Parenting was never cheap. But parenting in the Philippines today? That’s a full-time job, a side hustle, and three Pag-IBIG loans rolled into one. With everything from gas to galunggong to gatas, gulay, and even Grab rides taking a bite out of your wallet, raising a family feels like trying to build a future on hard mode.
Now, close your eyes. Imagine doing that solo.
At 35, Nikki Viola’s running on grit, grace, and probably a grande iced coffee. She wears more hats than Tessa Prieto-Valdes at a derby—host, content creator, editor, kikay coach to her four-year-old mini-me. Her Google Calendar is busier than Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour schedule, but every gig, reel, and event coverage comes with intention.
So if you’re a Pinay parent still figuring it out one bayarin at a time, wondering how to chase your dreams while raising a human being, this is the time to pull up a chair. Nikki’s story is yours, too.
How Nikki Found Her Purpose Through Motherhood
Before she was editing videos for one of the most-followed lifestyle websites in the country, Nikki was all about sports. “I was a former courtside reporter and sports reporter for TV5, then PBA, and other basketball leagues,” she shared. She was the girl with the mic on the sidelines. Confident, charismatic, and fully in her zone.
But then, life happened.
“Pandemic happened and I really needed to refocus,” Nikki said candidly. “My priority became my daughter. That’s when I applied for a full-time job with WhenInManila. It was the practical choice—but also the right one.”
Now working full-time as a content producer while juggling gigs as an events host, Nikki is no stranger to the raketera life.
Source: Enrico Vicmudo Sports Photography
“Hosting is my ultimate side hustle. I love talking, I love being in front of the camera, and let’s admit it—we need the cash for that,” she said with honesty only fellow parents will understand.
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A Raketera Mom Needs Her Allies Too
Behind every strong single mom is an even stronger support system and Nikki knows she hit the jackpot. Yes, she’s a full-on raketera, juggling gigs, shoots, and deadlines like a pro. But even the busiest working moms need people in their corner, and for Nikki, that’s her family.
@nikkiviola That feeling? Unbeatable. Getting to do groceries for the ones I love is a small act that brings immense gratitude. Celebrating these quiet victories, knowing they’re built on answered prayers and a whole lotta hustle. 🙏 #inspiration ♬ son original – Nash
“I still live with my parents. I have my siblings here at home,” she shared. “They’re the ones who are more hands-on with my daughter.”
And while it may look like she’s constantly on-the-go (because she is), Nikki’s not out here just chasing gigs for the ‘gram. She’s hustling with purpose—for her daughter, and for the family who’s helped her hold it all together.
“At first, I really felt guilty kasi I’m always out,” she admitted. “I know some people might think, ‘Ay, si Nikki, laging nasa work, hindi na nag-aalaga ng anak.’ But a lot of people also understand my situation. I have to do this not just for my daughter, but because I also help support my family. I’m a proud—and genuinely happy—breadwinner.”
She may not always be the one with the most perfect attendance, but she’s providing stability, security, and most of all… love.
Source: Facebook/Nikki Viola
“When I wasn’t a mom, I always thought I’ll end up being the cool auntie, the favorite auntie,” Nikki joked. “But just when I thought it was going to be the end of me, it turned out to be the beginning of something beautiful.”
Because when you’re a mom, especially a single one, love doesn’t always come wrapped in lunchboxes and lullabies. Sometimes, it looks like bills paid on time, a child who never goes without, and a woman who shows up every day. Tired, maybe. But never defeated.
A Day in the Life of a Mama Raketera
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Think your schedule is packed? Try living a day in Nikki Viola’s shoes and heels. As a full-time content producer, event host, and single mom, her days are basically powered by caffeine, calendar blocks, and sheer willpower.
She wakes up next to her daughter (and sometimes her whole fam—because let’s be real, kung saan may aircon, doon ang HQ ng buong pamilya). First thing she does? Checks her phone. Not to scroll TikTok but to dive into emails, project briefs, and video edits she mentally lines up before brushing her teeth.
Yes, that level of raketera energy.
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While her daughter is still asleep, Nikki preps for the day: visualizing content shots, reviewing coverage schedules, and squeezing in skincare—because even behind-the-scenes queens need to glow. By the time her little one wakes up, it’s playtime-slash-bonding-moments before Nikki shifts into work mode.
On a regular day, she’s hopping from one brand launch to another, sometimes squeezing in hosting rakets in between. Four events? Easy. Hosting plus content coverage? Game.
But the grind doesn’t stop when the lights go out.
Even after clocking in a full day, Nikki does her best to carve out time for her daughter—whether that’s snacking, cuddling, or watching another episode of their current Disney obsession. And when mom duties are covered by her ultra-reliable family, Nikki recharges the best way she knows how: by passing out in full makeup (relatable), grateful that her work fuels more than just bills. It fuels her purpose.
