LIST: Pinoy celebrity adoptive moms who show love isn't bound by blood relations
"La familia es todo," said a character from the critically-acclaimed television series Breaking Bad. Family is all.
Being a family, however, is not defined by simply being blood relatives. In the case of adoptive parents, their love and empathy for their children can be the stronger, tighter ties that bind.
In celebration of Mother's Day on May 8, here's a list of Filipino celebrities who have adopted children and are giving them the world.
Neri Miranda
Aside from Cash and Miggy, Neri and husband Chito Miranda also have an adoptive daughter named Pia.
Neri set the record straight on Instagram last Dec. 13, when she greeted Chito on their wedding anniversary and posted their family photo. Many commenters were curious about the unknown girl in the frame, with some coming up with bizarre speculations.
“Pia is our daughter," Neri, 36, said in formally introducing her to the public. "Every child deserves a home and love. Period. Okay na? Gets na iyan? Grabe ang pagiging tsismosa ng ibang tao. Nahusgahan at nagawan na ng mga kwento."
Zeinab Harake
Zeinab Harake is a proud adoptive mother of a boy named Lucas since the age of 18. Harake, now 23, made the big reveal during a sit down interview with Toni Gonzaga in 2020.
"Noong nakita ko iyong bata, andoon iyong puso ko," the vlogger said. "Gusto ko ito."
Lucas stays with her mother whenever she's busy at work, Harake noted.
The vlogger also welcomed a baby girl named Bia with rapper Skusta Clee last May.
Ai-Ai Delas Alas
Back in 2011, Ai-Ai Delas Alas announced that she's adopting a baby boy and named him Seth Andre.
In an interview with Kris Aquino on KrisTV, Delas Alas said Seth Andre is the child of her longtime hair and makeup artist.
This is the actress' third time to adopt a child. Delas Alas's first adoptive child was taken from her, and then her second one passed away.
"Kasi di ba mayroon ako dating isang inampon tapos kinuha sa akin," the 57-year-old actress said, "tapos yung pangalawa kong ampon namatay one day lang kasi breech baby."
Delas Alas's soft spot for children can be attributed to her being an adopted child herself.
In the STAR column of the late Ricky Lo dated May 7, 2019, Lo wrote that when Delas Alas was still in the tummy of her biological mother, Gregoria, her mother's childless sister Justa was already prepared to adopt her. She learned the truth at seven years old and would visit Gregoria from time to time. Delas Alas took care of her until her last days.
Delas Alas has three children from past relationships: Sancho Vito, Sophia, Sean Nicolo. In May 2021, she and her husband Gerald Sibayan announced their plans to conceive a baby through in vitro fertilization or IVF.
Sharon Cuneta
Sharon Cuneta and husband Kiko Pangilinan have an adopted son named Miguel.
Last Feb. 16, Cuneta paid tribute to her "only son" Miguel on Instagram, saying he's the "best gift God Almighty has given to our family—to MAMA." Her post came with a quote card that read, "Family is not about the blood. It's about who is willing to hold your hand when you need it the most."
"Thank you for being the kind of son I always dreamed I could have," the 56-year-old "Megastar" said. "I love you with all of my heart and soul."
Cuneta and Pangilinan have two other children, Frankie and Miel. She also has a daughter, KC, with ex-husband Gabby Concepcion.
Judy Ann Santos
Judy Ann Santos adopted Yohan in 2005, when she was 26 and was in her salad days in the showbiz industry as "teleserye queen." That's also the time that she and future husband Ryan Agoncillo, whom she met on the set of ABS-CBN's Krystala, are having a blossoming romance.
Santos initially feared for Yohan learning the truth from others and get hurt in the process. That's why when Yohan turned five, Santos started explaining to her what adoption is and how it shouldn't be seen as a lowly state like tropes in teleseryes.
"It's the most beautiful word that you can encounter because it just means na a family adopted you," she told reporters at an event in March 2019. "They wanted you, they chose you to be part of their family."
Santos and Agoncillo, who marked their 13th wedding anniversary and 18 years together as a couple, have two other children, Lucho and Luna.