Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan launches new children's book

It was a book launch like no other, wherein Team Pangilinanan--as they fondly call themselves--took front, right, back and center stage in welcoming Mommy Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan’s new children’s book entitled “Kuya Na Si Bunso” last Friday at the Glorietta 5 Atrium.

 

The book launch was hosted by Ella, the eldest daughter, and Donny, the second child and eldest son of spouses Maricel and Anthony Pangilinan. The sister-brother tandem set the light and engaging mood that afternoon as they shared anecdotes about their family, giving the guests the inside story as to how the book came about.

 

Actress, TV host and parenting advocate Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan was inspired by her son Benjamin’s questions about no longer being the youngest, after learning that a fifth child, Solana, was on the way.

 

“I knew he was asking to find out if there was still going to have enough love and attention to be given to him after the baby arrives," Maricel said.

 

Benjamin, the fourth child of Maricel and Anthony, has, for 10 years, been holding the throne as the family’s bunso. Benj is a family superstar in his own right as he was the subject of Maricel’s Catholic Mass Media Award winning book, “Super Benj.” So imagine his anxiety when he learned that after a decade, a new baby was coming.

 

“With a new bunso, rightly or wrongly, questions about Benj’s place in the family comes to fore and this book shares how we went through them," Maricel added.

 

Through “Kuya Na Si Bunso”, the children’s book writer shares how she and Anthony, together with their kids, confronted the issue, and hopes that this would help other families deal with the matter in a hopeful and enlightened manner.

 

“Oftentimes, older siblings struggle with jealousy and insecurity but with proper processing, they can embrace the thought of having a baby in the family, in the most joyful way," Maricel said.

 

That afternoon, the book launch continued with third child, Hannah, dedicating a song of comfort and assurance for her brother Benjamin and the rest of her siblings. Hannah took the Jason Mraz song “I Won’t Give Up” and made its lyrics suit the occasion. Part of it went “Mom won’t give up on us, even if the skies get rough, she’ll give you all her love...” Mothers among the audience appreciated the serenade as well.

 

Anthony, an inspirational speaker and head of this ideal family, happily fulfilled the duties of both hosting coach and voice over talent, adding quips like, “We do not intend to form a soccer team," referring to the posibility of more kids.

 

With her third children’s book after “Super Benj” and “Meet My Super Dad”, Maricel gave mothers a lovely Mother's Day gift in launching “Kuya Na Si Bunso”. She said she hopes to start a healthier and more constructive conversation among families on the arrival of a new sibling.

 

And when the time to reveal the book came that afternoon, Benjamin proudly took on the role of kuya and went up the podium carrying Baby Solana.

 

Asked what he now feels with his baby sister around, Benjamin answered, “I could not imagine my life without her.” — KG, GMA News Photos courtesy of Stanley Ong