Kylie Padilla

"I’d tell her she’s on the right path but I’d also tell her not to make herself an enemy and to not be afraid of being alone. But beside that I’d tell her she’s doing great."

"Honestly, I used to want to be a role model. But I know that I am not. Being a role model is a heavy shoes to fill. I’m not sure if I want to be one anymore. What I want women to know is that life will be challenging."

"I want women to cherish the growth of their minds, their souls and their spirit—the value of their essence. So much focus is put on our looks when our real value should really be focused on our values and inner strength."

"In every moment, whatever emotions or thoughts, I try to find myself beneath all of it— my essence…more than my looks and even intelligence. It is empowering once I find my truth and stick to it."

"It needed to involve change and acceptance, and it meant letting go of the version of yourself that has expired."

"I had to learn to muster the strength to trust that my body would heal, that I would regain my strength again because it killed me to accept that I had no choice but to trust the care of my kids to someone else. Nothing was in my control."

"I just remember praying, ‘give me another chance and I won't ever take it for granted. Give me another chance to pursue what will truly fulfill me.’ As women are plagued with narratives, judgements. and ideals of how we should live out our lives. I played out mine. But once the story was something I refused to play along with, I left it. Di na ako yun. Di na ito yung para sa’kin, I said to myself. And left the narrative."

"What was once a period in my life I no longer wanted to remember is now something I remember with fondness. Without that pain I wouldn’t appreciate my life now. I'm grateful for its humbling effect on me because one thing is for sure, we will all return to dust."

"Don’t get stuck in a bad place. Know that life is a cycle and good and bad it all passes. Be in the moment but don't be swept away from it, live in your authenticity. Repair when you can. Laugh or make someone laugh and last but not least celebrate yourself. You deserve it."

"Being a single mom means trying to make everyone else look good while you settle to become annoying and repetitive and taking in that pain of knowing that you needed to be tough. Praying to God they would someday understand mama was crying too when you were throwing that tantrum. Mama was praying for you to grow tough and strong. Mama was praying for you all along."

"Mama can’t wait for the day when she tells you the truth that it wasn’t mama that was the superhero. It was the complete opposite. That it was their love that kept saving her. It was them that was mama’s superhero."

"Mom guilt is the absolute worst because missing out is the worst. All you can do is make the small moments count let them know at every moment you can. That you love them and pray to God one day they will grow to understand you did your absolute best even at your worst."

"Single motherhood is so hard!"

"I think I’m ready to mom again, I’ve been Dad for quite some time now."

""I see the bigger picture now.”"

"“I only meant that aalis po ako ng Pilipinas kasi gusto ko ng tahimik na buhay (I'm leaving the Philippines because I want a quiet life). It was not a comment to insult my father because I trust in his judgement and all the good he is doing for this country. But I think it is also my right to know what kind of life I want to live. And that is a quiet peaceful life. Yun Ing po (That's all).""

"“Your lack of empathy reflects on you not me, I just have to remember. My Worth is not based on your closed mentality. I let it go, I set myself free. I don’t believe in regrets, But I regret having you as a memory.”"

""A wise woman once told me every strong woman will be called crazy at some point in her life, it comes with the territory. And she said embrace it. Do not run from it. Claim it. Roar even louder, show some teeth. Only those who are worthy will know how to tame the wild inside you. Stay wild and run with the wolves.”"