Of the many roles that Marietta Subong plays – as the actress we know as Pokwang, brand ambassador, comedian, host, and partner to Lee ‘O Brian – the dearest one, of course, is that of a mother to her daughters, the eldest Ria Mae and the youngest, Malia Francine.
She believes that the best part of being a mother is when your prayers for your children have been answered and you see them growing up as good persons. The most challenging part, she shares: “I think that was the time when I decided to go abroad as an OFW so I can give my children a good life. I know the pain of being separated from your children.”
As a mother, Pokwang describes herself as a fighter who is willing to face anything for her children.
“Parang si Lea Salonga lang sa Miss Saigon, I swear I’ll give my life for my children. I will work hard to give them the best education because that is the only thing that can make them achieve their goals.”
Apart from her comic flair and beauty, what she wants her daughters to inherit, is her love for cooking. Pokwang has always been fond of cooking. Even as a child, she always stayed in the kitchen to learn to cook new dishes.
“I always wanted to be the cook because I don’t want to go out and wash clothes in the river,” she says with a guffaw. “I love to cook and modesty aside, I cook very well.”
Among Pokwang’s favorite dishes are callos, laing, kare-kare, and sea food fares. And she’s able to put her cooking skills into good use by putting up a food business during the pandemic. It did not only make her busy but it also gave her a good source of income during the height of the lockdowns.
All the happy chaos brought about by her cooking business, led her to discover a locally made brand of plastic products, Klio which she uses as storage for her food deliveries. And the forces of the Universe conspired to make her its first celebrity brand ambassador.
“When you are an endorser, you should be the first one to use the product that you are endorsing. Your followers should see that you are using the product that you are asking them to buy as well. Trust is very important.”
Of course, no conversation with Pokwang will be complete without a sprinkling of showbiz intrigues, with regard to the never-ending chatter that is not only she has an invisible war but an obvious rivalry between her and the Comedy Concert Queen AiAi delas Alas who is a Kapuso “royalty” as well.
“AiAi and I have already met twice at All Out Sunday (AOS) studio and we were cordial with each other. Who knows, we might work in a project together soon,” Pokwang teased.
“I have been in showbiz for two decades and I know that intrigues are part and parcel of showbiz. Tao ako so I get hurt sometimes especially if a colleague makes a nasty remark on my post just because we have different opinions on matters. Respect lang ang hinihingi ko. May kanya-kanya naman tayong paniniwala kaya sana irespeto natin kung anuman ang choice ng kaibigan natin o kasama,” she ended.
