An Interview with Achiever & Expectant Mom, Michelle Katigbak-Alejandro (Editor-In-Chief of “Metro Weddings” Magazine)

Wives and moms nowadays are, more often than not, multi-tasking, high-performing women and achievers.  There is almost always a “Power Wife or Mom” in every home, juggling a thousand and one things for her family and still managing to look beautiful and feel personal fulfillment.  How one can do all this these things WHILE being pregnant is another case entirely.  Not that many people can manage everything, and know when to ask for help when truly needed.

Michelle Katigbak-Alejandro, currently 34 weeks pregnant (and counting!) is one such woman, armed with three jobs.  She is Metro Weddings Magazine’s Editor-In-Chief, Chalk Magazine’s Beauty Editor, and Managing Director of their family’s communication business.  A beaming proud wife and a soon-to-be mom!

Michelle earned her college degree from De La Salle University (Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Major in Governance, Minor in Communications) and still took further courses (Basic/Advanced Photography, Studio Portrait Photography, Fashion Photography) at PCCI, Multimedia Arts Course: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign at Informatics, and studied Artistic MakeUp at La Salle College International.

Michelle’s Editor-In-Chief photo by photographer Doc Marlon Pecjo

Doing make-up for a magazine editorial

Our featured achiever and expectant mom’s wide array of interests include writing, reading, publishing, mixed martial arts, outdoor sports, scuba diving, and dancing.

Happily married to musician and music producer Nino Alejandro of the famed Alejandro musical family (his uncle is the original Kilabot ng Mga Kolehiyala Hajji Alejandro and his cousin is pop singer-turned-musical theater actress Rachel Alejandro), Michelle shares with us her thoughts on being married, the many highs and few lows of her pregnancy, the joy of being active in artistic endeavors, and preparing for the arrival of their baby daughter, Bella, and a whole lot more.

Husband and wife at a friend’s wedding

Michelle with husband Nino watching The Suns vs. The Warriors at the U.S. Airways Stadium with baby Bella in Michelle’s womb

Share how you first found out you were expecting, and whom did you (and your husband) tell first?

It was the strangest thing, I had just been in the hospital for gastroenteritis mid-late July and by mid-August I was starting to feel nauseous and sick again. I bought medication for my stomach, but then thought I better take a pregnancy test first before taking medicine. I only did it in passing (been so used to negative results) so after taking it I didn’t give it much thought. Three minutes later though when the double lines appeared I began to freak out realizing it was positive. I ended up rushing out to buy two more tests just to be sure. When they were all positive I figured I must be pregnant. I first told my mom, my sister-in-law Ceska, and my friend Tania (who had also been trying to get pregnant as well and was who I talked to about pregnancy stories.) My husband was out of the country so he didn’t even find out until later.

How far along is your pregnancy?

I am currently 34 weeks along and counting. So happy the end is in sight. I am so excited to meet our baby.

At a pre-natal photo shoot by Z Shots

Did you experience the usual cravings that most expectant women have (like craving for green mangoes or the strangest food combinations?)?  Did you go through or are you still going through some pregnancy discomfort?

I had the worst first trimester. Well, then again, I know of some women were bedridden the whole time so I guess I can’t complain, but I was throwing up every day. Every thing I ate came right back up and every smell made me nauseous. I felt that way for about four and half months! I thought it would never end. It was really a trying emotional and physical ordeal for me. But, just as my friends kept promising me, I got through it and began feeling so much better in my fifth and sixth month.

As for cravings, nothing really strange I guess. I just got pretty specific with the food I wanted though, like I didn’t just want spaghetti I wanted Pancake House spaghetti or I wanted only red Pringles. And I loved Goldilocks Butter Slices.

What excites you the most about this pregnancy?

Finally having our baby! I think that’s what excited me and scares me the most. Being a mom is no joke and my mom gave me pretty big shoes to fill. But I am so excited to meet our little one and see what she is like. I’ve always loved kids so it’s almost surreal to think in a few short weeks we’ll have one of our own in the house. Exciting!

