Kapuso comedienne Pokwang reminisced the days when she was still a young girl who sold flowers and food in the streets of Antipolo, Rizal.
“Sobrang awang awa na ako sa buhay namin,” shared Pokwang during an interview with Karen Davila for her online show recently.
Pokwang also revealed about lying her real age so that she could work as a cultural dancer in Japan.
In 1989, Pokwang met the father of her firstborn, Shin Subong. Four years later, she bid goodbye to her first husband, bearing the responsibility of a single mom.
Pokwang fell in love again and gave birth to her second child, Mae Subong. But Pokwang said she needed to work abroad as an entertainer at a hotel for six months.
In the same interview, Pokwang got emotional when she narrated about her son who got congenital tumor.
“September 23, 1998 dapat yung schedule ng kanyang operasyon, hindi na niya kinaya bumigay na yung katawan niya. Tumawag sila sa akin madaling araw sa Abu Dhabi. ‘I-uuwi na namin si Shin’, sabi ko ‘bakit niyo iuuwi magaling na ba?’ Hanggang sa wala ng nagsasalita sa background, na-gets ko na.
“Ganito pala pakiramdam na mawalan ng anak, ang sakit-sakit pala talaga” she added.
That moment, Pokwang said that she wanted to take her life by jumping off a building.
In 2002, Pokwang and her friends went to a comedy bar somewhere on Roxas Boulevard. The manager of the bar was happy with her performance and hired her. “Naturalesa ka, mayroon kang naturalesang komedyante, kailangan namin ng babae dito," Pokwang was told.
“Clown in a Million 2004” is an ABS-CBN comedy contest won by Pokwang, which became the turning point of her career and eventually changed her life.
Pokwang and her current partner, actor Lee O’Brian, first met in the movie “Edsa Woolworth” as her leading man. Asked what makes Lee different from her previous relationships, Pokwang said: “Si Papang (Lee) kasi very supportive sa akin, siya talaga yung tiga-angat ko”
“Hindi siya nananakit, yung mga nakaraan ko kasi nananakit. Battered mom din ako, kapag yung nagseselos, pero siya hindi. Never niya akong pinagbuhatan ng kamay," she said.
Pokwang lost her first pregnancy with Lee. Her obstetrician-gynecologist advised her to take a rest. Luckily, on the second try, Pokwang gave birth to Malia.
Pokwang’s dream is to expand her food businesses “Mamang’s Inasal” and “Pok-Lee Food Products” which offer ready-to-eat meals such as suka, tuyo gourmet, tinapa gourmet, and laing.
As a mom these days, Pokwang believes she is "strong" and a "survivor." She also said that mothers should be strong, especially if they don't have someone to rely on.
Pokwang does not have any regrets in being a mom, because she believes that every child is a blessing from God.
She looks up to her mother as an inspiration to be a great mother. Even though there are 12 of them in the family, Pokwang never saw her mom give up, never heard her complain when they didn't have food on the table, and her mom did everything to provide for all of them. (Diannevie Feliciano and Jazle Anne Calano/OJT from City of Malabon University)