Sharon Cuneta and Janice de Belen gave a glimpse of their ferocious maternal side when asked to react to a situation similar to a scene in their latest show, “Saving Grace: The Untold Story.”

During the media conference for the family drama, the veteran actresses were asked how they would react if their children would be made to suffer physical abuse, such as what happened to the lead character, Grace —  played by child star Zia Grace — who was forcibly put inside a sack by her abusive stepfather, Chito (Christian Bables).

“Maghahanap ako ng mas malaking sako para isilid ang nagsilid sa [mga anak] ko sa sako (I will look for a bigger sack to put those who dared to force my children into a sack),” de Belen said in jest.

For her part, Cuneta said: “Napaglamayan na siya, nakakulong na ako (His wake would have already been held for him, and I would already be in jail).”

Setting their children free

The mood then turned serious when Cuneta and de Belen were asked how mothers should not act especially when it comes to raising their children.

“It’s not about possession. It’s about mutual respect between you and your kids. It’s a very difficult balance between being a friend and an authority figure,” Cuneta said in response.

The singer-actress further explained that mothers should not control their children on how they want them to be, saying they have minds of their own.

“It’s not purely authority over them. It’s not expecting them to be like you when they grow up. It’s not imposing on them what you think they should do or be. It’s not about insisting that they do what you want because hindi mo hawak at puso nila (you don’t have control over their hearts),” she said.

For her part, de Belen said there will come a time when mothers need to set their children free.

“Motherhood is not about a puppet show. As parents, you’re supposed to guide them as you grow up. Hindi mo sila pwedeng i-control (You can’t control them). Because at some point, you have to set them free and hope and pray that you did a good job,” she said.

In terms of setting their children free, Cuneta and de Belen both said that they rely on their maternal instinct to determine if their children should already show that they are ready to live on their own. They admitted it is somehow hard to explain, but it is a certain gut feeling that mothers have among themselves.

“Hindi siya sa biological age. Nasa mental and emotional age,” Cuneta said. “Ikaw ang nagpalaki and malalaman mo kung kaya ba nila or hindi. Kung pwede lang hanggang 88 sila, kasama mo sila… Napakasakit pero hindi mo pwedeng pigilin.”

(It is not based on their biological age, but more on their mental and emotional age. You are the one who raised them. You would know if they can handle their own lives or not. If only I can live with them until they are 88 years old. I mean, it’s a painful reality. But you can’t stop them.)

Meanwhile, de Belen said mothers do notice if their children’s maturity is a “slow burn” process, which starts the moment they experience the real world little by little.

“Ang mga bata, kapag wala pa sa school, ikaw lang ang mundo [nila]. Siyempre, when they grow up, nagkakafriends sila. When they grow up, nagiiba ang friends and dumadami, nagkakaroon na sila ng iba’t ibang influence, so it’s a slow burn,” she began.

(Children see their mothers as their world when they are not yet in school. Of course, when they grow up, they make friends. When they grow up, their friends will change and increase. They will be influenced by different things as well, so it’s a slow burn.)

De Belen also admitted that she is somewhat of a helicopter mom who hovers over her children, having a hard time letting go of her own kids. Eventually she knew that it’s something that needed to be done.

“After a while, you just know when it’s time to let them go. I’m a hovering parent. Kung pwede lang na lagi silang nandyan sa’kin pero kapag sinabi nilang they need to go, makikipag-away ka ba? Hindi siya madali but [if it’s their time], it’s time,” she said.

(After a while, you just know when it’s time to let them go. I’m a hovering parent. If only they would always stay with me. When they say that they need to go, do you have to fight with them? It’s not easy but if it’s their time, it’s time.)

The Megastar has four children: KC Concepcion (with her first husband Gabby Concepcion), Frankie, Miel, and Miguel Pangilinan (with husband, former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan). Miguel is the family’s adopted son.

On the other hand, de Belen has five children, namely, Inah, Moira, Kaila, and Yuan with ex-husband John Estrada, and Iggy Boy with her ex-boyfriend Aga Muhlach.

“Saving Grace” first premiered on a streaming platform in November 2024. A TV version, dubbed “Saving Grace: The Untold Story,” contains scenes that were cut out from the streaming version premiered in March.

The drama also stars Julia Montes, Zia Grace, Sam Milby, Christian Bables, Jennica Garcia, Eric Fructuoso, and Elisse Joson.