What have been your most fun times preparing for the baby’s arrival?

The moment the first trimester blues ended! Hahaha. No seriously, I felt so much better when I physically started feeling better. I’ve also really enjoyed shopping with my mom and husband for baby things. Then back in February, Nino’s family and I went to the States to visit his grandmother and his mom (my mom-in-law) and his two sisters surprised me with a baby shower shopping spree which was so much fun! It was so fun shopping in the States! Babies ‘R Us and Bye Bye Baby are incredible!

You’ve been making your mark in writing your column in Philippine Star and being editor of (first) Chalk and now, Metro Weddings.  Have you always been an achiever?  What drives you, inspires you?

I would love to think I am an achiever, but I honestly believe there is so much more I can and should be doing. I am also currently growing our family’s communication business and it’s such a blessing to work with my dad (who inspired me to write in the first place). Plus I want to venture into entrepreneurship. I’ve had a few businesses and I love how that feels – conceptualizing, making products, writing business plans, etc. I want to do more of that. And then I always said I would publish a book before I died so that has been on the back burner too. Last year I graduated from makeup school so after the pregnancy I’m hoping to land more makeup jobs for editorials and maybe even advertisements.

I always believe that to whom much is given, much is expected so I never want to think I am resting on my laurels or not pushing myself. Having opportunities to try so many things inspires me and as cliché as it sounds, I want to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be.

One of Michelle’s favorite beauty editorials (Chalk Magazine)

One of Michelle’s favorite magazine covers, their Special anniversary issue featuring Celine Lopez

How do you balance your numerous responsibilities while taking extra care of yourself and your soon-to-be-born baby?

I have had to cut back a lot in the past few months (eight months to be exact), to avoid burnout and too much stress to me and the baby. It’s been really hard, especially for someone like me who likes to be doing things and enjoys having work and projects. But I know it’s a small price to pay for my health and the health of our unborn baby. I know that it’s only temporary and I hope to get back in the swing of things as soon as our baby is a little bit older. Maybe by the third quarter of the year I’ll be back and (hopefully) even better.

What are you looking forward to the most after your child is born?

Just being with the baby. Nino and I are already so attached to her and she isn’t even here yet! It’s crazy! I look forward to learning more about her and being able to hold her. I am just so excited for her to be with us already (out here).

What dreams do you envision for your child?

I think I have the same dreams for my child that every parent has. I want her to be healthy, happy, and have the opportunities to achieve all her dreams in life. I want to know I gave her the best head start I can and the rest is up to her. I know I can’t force her to choose any path in life so I just want her to know, that nothing is impossible. I want her to believe she can do anything she sets her mind to.

Share some tips on how you’ve been able to cope with having so many things on your plate and being pregnant, I’m certain there are a lot of infanticipating achiever moms who would like to know your take on this.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. During the first trimester I was not only dealing with the physical trauma of the nausea and morning sickness but I was also dealing with the emotional stress and guilt over not being to work as much as I used to or the feeling like a “slacker”. I just could not get things done at the same pace. But when I learned to ask for help from others (husband, family, work colleagues), I was so overwhelmed at how people understood and lent me a helping hand. It’s not always easy being pregnant and having a lot to do and sometimes it’s hard to let go, but you just have to remind yourself that nothing is forever and you need to take it easy for your baby. That’s more important than anything else. You’ll have a lot of time to catch up to your other commitments in the future. Besides, the pregnancy is actually much faster than you think (during those sick days I felt it dragged on forever) and before you know it, you’ll be about to deliver!

Proud To Be A Wife and Mama as a website pretty much speaks for itself and what it stands for…Celebrating life, love, marriage, and motherhood.  Please do share your proud moment/s as a wife, and your proud moment/s as a soon-to-be mom.

