Page 148 - Philippine Tatler (April 2019)

n February, Korina and Mar welcomed twin

babies, a boy and a girl, born via surrogate

in the United States. The joy the couple

feels at becoming parents is indescribable.

“Sometimes, when you wish hard enough

for a miracle, you get two,” she marvels.

Her path to motherhood at 54 was doctors and facilities here in the country are
unconventional. “In school, I was always competent. Success percentages are high.
one of those known to most likely have five But the infrastructure that takes care of the
or more kids. I love children. As a child, stakeholders isn’t quite in place just yet.
whenever in a hospital, I would always look “In the United States, this process has
for the nursery and just watch the little ones long been legitimised, and legalised, and is
in their cribs—often for hours! As an adult, very efficient. There are people there who
my career took control. I always seemed put everything together: doctor, lawyers,
bound to be married, but it had to be the right surrogate, intended parents. Science and

one at the time when I was whole, you know? technology are a gift from Heaven. It is how
And it didn’t happen till I was past 40. we use it that makes it good or bad. The
“But always knowing I wanted children love that overflows with the arrival of a
(and marriage wasn’t on the horizon at the child says it all.
time when Mar and I were just dating), “Women shouldn’t have to feel pressured
I just dove in and asked him if we could to have children in their twenties or thirties
have embryos frozen. And he agreed. The if they’re not ready. I’m a big fan of making
embryos have been in the facility here in the yourself whole first before reaching out to
Philippines for years. There just wasn’t any others, getting married, and having kids.
right enough time to implant. Then, after Remember that song of Barry Manilow,
2016, and after all the mountain climbing and ‘Sandra’? I think of my mum when I hear
deep-sea diving, we finally said, ‘It’s time.’” that song. It has guided me since my teens.
Although she and Mar are both public If I hadn’t done it as soon as I did I might
Live, figures, the choice to have children the have had time to be me, for myself. Life’s
Laugh,
Love way they did, she feels, should remain a short; women need to plan their lives well.
(opposite) private matter. However, she would really I’m not saying they should wait as long as I
A-line skirt like to move this conversation forward and did. But they can wait.”
dress with stress that “women have options. At this While there were times the wait seemed
matching day and age, men still have the lion’s share impossibly protracted, Korina says she “never
belt from CH
by Carolina of these options. But women, compared to lost hope. It looked bleak for a while and
Herrera days past now have more than before. Our there was meanness from some. I would

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