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Hail to the Queen: How Karla Estrada became the Queen Mother

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Ann Manhit

<div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="https://push-data.abs-cbn.com/push/archive/features/2015/051615/UP/051615-carla_main.jpg" alt="051615-carla_main.jpg" width="400" height="290" align="center" border="0"/><br/><i><br/>Photo Credit to carlaford1121 IG<br/><br/></i></div>Karla Estrada began her career as part of <i>T</i><i>hat’s Entertainment’s</i> Wednesday group back in 1987. While she had her moments as a singer and actress then, it is her motherly image now that draws people to her. What is it that makes people call her the “Queen Mother”? Is it simply an association to teen idol Daniel Padilla that has people paying attention to her, or is it something else that makes her deserve the title?</div><div><br/></div><div>One of the things that draw people to the feet of the Queen Mother is the fact that she isn’t afraid to be herself. In fact, she continually pushes herself beyond what is expected, and does so with her signature smile. When Karla joined<i> Your Face Sounds Familiar</i>, she showed a different side of her, impressing even fellow artists as she impersonated various celebrities such as Meghan Trainor, Chaka Khan, Ann Wilson, and Psy. She was a “no chair turner: when she joined the blind auditions of The Voice of the Philippines, but she took the decision in stride. When asked if her children opposed her decision to join, she candidly replied, &#x27;<i>It&#x27;s not like, tutol na no, pinakain ko kayo sa pagkanta ko, relax ka lang, kaya ko</i>.&#x27; In her career as in life, she faced the challenges with a smile and her head held high.</div><div><br/></div><div>At the age of 20, her role of singer-actress shifted to mother after a whirlwind romance with Rommel Padilla of the famed showbiz clan. Teen idol Daniel Padilla, her eldest child, is the result of that union. Her three other children—Jose Carlito, Margaret, and Carmella—are born of different fathers, a fact that did not escape the sharp tongues of gossip. In an interview with StarStudio magazine, Daniel revealed that he got involved in fight with a schoolmate who dared speak against his mother. “<i>Sinabi niya (schoolmate) bigla na malandi ang nanay ko, kasi iba-iba ang tatay naming magkapatid.</i>”</div><div><br/></div><div>Realizing how her personal choices directly affect her children is one of the reasons why Karla is biding her time in giving her heart to another. “’<i>Yung two boys ko, actually silang lahat ayaw nila. Pero siguro darating sa tamang oras, sa edad nila maiintindihan. Lalo na ‘yung dalawang girls ko, ‘Mama, no boyfriend. You are not going to get married.’ ‘Yung dalawang boys ko naman, ‘O Mama, ayusin mo ‘yan, bubugbugin naming ‘yan.’ So laging may pressure sa akin,” Karla shares. “Para sa akin siguro, darating ‘yung time</i>.” <br/><br/><div><div style="text-align:center"><img src="" alt="051615-daniel_main.jpg" width="400" height="290" align="center" border="0"/><br/><br/><i>Photo Credit to carlaford1121 IG<br/><br/></i></div>Every time bashers target Karla, Daniel is quick to rush to his mother’s defense. “<i>Basta</i> foul—<i>sobrang</i> foul ‘<i>yung sinabi sa ermats ko</i>.<i> Ano ba namang klaseng tao ka? Bad trip, eh. Bakit kailangan mo sabihin sa nanay ko ‘yun?</i>” Like the good mother that she is, Karla was the first to remind her son to take it easy. “<i>Sinabihan naman na ako ni Mama na kailangan pa rin, alam mo ‘yun, kailangan hindi masyadong bastos ang dating. Ako naman, hindi naman ako nagmumura sa iba. Alam naman ni Mama na pagtatanggol ko sa kanya iyon. Pero may ibang paraan naman daw na ipagtanggol ko siya na hindi dinadaan sa galit</i>.” Thankfully, the teen actor heeds her advice. “<i>Gusto lang ni Mama na mag-ingat din ako sa mga sinasabi ko. Maging humble pa rin. Huwag tayong lalabas na mayabang pa. Naintindihan ko naman iyon. Kaya cool na lang tayo ngayon.</i>”</div><div><br/></div><div>Despite Daniel’s sudden rise to popularity and the contribution that he has given to the family, the Queen Mother does not play favorites. <i>&#x27;Hindi din naman nagbago &#x27;yung pakikitungo ko. Hindi ko siya tinignan na sikat na &#x27;yung anak ko, hindi ko binago,</i>&#x27; Estrada said in an interview on Kris TV. &#x27;&#x27;<i>Yung pagmamahal ko sa kanilang magkakapatid,pantay.</i>”</div><div><br/></div><div>Contrary to claims that she is a stage mother, Karla actually respects her children’s decisions, trusting that they have enough sense to make the right ones. “<i>Kasi kahit ano naman &#x27;yung pagpapalaki nating magulang, indibidwal pa din siyang tao. Kung magiging masama siya ay choice niya yon. Nagkataon na ang choice niya ay maging maayos at makinig pa din sa akin</i>,&#x27; she says.</div><div><br/></div><div>As much as she enjoys having her children beside her, she also isn’t the type to keep them from their dreams. When Daniel had to work over the holidays, Karla admitted that being apart was not the norm for their tight-knit family. “<i>Malungkot dahil unang New Year ito eh, hindi naman kami ever-ever nagkakahiwalay eh pero okay lang. Okay lang ako kasi part ng trabaho niya</i>.” Instead of tagging along, she stayed at home with her younger kids. “<i>Hindi ako sumama kasi nakakapagod na at saka may tatlo pa akong anak. Ayaw na rin ni DJ na iniiwan-iwan ko yung mga kapatid niya e ako naman na-excite lang ako sa mga una niyang lakad at underage kasi siya nun. Now…puwede na siyang mag-travel without parents</i>.”</div><div><br/></div><div>Despite the tough image that Daniel projects, there is no denying the love –and need – he has of his mother. When he was sick, Mommy Karla posted a picture of Daniel, curled up in her bed. “<i>Not feeling well my kuya…at inagawan pa ako ng bed. Ang anak talaga kahit ilang taon na, pero pag masama pakiramdam, nanay pa rin hahanapin..</i> :)” went the caption. In fact, even in the middle of the KathNiel concert tour, Daniel told her: “<i>Grabe Ma, uwing-uwi na ako</i>.” This obvious bond between mother and son is not for show, and the fact that it is as real as it can get is what endears people to them. </div><div><br/></div><div>Karla Estrada wears may hats: singer, actress, mother. And now, at least according to many of those she inspires, she carries the title “Queen Mother”. </div><div><br/></div><br/><br/></div><div><br/></div>