Mom Spotlight: Mika Lagdameo-Martinez

Beautiful, eloquent, and funny, anyone looking at Mika Lagdameo-Martinez’s Instagram profile would never guess she had a fear of public speaking.  In a move that undoubtedly is one of the many reasons so many follow her online, Mika took that fear and turned it into triumph, by launching her show Saturday Night Life.

“I woke up one morning. It was Dec 5th of 2020 and thoughts just popped into my head to do an IG Live. The words “Saturday Night Life” and “Call Andi” are what popped into my head. It was that simple, that quick,” shares Mika.  “I messaged Andi (Manzano) right away, and I told her of this idea that came to me right at that moment and was wondering if she’d like to do the IG Live session with me that same day! That’s really how it all came to be.”

Choosing to ask her friends to guest on her show–feeling that first asking those she is more comfortable with was the best way to practice her hosting and overcome her fears–Mika has featured an impressive lineup of celebrity moms, including Kelly Misa, Solenn Heusaff, Bianca Gonzalez, Maggie Wilson, just to name a few.

Her initial goal of improving her hosting and public speaking skills slowly morphed into providing a platform for these moms to show another side of themselves, knowing that they have a lot more to say than just what is shown on their social media profiles.  Each episode features a mom that Mika knows and has had personal experiences with.  They talk a little bit about their shared experiences before diving into some real talk, including, as Mika says “thoughts and feelings that are not always the popular opinion in life.” 

Now, months of episodes later, Mika genuinely feels like she’s improved. “Of course it’s different from someone else’s opinion as an audience,” she says. “But as for me, I’m more calm, I stutter less, hands don’t get sweaty anymore, I’m less conscious about myself, and all I think about is how do I bring out the best in the person I’m interviewing.” 

Saturday Night Life is not her only project.  Apart from her weekly show, she owns a soap company, Mink Soap, which she started over the quarantine; created a Vitamin C supplement alongside husband, Chucho Martinez; and opened Calor Membership Lounge, a members only rooftop lounge and bar, in Magallanes.  All of that, AND she’s a homeschooling mom!  How does she do it?

“Time management!  I feel like it all works out,” she says “We’re all working so well together. My two older children know how to manage their school work. My youngest one? So far our reading and writing arrangement has been working out! I’m not a strict homeschooling mom.  We’re taking it easy.  He’s a smart kid so really, no pressure!  As long as he knows the basic values at home and learns something new every time, I think we’re good.”