If there are prevailing lessons that Concert Queen Pops Fernandez learned from her mom, Dulce Lucban, it’s being self-confident and strong. Despite having more of her father, Eddie Fernandez’s features, Pops was raised by her actress mom to be secure of her looks.“I think everybody is beautiful in their own little ways. Ever since bata ako, alam ko na iba ang beauty ko, (mas) kamukha ko si Papa,” she revealed. Dulce has always instilled in her that beauty takes on different forms and she never felt an ounce of insecurity.

While growing up, Pops also admitted that her parents were strict but she didn’t take it against them. “We (referring to her siblings Joey, Edwin and Jocelyn) were so overprotected. I have to constantly understand where they’re coming from,” she said. However, Pops chose to raise her children, Ram and Robin, in almost the same way. “There is still that discipline tapos yung medyo pagka-strict but I try not to make them sakal. They have to grow up on their own,” she said.

Pops, on the other hand, has had her share of trials and intrigues, very different from her mother. The most notable of these is probably her separation from ex-husband Martin Nievera. The break-up prompted Pops to raise her kids all by herself while taking care of a demanding singing career. She revealed that this is probably the reason why she felt a little jealous when she found out that her eldest son Ram already has a girlfriend. “Nung una medyo may selos factor kasi I’m not the only girl in his life,” the singer confessed. But it did not take Pops long to rationalize this situation. “Ang mga anak ko parati nila akong naiintindihan, (kaya) kailangan maintindihan ko rin ang sitwasyon nila.”