I like to do my own deliveries because that allows me to [personally] market my goods.” She adds, “My dream is to have a dessert café in three to five years, so that I could also cater to people who just crave desserts.”

It’s a dream that is still in progress as Krissie is learning more every day. “Going for your dreams is not an easy road,” she admits, saying that there are certain challenges you will face that will make you want to give up. “It helps to surround yourself with whatever gives you peace and strength, such as family and friends. Prayers also help me quiet my heart and my mind.”

Her advice to other moms hoping to fulfill their own personal goals? “Dream big, work hard, and believe in yourself. Nothing is sadder than an unfulfilled dream. Don’t be so afraid of failing that you won’t even try... anything is possible.”

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Gia Alberto-Estrella
Lawyer, Barcelona Barcelona Velasco Law Offices
Mom to Aerin, 7

Gia believes that children are a blessing, and her daughter is definitely one -- one that came ahead of time. She and her then-boyfriend were about to conclude their second year in the same law school when she found out she was two-weeks pregnant with their child.

Gia put her studies on hold. She says, however, “I never entertained the idea of quitting law school for good kasi nandoon na ako sa gitna.” During her hiatus, she worked as a part-time tutor to save up for the baby on the way. “My then-boyfriend and I decided to get married, and I moved into his parents’ house,” she says. “He started working so he could support our baby while I waited for my due date.”

The couple didn’t return to law school until seven months after Gia gave birth to their daughter Aerin in November 2006. They resumed their law studies in June 2007 as working students. “We were tutors by day and students by 6 p.m. In between [work and school], we would study for three hours,” Gia says. “Through hard work, we were able to finish our studies.”

Their toughest challenge, though, was yet to come. “The review for the bar exam was much more tedious than law school,” Gia says. “Even if we were just at home every day, we spent the entire six months studying.” She describes their rigorous routine: “We would wake up at 5 a.m. to study, and then Aerin would wake up at around 7 a.m. We’d feed and bathe her and then resume our reading. We’d also study while she sleeps.”

Gia reveals that reviewing for the September 2010 bar exam “was so difficult. We didn’t know how to balance our time between reviewing and caring for our daughter because my husband and I had the same schedule,” she says. Aerin was patient and, as Gia says, “marunong makisama.” Her sister-in-law also helped take care of Aerin while they reviewed.

“We really needed to pass the bar because our daughter was about to enter preschool. We couldn’t afford to take it twice. [Fortunately, my husband and I] both passed,” she says.

“At last, we can finally focus on Aerin, who is now a first-grader,” Gia says. “Ngayon kami bumabawi sa kanya. For three years, ’di namin siya masyadong naasikaso. Back then, she’d just watch TV while we studied at home. Now, we go out.”

Here’s one lesson Gia would like fellow moms to learn: “Motivate yourself. You’re doing things not just for yourself but also for your kids. You now have one more reason to do your best: your children. I think they’re the best motivation for a parent to pursue her dreams. Achieving goals for yourself doesn’t stop when you become a mom; you should still continue to work for what you want, so that you won't have regrets.”

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Stephanie Malibiran
Beauty Queen, Model, and Makeup Artist
Mom to Georgine Marie, 5

Becoming a model and a beauty queen was not part of Stephanie Malibiran’s plans. She was studying to become a doctor. “When I was 16, I joined the Miss Manila pageant for fun and won Miss Teen manila. Then I joined another pageant as a favor to a designer who lent me some of his clothes for an event,” she says. “Although I didn’t win, it opened doors for me as a model.” However, Stephanie eventually had to stop modeling to focus on her studies.

After taking the board exams and working as a medical technologist, a friend asked her to join Binibining Pilipinas in 2005, and subsequently the Miss Philippines-Earth pageant, where she made it to the Top 10. Her modeling career also resumed in 2008.

In the middle of a flourishing career in medical technology and modeling, Stephanie decided to give it all up for her family. “I quit my job in the Tropical Disease Foundation because it was hazardous for our baby,” she explains. “It was a sacrifice I had to make, but it was worth it. I feel fulfilled that I raised my daughter well.”

Even if she doesn’t regret her decision to give up her career, living in the province as a full-time housewife and giving up the glamorous life took its toll on her self-esteem. “I decided to join the Mrs. Philippines-Globe pageant in 2012 to regain my self-confidence,” she says. And regain it she did, so she went on to join the Mrs. Asia International pageant, which pit her against other Southeast Asian beauties. “There, I focused on becoming friends with the other contestants. I won the title of Mrs. Asia International Tourism.”

Now, Stephanie has decided to leave modeling to the younger generation and focus instead on a newfound passion: makeup. Stephanie understands how important it is to look good, saying “When people compliment you in front of your husband, it makes both of you feel good. It’s important to still look beautiful even when you’re a wife and mother because it boosts your self-esteem.”

“Going after what you really want will benefit your family. [No, it doesn’t make you selfish.] When your kids and husband see that you’re happy with what you’re doing, they’d be happy, too, so just go for it!”

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Kristine Lucas
Digital Marketer and Makeup Artist
Mom to Malena, 10, Lucia, 7, and Raffaela, 1

For Kristine Lucas, makeup is more than just a hobby; she considers it “her thing.” She says, “you may reach a point in your life when you start becoming just a shadow of your husband, and just a mom to your kids.” She adds, “you still have to keep a part of yourself alive by doing something that’s just about you -- not about your husband or your kids. [Being a makeup artist] is something I want to do for myself.”

Her interest in makeup has always been there. As a member of a band in college, Kristine had to learn to apply her own makeup, so she read up on it and constantly practiced. When a makeup school finally offered a part-time program, Kristine decided to enroll while still keeping her day job.

It has been five years since Kristine started leading a multi-hyphenated life, juggling her duties as a mother, digital marketer, part-time marketing consultant, and makeup artist all at once. “I’m fortunate that my office is located very close to my kid’s school and that we live nearby as well,” she says. On weekends, she is able to devote time to being a makeup artist. “I try to bring the kids with me to work or have them nearby, so I can easily join them when I’m finished,” she says.

Doing makeup for weddings, debuts, and other “people events” has been very fulfilling for Kristine. She points out, “At weddings, the makeup artist is the bride’s hero. You help the woman feel so good about herself.” She continues, “I love seeing the satisfaction on my clients’ faces, receiving thank-you letters after the event, and getting referrals because they like my work. More than the money, it’s really the fulfillment I get because my clients like my work.”

It all starts with passion, and Kristine advises other moms to never give that up. “Nothing -- not age, not the number of kids, not marriage, not working [too] much -- should make you give up your dream,” she says, “I have three kids, two jobs, and other jobs on the side. If I can do it, other moms can, too!”.

Photos by Vincent Coscolluela