The 'K' in Kring-Kring and Kate

MANILA, Philippines - In Filipino slang, “May K” means may karapatan or the person has the right to boast about something. Kring-Kring Gonzalez and Kate Coseteng, besides having names that start with the letter K, indeed have the “K” or the right to boast. After all, they own two of the most beautiful faces in Philippine politics today, they are both blissfully married, both with two children, and both strong and empowered women who contribute much to the country with their public service.

Cristina Gonzalez-Romualdez, known as Kring-Kring in Philippine show business, is an actress/singer-turned-politician. The two-term councilor of Tacloban City is also the first lady of the city as she is married to Mayor Alfred Romualdez from the famous Romualdez clan of Leyte. Former First Lady Imelda Marcos is his aunt and Imee and Bongbong Marcos are his cousins. Kring-Kring never thought she would be in politics but was inspired to be a public servant because of her husband’s dedication to serve his constituents in the city.

Kate, on the other hand, almost became a showbiz personality but decided to pursue politics instead. She has always wanted to serve her country as a politician. The three-term councilor of Valenzuela City is married to Julian Coseteng, councilor of the third district of Quezon City. He is the son of former Sen. Nikki Coseteng. Kate and Julian met at the National Movement of Young Legislators where they were both officers.

Kring-Kring has two daughters, nine-year-old Sofia and eight-year-old Diana, while Kate has two sons, four-year-old Ryan Cedric Andreas and 10-month-old Joshua Caleb Matthew. Both moms feel that the essence of being a woman is being able to love and care for one’s children. Kring and Kate love watching DVD movies at home with the family, eating, shopping and traveling.

The Romualdezes teach their children good values like being kind to others and never forgetting to pray to God every night to thank Him for all His blessings. The Cosetengs teach the children to have a relationship with God and respect elders, others and properties.

Kate loves to cook and has developed healthy and delicious recipes of her own. She is looking into the possibility of opening a small restaurant this year. Kring also cooks and bakes, and owns Patio Victoria, the famous wedding venue in the walled city of Intramuros which now has another garden at Baluarte, San Jose, Tacloban City. Kate loves Thai food while Kring is fond of Spanish cuisine.

Kring-Kring and Kate believe in good governance and are inspired to be righteous by their faith in God and love for their family.

Among her many achievements, Kate is most proud of her scholarship program which currently has 40 full scholars and about 5,000 half scholars. The scholarship program offers a two- and four-year course, as well as technical and vocational courses like dressmaking and tailoring. At least 3,000 students have already graduated with the help of the almost eight-year-old scholarship program. Many of the graduates now have good jobs as secretaries, technicians, mechanical engineers, teachers and successful nurses abroad.

Kring has her Cristina’s Learn and Earn Program (CLEP), a comprehensive livelihood and entrepreneurial training program which has also seen more than 3,000 graduates since 2007. It offers courses like cosmetology, food processing and cooking, tailoring, haircutting, baking, reflexology, silkscreen printing, fashion jewelry making, furniture making, dressmaking and banquet table skirting.

Kring and Kate keep their bodies fit and their health in check because of their big responsibilities of being a public servant, wife, mother and entrepreneur. Kring tries to eat healthy foods as much as she can. Kate refrains from eating red meat and takes in a lot of vegetables, fish and seafood instead. With their busy schedules, both Kring and Kate admit that they need more discipline in developing an exercise routine, but Kate goes jogging whenever she could. One of her priorities this year is to start doing yoga.

Kring and Kate are busy with their work as public servants, but both have taken on another challenge as endorsers. Dr. Manny Calayan, beauty doctor to the stars and pioneer of Smartlipo and Vaserlipo in the Philippines, personally chose the two lady legislators to endorse Calayan Surgicentre.