• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Mommy Mundo

multi-platform parent resource and community in the Philippines

  • Community
    • MomShare
    • Momfluence Network
  • Learn
    • Events
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • About
  • Contact
  • Show Search
Hide Search

in Mom Spotlight

Mom Spotlight: Cris Villonco


To anyone who is even the slightest bit familiar with the Philippine theater scene, it would be hard to miss the fact that Cris Villonco is royalty. Having been performing onstage and onscreen since she was 9 years old, Cris has lent her deft touch to characters like Alice in “Closer”, Alison Bechdel in “Fun Home”, and Diana Goodman in “Next to Normal”. She has featured in countless other stage productions, along the way racking up a staggering number of awards. 

Her gift for storytelling extends behind the scenes as well. Cris is one of the founding members and producers of Red Turnip, a theater company dedicated to bringing emotionally powerful and thought-provoking material to Filipino audiences. In 2018, her directorial debut for the company’s production of “A Doll’s House Part 2” earned her the prized Philstage Gawad Buhay Award for Outstanding Direction. 

“I have always been grateful for my career journey. Never did I think I could be given so many great opportunities,” shares Cris, “And it’s funny because I didn’t really set out to do all these things in the first place. I always expected I would get married straight out of college. I was laughed at by my kabarkada in college, but I wanted that. Then, of course, it’s like God gave me something else first. I ended up immersed in the work I loved. I got more roles. I started producing shows. I eventually got married, but then still, I took on more projects. And maybe, I started being in denial. I started thinking that the life I want is the one with all the roles and the shows. I guess I kind of stayed in denial and didn’t think much about wanting the other side of things.” 

When the pandemic struck and the entire world was placed on pause, Cris found herself ultimately deciding that perhaps it was finally time to accept the one role she had always wanted – that of becoming a mother. Her husband, businessman Paolo Valderrama, was fully supportive of her plans.

“For purely selfish reasons, I decided to go for IVF. I was actually thinking— ‘Let’s have twins na para tapos na!’,” Cris shares, “But please, let me be the first one to say I was super arrogant and ignorant. I was so wrong! Hindi siya madali. The whole process became one the most challenging experiences my husband and I ever had to face as a couple in our 5 years of marriage.” 

It was during routine procedures right at the start of the IVF process that Cris discovered she had fertility issues. “Paolo was okay—in fact, they told us he was super! And as for me, it just hit me like a whole house of bricks when they said my egg reserves were next to nothing. Plus, they saw that that my AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) Level was extremely low, so things did not look encouraging for me.” 

Months of check-ups, tests, and hormone treatments followed. “Since I live with bipolar disorder, it was also highly recommended that I wean off my medication before I even began IVF,” recounts Cris. “I had to wean off slowly for five months, and it was really tough. I would have headaches, backpains, and at one point, I even felt like my vision was failing.”

But Cris persevered and committed herself fully to the IVF process, convinced that if this was what was needed to realize her dream of a family, then she would somehow find the strength to see things through. “Like many other couples going through IVF, Paolo and I had to be super strict about everything if we wanted a chance at making this all work. Our schedules fully revolved around IVF for months,” Cris says. 

Their determination, however, was quickly met with tearful disappointment. After several unsuccessful procedures and a seemingly endless cycle of hopes raised and dashed, Cris felt it was time to let go. “It even got to a point where we were already in discussions with my doctor about surrogacy. It was a very painful time for us, and I felt I could no longer walk down this path.” 

Cris then launched herself on a journey toward wellness, setting her sights on embracing things as they come and working on healthy ways to love herself. She continued with her therapy sessions, and she allowed herself time to meditate. She also made sure there was space to strengthen her relationship with Paolo especially after their IVF journey. 

“And then time passed, and in January, we found out I was pregnant. So first we had the unexplained infertility – and now, here was this unexplained fertility!” Cris says. When pressed about what she thought made the difference, Cris giggled and proclaimed, “If I had to give credit to anything for this, I would probably blame it on ‘Bridgerton’!” 



The painful memories of the months before the pregnancy slowly started to fade. “I began to feel the most myself while I was pregnant. My therapist even told me after my second month that she could feel that I was more at peace. And I really feel that this was because this little one became my strength. As my baby got bigger, I would get gentle nudges from inside my tummy as reminders to breathe and stay calm.”  

This month, Paolo and Cris finally welcomed their first child into the world – a healthy baby boy they named Leonardo Mario Villonco Valderrama. “He’s named Leonardo after my beloved maternal grandfather, Atty. Leonardo Siguion-Reyna,” Cris remarks, “I have always looked up to him as a professional and most especially as a family man. I couldn’t think of a better tribute and reminder that he is always with us than naming my son after him. The second name ‘Mario’ is the name of both my dad and Paolo’s dad. But we’ve decided on our son’s nickname being ‘Leon’ – a nice, fierce name for this little warrior of ours that could.” 


“I don’t really have any advice to offer about motherhood because it’s so unique to each person and I am so new at this,” Cris says, “But I feel like the love and the kindness we give ourselves will make us healthy parents. I know that Leon may face many expectations, but I want to be able to show him that he can take things as they come. This is something even I continue to work on to this day. It’s important to me that he knows what truly matters, and the rest of the choices will follow – whether he wants to be an artist or an engineer or anything really. I just really want him to know that he is loved.” 

Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @MOMMYMUNDO

Pregnancy Bingo! 🤰🏻✨ Mood swings? Scent a Pregnancy Bingo! 🤰🏻✨

Mood swings? Scent aversion? Always sleepy? If you’ve ticked off a few of these, mama — you’re definitely not alone! 🫶🏻

Pregnancy comes with all sorts of surprises, and we’re here to help you feel seen, supported, and prepared. 💖

Join us at Pregnant Pause, Mommy Mundo’s signature prenatal event, happening on July 19 at Estancia Mall!

🛍️ Mom Market: 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
👶 Prenatal Class with Rome Kanapi: 2:00 PM–5:00 PM
📍 2F Bridgeway Main Wing, Estancia Mall

Expect real talk for expecting moms and dads, expert guidance, and a warm community to walk with you every step of the way. 🌸

Participation is FREE, but registration is required! Sign up now via the link in bio or visit mommymundo.com/pregnantpause 💌

P.S. A heartful thank you to our sponsor for making this meaningful event possible! 

@anmumph
@solbac_ph
@estanciaph

#MommyMundo #PregnantPause #MommyMundoPregnantPause #pregnantmoms
“You are not a bad mother…” 💭 We asked, a “You are not a bad mother…” 💭
We asked, and your answers warmed our hearts. 💖

From missed meals to messy rooms, from tough days to tearful nights — so many moms shared the same fears, the same doubts… and the same reminder:

You are not alone.

You are doing your best. 

You are enough. ✨

And Mommy Mundo is here for you — cheering you on every step of the way. 

Link in bio to join our mailing list for inspiration, support, and updates made just for moms like you — link in bio! 💌

#MommyMundo #MommyMundoMoms #MMmoms #mompowerment #momcommunity
Breastmilk is ✨liquid gold✨ — packed with nu Breastmilk is ✨liquid gold✨ — packed with nutrients, antibodies, and love 💖 Whether you’re a stay-at-home or working mom, knowing how to store it properly helps you keep giving your baby the best, anytime, anywhere.

Celebrate the beauty of breastfeeding with us at the Mommy Milkshake Run on August 3 at Parklinks, Quezon City — a fun, family-friendly event for moms, dads, kids, grandparents, and your pets too! 🏃🏻‍♀️💕

Let’s move, connect, and celebrate the breastfeeding journey together! Register and purchase your kits now at mommymundo.com/mommymilkshake2025

…because when breastfeeding mom runs, milk shakes 😆🙌🏻

#MommyMundo #MommyMundoMommyMilkshakeRun #MommyMilkshakeRun2025 #BreastfeedingAwareness
Our giveaway isn’t just about the goodies (thoug Our giveaway isn’t just about the goodies (though they are ✨amazing✨)—it’s about celebrating thoughtful, quality finds from mom-run brands. Every item is mom-made, heart-led, and meant to be loved. 💖

Swipe through to take a closer look at the giveaway goodies from The Mompreneur Lab Batch 3 @mompreneurstogether 🤗

✨ Haven’t joined yet? Don’t miss your chance—giveaway ends June 30! 

#MommyMundo #themompreneurlab #mompreneurs #giveaway
One day you’re counting down to your due date… One day you’re counting down to your due date… the next, you’re eight months postpartum, wondering how time flew so fast. 💫

Motherhood moves in a blur—from the first flutters to first steps. At Mommy Mundo, we’re here to support you through every stage, starting with one of the most beautiful transitions: pregnancy.

Join us for Pregnant Pause, our signature prenatal program happening on July 19 at Estancia Mall — a day designed to nurture, inform, and empower expecting moms (and dads too!). 🤰🏻

From 2PM to 5PM, take part in a prenatal class guided by Rome Kanapi, beloved prenatal educator for over a decade.

🛍️ All day from 10AM–7PM, explore our Mom Market — a celebration of motherhood and a showcase of heartfelt finds from inspiring mompreneur brands.

✨ Admission is free — just register at mommymundo.com/pregnantpause

Let’s honor your journey into motherhood — one breath, one step, one meaningful pause at a time.

P.S Thank you so much to our sponsors for making this event possible 💖
@anmumph 
@solbac_ph 
@estanciaph 

Video by momma @louissemicah 📸

#MommyMundo #PregnantPause #PregnancyJourney #EmpoweredBirth #MomMarket #MommyMundoPregnantPause
For moms with school-age kids, every new school ye For moms with school-age kids, every new school year brings new challenges — shifting routines, fresh expectations, and big transitions. 💖

Here are 7 Ways to Make this the Best School Year Ever for Your Child — read more bit.ly/MMBestSchoolYearEver

Got questions about school life? 💬 Join our Mommy Mundo Moms Facebook community and ask away — link in bio!

#MommyMundo #BacktoSchool #mompowerment
Spotted: your reminder to sign up for the Mommy Mi Spotted: your reminder to sign up for the Mommy Milkshake Run! 🏃🏻‍♀️🙌🏻

The much-loved Mommy Milkshake Run returns this August 3 (Sunday) at Parklinks, QC — celebrating family movement, outdoor fun, and the gift of breastfeeding! 🤱✨

✅ Fun distances for all — 1K, 3K, 5K (yes, strollers welcome!)
✅ Family-friendly run for moms, dads, kids, titas, lolos & lolas — and even your beloved pets! 
✅ After-run festival with:
🛍️ Mama Market
🎶 Live music
🛝 Kids’ play area
🍴 Yummy eats & drinks
🤱 Cozy spaces for breastfeeding moms

Hurry — slots are limited! Register and purchase your kits now at mommymundo.com/mommymilkshake2025! 

#MommyMilkshakeRun #MommyMundo #FamilyFunRun #MomPowerment #MomCommunity
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2025 · MOMMY MUNDO GLOBAL · SITE DESIGN BY FGD