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The best thing about it is that, its just not any magazine - it's the Working Mom magazine, under abs-cbn publishing house, the biggest Media Company of the Philippines (she was also subsequently featured in a TV advert in the three largest networks of Phil.)
And she isn't there just because she's beauitful, but because she's an exemplary figure of a mom and a business woman as well.
I couldn't have been more proud :)
When I showed the picture of my mom to my office mates (from different nationalities) - proudly touting it as my new desktop - one of them can't help but say that my mom is prettier than me. And for that I have to agree. Even as far back as I could remember, people would always thought of us as sisters as she managed to look quite younger than her age and I mange to pull a mature look for my age.
Her secret?
Its simple.
She has got to be the person I know the most that will fit the local idiom mababaw ang kaligayahan.
She laughs easily.
It is with this carefree, happy, generous and child-like spirit that she thrived in a networking business that almost always relies on the success of other people for her own success.
Her discipline combined with her spirit made her as successfull as she is now :)
But among her many achievements in life, she would always insist, that her greatest reward in life is our little, unruly family :)
While I was growing up in an all-girl's school, and eventually in the university, I would always wonder why I never found the need for a 'bestfriend' or 'boyfriend' or 'bff' or something like that.
I have grown to realize that my mom is the bestfriend and sister that I never had.
But as hard as I try, there's just no one like her.
For my mom, the princess and the queen :)
PS: I wrote this some few years back, but up until now, I still couldn't find a copy of the magazine where my mom was featured and a link to the TV advertisement that also subsequently came out of that. I've put up instead some more recent photos of my folks, hoping that the flood didn't wash away what was left of that. To this end however, I am still very proud of my mom, and will always be...
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Most women who are single in their 30s have already had a long-term, serious relationship or even a marriage, which they got into in their early 20s. In the US, many people are calling these relationships ‘starter marriages', in reference to ‘starter homes', meaning they are your first serious relationship, which you quickly outgrow. Divorcee Laura thinks she is much better equipped as a 30-something to embark on a successful relationship than she was in her 20s. "I find the idea of a ‘starter marriage' very interesting and very true. But I don't think this should detract from these marriages though... I got married at 21 with every intention of it being forever. I valued that and I tried to make it work. Unfortunately, I worshipped my ex and allowed myself to be moulded by him. Now, though, I know who I am - and hopefully I won't let that person disappear beneath a relationship again. I just want to find someone who will allow me to be me." 
Dr Saliha says, "We are in a transition period. In the past, women were expected to manage the marriage, make the sacrifices and be patient. It's different now. Women in their 30s today are not like their mothers - they work and consider themselves to be equal partners in a relationship. Many men in their 30s don't know how to deal with these women, as their knowledge of women is based on their own mothers. The pressures are high because neither sex has a mental model to work from and they have to learn as they grow. The next generation will have a much more elaborate set of relationship templates." Like a species evolving to suit their changing habitat, these women's expectations about men and relationships has shifted in line with the dramatic changes in their social environment. Their self-esteem is not dictated by their relationship status, but they're not burning bras and campaigning for men to be shipped off to Mars either. They like men just as much as the next woman, but they value a lot of different people in their lives. They believe that having a long-term happy relationship is preferable: but it is not the foundation of their emotional wellbeing. They know that times have changed. They get it. And they're absolutely fine with it. Now, these Single Bright Females just have to sit tight and wait for the rest of society to catch up and understand that, with this grand independence comes a more frivolous attitude towards the opposite sex. 
"For people here, you have the Dubai factor - a large number of people in their 30s, all living abroad, in a sunny, holiday-like atmosphere - it's like a playing field. The changes in gender roles with many girls outperforming boys at school and college, women having successful careers and financial independence can make some men feel insecure. If a man is sufficiently feminist in the sense that he is fully supportive of equality, he will be better able to cope with strong females. My advice for people in Dubai is to be mindful and to aim for healthy, loving relationships based on mutual trust and respect." Single stats: 70% of Americans think that the institution of marriage is weaker than it was 20 years ago. 51% of women in Britain under the age of 50 who are not married. This figure has more than doubled in 30 years. 
