Las Piñas City lone district Rep. Camille Villar (rightmost, in black) poses with attendees of the recent Nanay Fair (Rep. Villar's office)

Everybody needs a good support system, especially expecting mothers. 

According to House Deputy Speaker Las Piñas City lone district Rep. Camille Villar, having a proper support system helps ensure that the women are physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared for childbirth. 

Villar, herself a mother of two, imparted some key knowledge to local pregnant women during "Nanay Fair" held recently at the Bernabe Court in Barangay Pulang Lupa Uno, Las Piñas. Nanay is Filipino for mother. 

Specifically, Villar narrated to the would-be-mothers her experience during her second pregnancy, when she was advised to get complete bed rest as she battled with medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. 

“Kailangan ninyong alagaan ang inyong mga sarili para maging healthy ang inyong mga anak. Napakahalaga ng isang maayos na support system. Importanteng alam ninyo na may tutulong sa inyo, na may kasama kayo," said the House leader. 

(You need to take care of yourselves in order to have healthy children. A good support system is crucial. It's important for you to know that someone is there to help, that you are not alone.) 

“Gusto kong iparamdam sa inyo na naiisip naming kayo, na nandito kami para tumulong sa inyo. Nandito ang inyong community, ang inyong pamilya, pati ang inyong barangay,” Villar also said. 

(I want you to feel that we are thinking of you, that we are here to help you. With you are your community, your family, and your barangay.) 

In line with her advocacy of ensuring the welfare of expecting mothers and their babies, Villar offered free medical check-ups for the mothers, and distributed vitamins and other mother and baby supplies to them. 

Villar has been giving financial and medical assistance to the city’s poor pregnant women to help them during their pregnancy. 

The Nacionalista Party (NP) stalwart has also filed House Bill (HB) No. 5684, which seeks to prohibit any health institution, hospital, or maternity lying-in from refusing to admit or give assistance to women who are about to give birth.