MANILA, Philippines - She is the “wind beneath the wings” of Venus Raj, the woman who raised the Miss Philippines-Universe beauty titleholder single-handedly. She may be in her senior years, but Ester Bayonito still remains as strong in character and in values as in the years when she was raising Venus and her four other children.
Considering her humble background as a former farmer tenant and dressmaker, mommy Ester has every right to take great pride in Venus’ achievements. Despite her hardships then, she took care to nurture her daughter’s fondness for fashion and dreams of becoming a future beauty queen.
“Bata pa lang si Venus, mula three years old, talagang mahilig na siya sa fashion shoºws,” she says. “Natutuwa ako habang nanunood ako sa kanila ng mga kapatid nya magpraktis.”
Ester was the sole breadwinner who raised her five children in a nipa hut with no electricity in a sprawling rice field in the rural town of Bato in Camarines Sur. It was here that Venus was said to have developed her distinct catwalk while navigating the rice paddy dikes. Though poor, Ester labored to meet her children’s basic needs.
“Nagtatanim ako, nananahi ako,” she says. “Kahit mahirap kami, hindi ko sila ginutom. Ginapang ko sila sa hirap para di sila magutom.”
Thankfully, they were able to benefit from what rural life has to offer, by way of nutritious food, for one thing. “Kumakain sila ng gulay at isda. May tanim kami sa paligid ng bahay, tulad ng talong, kamote, at palay tuwing ikatlong buwan, kaya hindi kami nagugutom. Yung pang araw-araw naman, gaya ng pambaon sa eskwela, kinukuha ko sa pananahi.”
Venus studied at San Vicente High School where she started joining beauty contests and oratorical competitions. As a scholar, she took up Journalism at Bicol University in Albay, and graduated cum laude.
“Lagi ako nanunuod sa mga contests n’ya, sa Bicol at sa Manila,” Ester says. “Napapalukso ako at nagpapasalamat sa Panginoon tuwing tinatawag ang pangalan niya.”
Due to her support and sacrifices, she was able to instill in Venus, and in all her children, the importance of staying healthy and persevering in their studies to make their lives better.
She readily advises her fellow moms to give their children healthy food like vegetables, and to keep their children from going to school on an empty stomach lest they are unable to concentrate on their studies.
“Kahit tayo’y mahirap, huwag tayong titigil sa pagsisikap para sa ating mga anak,” she says. “Lagi tayong magsipag upang maibigay natin ang kanilang mga pangangailangan.”
Among the many ways that parents can make the most of what they have, Ester says, is to give children affordable yet nutritious food, including milk.
Such positive upbringing no doubt has brought the beauty queen to where she is now — a host of multiple TV shows. She is also, among others, one of the most passionate supporters of the Laki Sa Gatas Nutrition Education Advocacy.
As part of the advocacy, she gets to tour public elementary schools nationwide to teach young students the importance of studying hard and taking care of their bodies by eating healthy food to reach their ambitions.
Ester always reminds Venus though that however high she soars with success, her feet must still remain firmly planted on the ground. “Nag-mature na ang isipan ni Venus, pero ang lagi kong sinasabi sa kanya, kahit ano man ang maabot mo, huwag kang magmamalaki,” she says. “Matuto kang lumingon sa pinanggalingan mo, at kung hindi, hindi ka makaka-abot sa paroroonan mo. At ang magandang ugali, wag babaguhin.”
Because of her mom’s teachings, Venus has remained humble and God-fearing even as she sets her eyes on conquering greater heights in her career.