There is a growing body of literature aimed at women, heralded by such titles as Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead or Becoming by former first lady Michelle Obama. Although this genre is indeed already well-established in other markets like the United States, it is still emerging in the Philippines. There are a few non-fiction books geared toward Filipinas, but still not enough to address the complexity that comes with being a Filipina in 2021.
Risa Hontiveros wants to change this. She reflects on her own career as a successful journalist, politician, and community leader in her new book as a springboard to giving advice specific to other Filipinas. Her stories and advice cleaves around four key areas, including work-life balance, finances, health and wellness, and navigating the new normal as a mother. The book is entitled, Healthy Buhay, Happy Mama: Risa Hontiveros’s Journey Through Motherhood, to reflect the interconnectedness of these facets.
Hontiveros chose to focus on these areas because she feels they are essential to thriving in the new normal and beyond.
“There are of course many areas I could have concentrated on for my first book. I chose these in particular as they all interrelate. Finding strength in one pillar reinforces the others, and vice versa. I hope that other Filipinas will feel the same force-multiplier effect that occurs when developing any of these focus areas, just like it has for me,” said Hontiveros.
Healthy Buhay, Happy Mama is published by Bookshelf PH, a boutique publisher and marketplace for books, ebooks, and audiobooks. The title is one of several new ones from the publisher aimed at providing advice to Filipinos for the new digital economy. Sam Balinado, the head of content at Bookshelf PH, explained that Hontiveros was selected to lead the thrust focusing on women on account of her well-roundedness.
“Risa Hontiveros is not only a successful journalist, politician, and community organizer, but also a mother and daughter. We wanted to tap the insights of a leader like Risa, who shows it’s truly possible to achieve success across multiple personal and professional areas. You just need to consciously think about what your dream for each area is, and then meticulously design your life to reach those goals,” said Balinado, who works with partner thought leaders and authors in romance, business, and women empowerment.
Hontiveros wants the book to be a jumping off point to a broader discussion on the role of women in the Philippines.
“We’ve always been one of the most forward-thinking countries when it comes to women, but that’s no reason for us to rest on our laurels. I believe there is still plenty of room for improvement. My hope is that by discussing what it takes for women to succeed as an individuals, we can recognize what we still need to do as a society to make it easier for us to do so,” said Hontiveros, who added that the launch during National Reading Month in the Philippines was purposeful – she wants to see more books aimed at women to contribute to this broader discourse.
The first two hundred copies of the book will be personally signed by Hontiveros, and it can be pre-ordered here (including a special for 11-11!): Healthy Buhay, Happy Mama (Pre-Order)
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