I’ve written about my favorite celebrity blogs in the past, but this latest find in the blogosphere is fast rising to the top of my list for its light, honest, and sundry storytelling. I’m talking about the live journal account of TV host-designer Daphne Oseña-Paez (http://daphneOseña.livejournal.com). Her online diary is mainly an extension of her architecture and design show Urban Zone over ABS-CBN, but it’s also stuffed with posts on motherhood, marriage, career and other newsworthy interests.
Incidentally, I was able to interview Daphne when she came to Cebu recently for the Creative Cebu program of the British Council (more on this exciting program in another article). She has been here many times in the past as a tourist, reporter, TV host, magazine editor, etc. A very classy lady, she was an accommodating interviewee as well, but we were short on time for an in-depth Q&A. Thank God, she’s Internet-savvy. Here are some interesting revelations from her blog.
Daphne, who grew up in Canada, actually studied urban planning in college. In her early 20’s, her degree brought her to other countries like Mexico before she found herself in the home country of her parents (her dad was a pilot, while her mom was a flight attendant). This was how she ventured into media: “I was project manager of an urban planning related project with a Canadian group. And we did work in Guimaras. I was fresh out of university. And I wanted to ‘change the world.’ But after seeing how things were done in the Philippines, I realized that urban planners can’t really do much in this country. And being in media was a faster way to make an impact.”
Interestingly, for all the merit she has received as a host, Daphne revealed that as a child, she wasn’t this confident of her speaking skills. She blogs: “When I was in grade 4 or 5, my mom discovered that I could not read out loud very well. I stuttered and buckled and pronounced things the wrong way. She made me read one paragraph of her book ‘Mary Queen of Scotts’ every night—out loud, while standing in the middle of the room holding that heavy book. And I did it. My mom doesn’t remember that now, but thanks to her, I now make a good living out of reading out loud and speaking in front of the public.”
And if you notice why Daphne’s lying low from TV work, it’s because her priorities have changed. It’s family first for Daphne, who’s married to news exec, Patrick Paez, and mother to Sophia Rose, 5 and Lily Paloma, 2. On marriage, she blogs: “Six years ago, we got married. Secrets to a happy marriage? Having the Lord in our lives everyday… celebrating our love for each other more than our love for our kids (we try)… and having separate bathrooms.” She also explains her decision to give up hosting duties in the award-winning QTV show “Proudly Filipina,” a move which to this day some people believe was a wasted opportunity. “Truth is I do miss the quality of work and the ‘glory.’ But I have no regrets. I chose to do what I thought was best for me and my family. I may never get an award as Best Mother. But at least I know I tried to be one. In the end, it’s how my kids will turn out that will be my best award.”
There are many more references to her family life, but one of the posts that stood out was on her breastfeeding advocacy: “Breastfeeding is love. I miss breastfeeding. Really. I breastfed both Sophia and Lily for 12 months. And during those times I felt like Superwoman! That was the time I felt most beautiful and powerful. My body had just given life to a child and continued to give life. I ate well and my skin was luminous. And the bond between me and my babies were and still are so strong.”
Her always updated blog is also teeming with photos taken from her leica camera, visuals of her stylish self to interest the fashionista reader and entrepreneurial pursuits such as her bedsheets (available in SM Home) and her unique line of jewelry, among others. “When I was pregnant with Lily, I discovered my love for creating jewelry out of antique medallions. I fell in love with the iconography of St Anthony. He holds the baby Jesus and some Lilies.”
During our interview, Daphne said she’ll be in Cebu often in the coming months as part of the British Council core group (multi-awarded Cebuano businessman Jay Aldeguer is also a member) organizing the grand unveiling of the Creative Cebu program on March 2009.