“For him to be independent, ‘yun lang.”
This was the straightforward response of celebrity mom Candy Pangilinan when asked about her dream for her son Quentin, who has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
During her guest appearance on SB19’s podcast Time First, Candy talked about both the struggles and wins of being a single mother.
In middle of their conversation, Candy recalled a scenario where she shed tears for the first time in front of her son, who was having tantrums at that time. The video of that went viral last April after she posted it on social media.
“Nung araw na ‘yun parang nilabas ko siya, pinakain ko siya, inaliw ko siya,” she recalled. “‘Pag sakay niya ng kotse, meron lang kaming napag-usapan, na-realize ko baka nasobrahan ng chips or anything, biglang nagkaroon ng tantrum tas kung anu-ano na ang sinasabi (at) ginagawa. Tapos sinabi ko sa kanya ‘Quentin enough, enough.’”
READ: Candy Pangilinan finds comfort after 'breakdown' video goes viral
In the podcast, Candy expounded on the statement she made in the viral video where she was trying to make her son understand that she will not be forever by his side.
“Paano kung namatay ako? Fact 'yun eh. ‘Pag namatay ako tapos wala pa siyang kayang gawin, paano siya? Kasi wala siyang kapatid, wala naman talaga siyang barkadang barkada. I mean ako 'yung barkada talaga niya kasi nahihirapan siya makipag-barkada sa iba dahil hindi naman siya naiintindihan,” she explained.
Candy emphasized that everything she does for her son is a “preparation.”
Although she is open with the idea, the actress-comedienne emphasized that she will never be ready as a mom.
“As a mom of a neurodivergent, feeling ko you will never be totally ready, never,” she said. “Especially if you’re a single mom without a sibling, wala siyang kapatid, you will never be ready. Kahit nakabili ka na ng insurance, kahit alam mo na ‘yung mga tinabi mo para sa kanya, you will never be ready.”
Despite having his meltdown episodes, Candy described her son as a cheerful person.
“Masayahin ‘yung bata, masayahin si Quentin as a person," she said. "‘Wag lang siyang nasa meltdown or breakdown moments niya, pero as it is, masayahin siya."
Candy proudly shared the Quentin, who now works in an Italian restaurant, has achieved significant developments at work.
READ: Candy Pangilinan visits son Quentin at the restaurant where he’s working
“Nag-start lang siya (bilang) taga-bukas ng pinto,” she said. “(Pero) nag-elevate na siya, hindi nalang siya taga-bukas ng pinto, nagbibigay na siya ng menu at saka ng utensils at tubig. At nakakagawa na siya ng cappuccino. Nag-ta-take na rin siya ng orders, kinukuha niya sa taas tapos binababa niya.”
The actress-comedienne often gets commnets that her son is lucky to be raised by her, but she thinks she is blessed to have her son as well.
“I think swerte din ako kasi I will not be who I am right now without my son, that’s for sure,” she said. “Hindi ako magkakaroon ng mahabang pasensiya, hindi ako magiging ganoon ka-creative. Hindi ko akalain na ang ‘Twinkle, Twinkle’ kaya kong kantahin ng different versions para lang maaliw siya, para lang hindi siya magwala.”