It’s Mother’s Month, and I want to wish all my mommy followers a Happy Mother’s Day. I wanted to choose a celebrity mom to feature in my column today, not just any mom, but a mother with a heart for other mothers. 

And if there’s a mommy celebrity chef in the Philippines, that would be Chef Florabel Co-Yatco.  If you have eaten in Florabel, Crisostomo, Corazon, El Corazon, Cafeteria, Market on 5th Avenue, and Mr Franks Hotdogs and Nachos, then you have tasted  Nanay Florabel or Nanay Flora’s cooking. 

“Aside from the four I have, I would like to think of my 22 restaurants as my children. I love being a Nanay, and if given the opportunity, I would love to take care of more people," Nanay Flora told me while we were preparing Mother’s Day goody bags for the Nanays in the Women’s Correctional last week. 

Nanay Flora wanted to celebrate Mother’s Day with the Nanays who denied liberty. She was talking to the PDLs (persons denied of liberty) about the Nanay partylist. 

Should she be nominated in Congress, one of her projects would be for the Nanays in the correctional system to have jobs waiting for them immediately upon release from prison. Nanay Flora wants to give back, and giving Filipino mothers representation is the best way to do so.

“Mothers take the most responsibilities in the family, yet they have remained silent about their day-to-day battles. Mothers often dedicate their time and lives to their families and ignore their welfare. However, they are always appreciated but not formally represented in our country. 

"With the Nanay party list, we can provide for livelihood or economic activities that would address the immediate needs of Filipino mothers/nanays who lack financial resources to feed, clothe, educate, and provide for themselves and their children. Second, we can develop technological training that will be conducted in the rural areas to provide relevant skills to Filipino Mothers/Nanays; 

"Third, we will enact laws for the protection of Filipino mothers/nanays against discrimination in the workplace, against domestic violence, sexual assault, and any form of abuse; Fourth, we will provide legislation to advance the interest of working mothers/nanays such as providing for parent-friendly working arrangements, establishment of lactation rooms in workspaces and improved medical benefits; Fifth, we will promote awareness on how to properly address the difficulties and struggles faced by Filipino mothers/nanays during pregnancy, while giving birth and after childbirth; 

"Sixth, we will provide access to prenatal care, training, and seminars on safe delivery and postpartum depression; Seventh, we will intensify efforts to educate the people about sex education and family planning programs; Eighth, we will promote the physical, mental, moral, and social well-being of all its members through programs that help alleviate stress and anxiety; 

"And lastly, we will closely work with government and non-governmental organizations to support government policies that positively impact Filipino mothers/nanays and in the amendment or modification of relevant laws or rules, as may be necessary."