“I sometimes cover up to four events in a day, minsan may hosting pa sa gitna kung kaya. But I love those kinds of days. I actually pray for them! For me, it means I’m on the right path. I have a lot of work—and work is always a blessing.”
Because for this raketera mom, busy isn’t just a mood. It’s the mission.
Making Time, Making Memories
Of course, Nikki admits that not being with her daughter 24/7 still brings up pangs of guilt but she finds creative ways to make up for it.
“If I get to bring her to events, I feel like I’m making up for lost time,” she said. “She loves kid events—movie premieres, playground features. And she’s obsessed with makeup! She’ll ask, ‘Mommy, can I put lipstick on you?’”
They bond over beauty, Disney series, and food. “Simple moments, I cherish the most,” she said. “Because I feel like doon ako nakakabawi sa kanya.”
And just like many raketeras, Nikki admits that her daughter is already showing signs of being just like her. “She’s always excited to go with me to events. She even calls them ‘events.’ It’s so cute.”
On Letting It Go Like Disney’s Elsa
In a society obsessed with “co-parenting goals” and fairy tale redemptions, Nikki is flipping the script. She’s not pretending to be friends with her ex. She’s not posting curated Father’s Day greetings for social media optics. And she’s definitely not waiting around for a dramatic “I’m sorry” that may never come.
“No, I do not communicate with him in any way,” Nikki says without blinking. No bitterness, no drama—just facts. “Of course, I am the type of person who don’t really… I don’t have any grudges with anyone. No matter what a person did to me.”
Let that sink in. Because most people would expect some sort of emotional back-and-forth. Not Nikki.
“I get hurt, but I don’t really… hindi ako nag-aano ng any grudge because I feel like it’s a waste of energy,” she adds. “You know na, it’s a waste of energy and I have better things to do.”
It’s not coldness. It’s clarity. She’s not holding a grudge. She’s just, you know, done and over it.
And no, there’s no shared parenting setup. “If someday he’ll try to reach out… it’s up to him,” she says. “But it’s also my daughter’s decision. If ever, when she grows up, if she wants to meet her father, hindi ko naman siya pipigilan with that.”
But don’t expect some teary-eyed reunion on her end. “Honestly, if he’ll reach out, I am not really sure what to feel. It’s just that… walang feelings at all.”
Oof. That part stings a little, but it’s real. She’s over it, and she’s not performing emotional labor for a man who chose not to show up. And guess what? That doesn’t make her bitter. It makes her free.
“So I’m just really, really happy and blessed with the setup,” Nikki says with certainty. “And yeah, it’s his choice. Kumbaga, hindi natin pipilitin pag-ayaw.”
In a culture where women are often pressured to “keep the peace,” “fix it for the child,” or “stay civil for the family,” Nikki’s stance is refreshing. And, let’s be honest, kind of badass.
Burnout is Real, But So is Rest
Even the most seasoned raketera knows when she’s running on empty.
“I felt it last weekend. I was at burnout level,” Nikki admits. “Even now, I’m not in my usual energy. But that’s the thing—you keep going.”
Still, she’s not romanticising the hustle. She’s learned that while passion is powerful, rest is necessary. Her hack? Turning work perks into real downtime. “Sometimes we get invited to stay in hotels or Airbnbs for features. I try to enjoy that and not think of it as work,” she shares. No laptop, no agenda—just her, the sheets, and some well-earned silence.
Her secret weapon against burnout? A killer support system and a whole lot of skincare. “I’m very grateful that I could call them my support system,” she says of her family, her WhenInManila team, and her ride-or-die mom friends.
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And when the world gets overwhelming, Nikki leans into the little rituals. A serum here, a swipe of lipstick there. “It’s important,” she says. “We need to look put together, especially in our line of work. Even if I don’t have events, I try to show up for myself.”
She traces that self-care mindset back to the pandemic, when she was pregnant and flying under the radar. “I believe that as a mom, it’s okay to be kikay, ’di ba? It’s okay to take care of yourself,” she says. “I remember my Pedia and OB telling me, kapag mga-nganak ka na, mag-makeup ka pa rin.”
Proud Ina, Proud Raketera
Nikki Viola is not here to fit into the mold of the perfect single mother. She is living a version of single motherhood that is entirely her own. With intention, resilience, and quiet grace, she carries the weight of many roles and makes it look effortless.
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Her days move between event hosting, content creation, and caring for her kikay daughter, but beneath the surface is a woman deeply rooted in purpose.
In a country where the price of essentials and expectations keep rising, Nikki has chosen to meet it all not with perfection, but with presence. And in doing so, she’s reshaping what strength, success, and single motherhood can look like—one raket, one moment, one unapologetic decision at a time.
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