It’s always so hard for me to say I have particular “proud” moments, because I always feel like there is more to do or more to achieve, but I am proud that my three year marriage still feels like it did when we first said, “I do”. I love how Nino and I still communicate and have fun with one another and how we always make it a point to do things together even when the hustle and bustle of life gets us down.  As a mom, I am proud that we were able to work (really hard) to try and provide for our baby as early as now. It was not easy managing all our finances, as both Nino and I are in artistic fields which are not always as lucrative as others, but with the blessings God has given us it’s all managed to work out.

What are the things you would want to share to your child, traits you hope she will acquire and memories or experiences from your childhood that you would love to pass on to her or have her enjoy as well?

One of the most important things for me is for her to have a full and proper childhood. That’s something I remember fondly from my childhood. And by that I mean, a fun imaginative, creative childhood full of princesses and knights and anything else her imagination can envision. I want to give her the best head start we can, but I also feel kind of sorry for those kids who’ve been working and studying since the age of 3 or something. I still want our little girl to be able to be a little girl while she still can. As for traits, I’d like to think both her father and I are very persistent and passionate about what we love. I would love for her to have that fire as well. I think if she does, it won’t matter what field she ends up choosing in life – she will both enjoy it and hopefully succeed it in as well. I want her to know that she should never give up.

Do you plan to hire a nanny or would you rather get help from relatives when the baby comes?

We’ve actually already hired a nanny. We were so lucky because we were able to get my nanny as a child – Yaya Delia. She is fabulous and I have only the fondest memories of her from my childhood. Of course, Nino and I want to be as hands-on with her as we can, but realistically we also have to work eventually (when maternity leave ends) and I want someone I can trust and rely on in our corner to help care for the baby. Of course, both sets of grandparents are always nearby as well. The more the merrier.

Her family’s support has been invaluable to her

Michelle with her mom Monique and mother-in-law Maria

Their family (both sides) enjoy traveling, here’s a photo of them in Baguio on holiday

What’s in the pipeline for an achiever mom like Michelle Alejandro?

Again, thank you for thinking of me as an achiever, I usually think of myself as a creative “work-in-progress”, but all the same, I am hoping a safe delivery is in the immediate future. After that, I look forward to spending quality time with Nino and our little girl before I have to go back to work. Then hopefully, this year sees me growing our family’s business, expanding and enriching both Metro Weddings and the Beauty Section of Chalk Magazine, working on my novel, getting more makeup editorial and advertising jobs, hopefully working on the business plan for a business my good friend and I are discussing, doing graphic design work (which I love), and writing. Hopefully when I can, I can also go back to mixed martial arts and scuba diving. I’ve been feeling very sports-deprived. If I can squeeze in doing a 10k run before the year ends, that would be incredible!

I just want to be able to take all the opportunities that come my way as long as I can still balance them with a healthy family life. I am also very excited about the prospect of our baby’s firsts – smile, laugh, Halloween, Christmas and so much more! Oh and I look forward to planning her parties! I love planning parties. My mom made sure all my parties as a child were incredible and I look forward to carrying on the tradition.

More of Michelle’s maternity photos by Z Shots Photography

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There is a quotable quote by American author Joyce Maynard that came to my mind after writing this feature on Michelle Katigbak-Alejandro…”It’s not only children who grow.  Parents do too.  As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours.  I can’t tell my children to reach for the sun.  All I can do is reach for it, myself.”

Michelle is most certainly reaching for the sun, always on the move, yet knowing that once her baby comes, she will adjust as she hopes to continue her creative growth while making sure that she’ll always be there for her husband and child.  She is one proud wife and mom, who believes in instilling perseverance in the child she is about to raise with her husband. And from her thoughts, we see that she has every intention to strike that balance between a healthy family and still going after your dreams.

I pray for a safe and speedy delivery for her, and I hope that you have been motivated and inspired to enjoy your individuality while having a happy family.  And trust that with faith, our children will most certainly find their own place in the sun, with our guidance and love.