"Can I go?"
That was what Coney Reyes said when her son Vico Sotto announced in late 2018 that he was running for the position of Pasig City mayor.
She recalled that pivotal moment during her sit-down TV interview with Vico on the NET 25 talk show MOMents last June 1.
The seasoned actress shared that it took her a moment to react, but she expressed her support right away.
"Hindi ako kumontra kasi alam ko ang anak ko. Kapag nagdedesisyon siya, pinag-aaralan niya maigi. Pinag-iisipan niya maigi," the mother of three said.
"Once na sinabi niya, ibig sabihin buo loob niya. Ayoko sirain yung loob niya.
"Gusto ko makita niya na suportado ako all the way."
Coney cleared up her schedule for the following day and joined Vico at his filing of candidacy.
GMA-7 host-comedian Vic Sotto, Vico's father, was present as well.
Even though there were numerous questions going through her head, Coney held them all in until after Vico filed his candidacy.
The now-dubbed "Millennial Mayor" then explained his reasons for running, and the veteran actress appreciated what her son is hoping to achieve.
"Parang na-touch ako," she said at the interview. "Kay Lord na lang ako umiyak.
"Nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos sa puso ng anak ko... Kasi his heart is really to serve the people, people of Pasig.
"And we all know, if he wanted to be famous, if he wanted a lot of money, he would have just maybe gotten into showbiz, di ba? Kasi may mga intresado to get him, and his Papa and I can help him.
"But no, he knows na walang pera diyan. As councilor, he didn't make any money. Abunado pa iyan.
"Pero gusto niya tumulong... nakita ko talaga puso ng anak ko, so nagpapasalamat ako sa Diyos na ganyan siya.
"At nananalangin ako talaga na patuloy na maging ganyan siya."
RAISING VICO
Vico was barely a year old when Coney decided to break up with Vic, whose marriage with then-wife Dina Bonnevie was not yet annulled at the time.
"How can I make my children obey me if not everything was right in my life?" Coney said, briefly recalling that decision to Inquirer.net on May 19, 2019.
From then on, the former TV host chose to live a life as a single mother to her three kids: Lawrence Anthony or LA, Carla, and Vico.
In her interview with MOMents, Coney described herself as a "disciplinarian."
But she also elaborated that parenting is best done through actions.
"Mahirap, pero kung gusto ko susunod yung mga anak ko sa akin, di ba, I have to make sure that I'm doing what I'm saying.
"Many things that we do as parents, sometimes, we don't even have to teach. They're caught. It's caught, not taught. Nakikita, e... hindi ka nagsasalita, hindi mo sinasabi. Basta ginagawa mo lang.
"Yun pala, nagkaka-epekto na sa kanila. Sinusunod nila. Pinapanood tayo ng mga anak natin. Hindi natin alam."
The Bible verse of Isaiah 54:13 was also a guiding force for Coney.
The verse goes: "All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace."
"I felt His peace and confidence that all shall be well, no matter how difficult things may get," Coney said in her interview with Inquirer.net.
With that in mind, Coney made certain that her children grew up with a strong faith in the Lord.
VICO SOTTO: A NATURAL BORN LEADER
Vico's love for public service began as a child.
Everyone knows the story of how his brother LA taught him the idea of good governance and public service at an early age.
But Coney also saw Vico's heart for service manifests through actions as well.
The celebrity mom recalled in her interview with Inquirer.net, "When he was younger, he wanted to do an outreach for his birthday.
"It wasn't the regular party for an orphanage. He would go and find out what they needed, then we would go and buy it and bring it to them on his birthday quietly and without fanfare."
Coney heard stories from Vico's teachers as well.
"His classmates like to go to him and seek his help, but he never calls attention to himself."
And personally, she knows how unafraid her son is to speak his mind.
Coney told MOMents, "Basta si Vico, maliit pa siya, black is black, white is white na iyan.
"Kahit ako, kung meron akong gawin o nasabi na hindi maganda, he will correct me talaga.
"Ako naman minsan, mangangatuwiran pa nga ako. 'But you know, like this, like this.'
"'Ma, you're the one who said, like this, like this.'
"Sasabihin ko, 'Oo nga naman. Okay, sorry.'"
This exchange in the past taught Coney the importance of humility as a parent.
"Importante rin may magic word ng magulang, na matututo ka magsabi ng sorry kung alam mo talagang mali ka.
"Huwag ka na mangatwiran nang mangatwiran kung alam mong mali ka.
"Just say sorry. Our children are very forgiving."
VICO SOTTO: PROUD MAMA'S BOY
Vico has a close relationship with both of his parents, but the 30-year-old politician knows that he wouldn't be who he is today if it wasn't for his mom.
"I grew up with my mom," the new Pasig mayor told GMA-7 broadcast journalist Jessica Soho on her weekly program Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho in May.
"Siyempre, I love both of my parents, pero iba yung laki sa nanay."
In his interview with MOMents in June, Vico recalled how Coney made sure that she was a constant presence in his life.
"She would always make time at least once a week. Yung Sunday nun, talagang family day.
"Naalala ko growing up, kahit anong mangyari, hindi tumatanggap ng guesting kapag Sunday. Minsan lang the occasional talk show kapag may promo, may kailangan i-plug na show. Pero bihirang-bihira yun. Wala pang once a year."
Their bonding moments were simple but meaningful.
Vico replied, "Nothing fancy or anything. Basta importante sa kanya na Sunday, magkakasama kami."
Now that Vico is a mayor, Coney knows that their quiet life is about to change.
Naturally, the 65-year-old actress has her worries about these changes.
She tells Inquirer.net, "The other day, we were discussing something and I told him, 'Naku people might misunderstand. They'll say his mom is like this, our mayor is like this...'"
But Vico reminded his mother that everything will be okay.
"He said calmly, 'Mom, cool it. Remember, I'm not your mayor, I'm your son.'"
Those words made Coney teary-eyed.
As Vico's next venture into politics begins, Coney will be right by his side through it all.