Behind her humorous antics, actress Rufa Mae Quinto is a devoted and hands-on mother to her 7-year-old daughter, Athena.
In a previous interview with PUSH Bets, Rufa Mae shared how she maintains a close relationship with her daughter as she grows older.
“Maka-mama siya. Parang kaming friends,” Rufa Mae explained their relationship. “I know baby siya pero I respect her feelings din. We do everything together.”
Rufa Mae also emphasized her role as a positive influence in Athena’s life.
“I try to be a very good example.” Rufa expressed. “As much as I can, I want to take care of her para lumaki siyang , strong, healthy and as a good girl, God fearing. Mga Miss Universe, gano’n.”
During her pregnancy with Athena, Rufa made her daughter her top priority, saying, “Siya ang naging priority… Yung saya ko kasi parang todo na! Alam mo naging mas serious kami kasi buhay na yung aasikasuhin mo, buhay ng anak mo."
Motherhood has also made Rufa reflect on the importance of being fully prepared for parenthood.
“Dapat talaga ready sa lahat. Financially, sa mind, spiritually, physically,” Rufa Mae shared in a previous interview on Magandang Buhay.
“I wish her (Athena) the best… Lumaki siya (nawa) ng mabait, lumaki siya ng maganda, lumaki siya ng matangkad, lumaki siya ng magalang. Lumaki siya ng may takot at paniniwala sa Diyos.”
Living with Athena, Rufa learned to be patient, especially as her daughter begins to express herself.
“Natutunan ko is ‘wag mong pilitin. Kumbaga baby pa eh, maglaro laro lang muna. Atsaka talagang natutunan kong baby pa sila kaya kailangan silang alagaan pero ‘wag pilitin,” she said during the press conference for her film Mujigae.
READ: Rufa Mae Quinto reveals what kind of mom she is: ‘Nakatutok (ako) parang sports lagi’
While Rufa is excited to see how Athena will develop, she’s amazed at how quickly her daughter is maturing.
“7 years old – ‘yung alam mo ‘yung baby tas biglang naging 7 na tapos parang may mga gusto nang gawin – na bakit ‘ko pinipilit, ''wag mo ‘kong i-kiss,' ‘yung mga ganu’n. Oo, 'lagi tayong magkasama, daddy ko naman.',” Rufa Mae recalled.
“Sabi pa, 'you work na lang', para raw mabili namin lahat. Pero kasi babae kasi ‘yung sa akin kaya siguro maka-daddy,” she said.
Despite their busy life in the Philippines, Rufa Mae remains hands-on with Athena’s welfare.
“Hindi pa siya nag a-adjust. Parang makaka-adjust tapos biglang nun’g binantayan ko parang gusto niya ng – parang may gusto silang gawin na hindi laging naka bantay ang magulang or didiktahan lagi. Pero hindi naman masama ‘yung gusto nila kumbaga minsan gusto lang nila tayong magkwento; minsan (hindi) gusto magkwento, ‘yung ganu’n,” she said.
She also admitted that she’s very hands-on when it comes to looking after her daughter's welfare.
“Nakatutok (ako) parang sports lagi. Yung tipong championship. Pag may nahulog, nakapunas agad – alam mo ‘yun? Kasi ganu’n eh pag ‘di ba ang bata ang gulo – madumi minsan; halimbawa kakain, lahat mahuhulog. Eh minsan siyempre sa restaurant mahihiya ka rin kaya naging practice ko na laging gumagalaw. Parang laging biglang mahuhulog – ‘di ba kahit paa mo na lang ‘yung pang salo mo,” she expressed.
Besides having good values, Rufa Mae also wanted her daughter to grow up as someone who is very active and sporty.
“Basta ginawa ko siyang atleta, gusto ko siyang maging gymnast – alam mo ‘yun, ‘yung galaw galaw? Maging active physically kasi yung mentally mas lalakas sila kapag sporty; active. Mas magiging masaya – happier,” she said.
With a hectic schedule in the past year, Rufa admitted that she misses Athena more than ever.
“Namiss ko pero laging iniisip ko ‘yung anak ko. Pero siya na mismo – parang siya na nagsasabi; siya na rin ‘yung sagot sa lahat ng ano – 'tatanggapin ko ba? Baka kailangan niya pa ‘ko, pero siya na mismo – ‘yung parang gusto niyang umalis ka na,” she said.
Having Athena in her life, Rufa Mae never felt alone as she now has someone to whom she would dedicate her life.
“Rewarding kasi nakakatuwa kasi mayroon kaming inspiration and a reason to be a good, better person,” Rufa Mae told PUSH.
“Ang pagiging mommy ay masarap at masakit kasi every time na may mafefeel siya, may pagdadaanan, parang ikaw din, mas masakit sa iyo kasi mahal mo iyong tao,” she added.
“Pero narealize ko rin na mayroon ka nang company. You will never be alone and get bored kasi mayroon kang something to do and be inspired.”