Finding the perfect present for Mother’s Day has surely been a satisfying experience for many, and brain-racking for some. For Dirty Linen star Janine Gutierrez, the sweetest and most valuable gift is something that money can’t buy, such as spending quality time in a heart-to-heart conversation with her mom.

In her recent vlog, Janine invited her mom, Lotlot de Leon, to a Mother’s Day mukbang, plus Q and A related to her motherhood journey.

At the beginning of the episode, Lotlot was prompted to recollect her first pregnancy. She remembers feeling overwhelmed with mixed emotions when she had Janine at 17, but none of them resembled regret. “I wasn’t scared because I was pregnant already with you. Kumbaga, that’s it, pancit! It’s an exclamation point to what I’ve always wanted to have – a family.”

“You just came early but I’ve always wanted you,” she told Janine, who tried her best not to cry at that moment. One of the first things she did was talk her mom, Nora Aunor, with Janine's father, Ramon Christopher, “So, he was at the house in Scout Limbaga, downstairs, waiting for me to call him so that he can talk to your Mama Guy.”

Janine’s respect for her mother was evident throughout the episode. She doesn’t want her to get hurt. When she asked about the most painful thing Lotlot experienced with her kids, Janine was scared to know that she might have caused her mother the greatest pain, which Lotlot denied. “While I was raising you, I was also growing up along the way. I was learning a lot of things. So, medyo, wala naman, para ummabot sa feeling na sobra mo akong na-hurt o na-offend, no, or any of you, wala.”

Asked which of Janine’s traits she hates, Lotlot mentioned that her daughter has a strong personality. Not that she despises it, but she thinks Janine can be stubborn at times. “When I say green, you say blue. Kumabaga, iba yung paniniwala mo… Sometimes, as a mom, I guess it’s frustrating lang kasi I know, more or less, or more of gut feel, where it’s headed but since you insist, I guess you have to learn.”

She believes that mothers and daughters clash when parents imposes their own choices instead of giving the child liberty. “Dahil minsan iniisip naming we’re older than you or we know more than you, parang, minsan may mga magulang na hindi naniniwala sa kapasidad ng anak. So, dahil sa pagpipilit nila na gawin ng anak yung gusto nila, doon nagkakaroon ng kaunting gulo o hindi maayos na usapan.”

Lotlot pressed that she doesn’t play favorites, though Janine thinks Diego is the more favored one. On having grandkids, she admitted that she’s yearning for it, “Sometimes I want na.” She’s currently 51 and hopes to have her first ‘apo’ before she turns 60. Janine agreed with the timeline, but clarified that she doesn’t plan to settle down soon, “Wala pa!”

Moms handle their kids’ romantic affairs in different ways. Lotlot was admittedly paranoid when Janine started to enter romantic relationships, “Kasi ayaw kong masaktan ka, eh.” Juicy revelations occurred at this point, with Lotlot telling Janine, “Kasi ‘yung mga choices mo noong unang panahon, hindi mainam eh. Kaya lang, support kasi anak kita, eh. Mahal kita, eh. Make your own mistakes.”

How does she react when her kids grieve over a failed relationship? “Wala. Ako, I just wait for you, guys, to tell me what’s going on. Kasi minsan, when I ask you if you’re okay, you just break down and cry. So, I wait when you’re ready to tell me but I know what’s happening.” At the end of the day, moms love to embrace their children and talk to them whatever the situation is, especially during difficult days.

And as advice to moms who disapprove of their kids’ dating preferences, Lotlot said, “First of all, hindi naman tayo ang makikisama, sila naman. Pero pag iiyak-iyak yan, sa atin din ang takbo. Kaya I guess, pinakamaganda, just be honest with them. Pero huwag naman tayong maging rude din sa mga mahal nila as of the moment. Kasi minsan, as of the moment lang talaga yan, hindi lasting or whatever.” In turn, Janine never turned rebellious knowing her parents trust her enough, “Parang mas nagging mapag-isip nga ako sa mga desisyon ko kasi pinagkatiwalaan ninyo ako.”

From there, Lotlot went on to share her marriage advice to couples planning to tie the knot soon, “In any relationship, I think the number one is communication. You always have to talk regardless if it’s a good talk or a bad talk. Just be open. Communication is key.”

Lotlot is a Christian married to a Muslim man. Asked how she handles the differences, she underscored the value of respect and love.

There were fun and random questions, too, like which among the Fieros Lotlot would target first if she were Alexa, Janine’s character in Dirty Linen. And the answer is Leona (Janice de Belen). “She’s the one who holds the family together, di ba? The character that probably is really more dangerous talaga is Leona but the one who is fronting that would be Carlos (John Arcilla). Parang ang nagpapatakbo ng lahat, parang siya, eh. Parang siya ‘yung engine, eh.”

More content analysis, Janine asked if Lotlot’s death scene in the movie “Feng Shui” was death by Red Horse. For context, Lotlot’s character was born in the Year of the Horse and fell into cases of alcohol, which caused her death.

Lastly, asked how she wants her kids to remember her, Lotlot answered, “That I’m a hardworking mom. I’m not perfect but I try to give as much love, understanding, and respect to all my kids. I know that you know I always believe in you, guys, na marunong kayo sa buhay. At marunong kayong magmahal at magpatawad.”

Janine reacted, “We’re so lucky to have you as a mom!”

This conversation can be your source of inspiration and good vibes today. So play the video!