In the pauses between deadlines and meetings, you’ll often find Hazel Paras-Cariño doing something most executives rarely stop for: pumping milk. At seven months postpartum, her youngest child has known no other nourishment but breastmilk—a testament not only to her devotion as a mother, but also to the strong support system around her.
Hazel is the Head of Content at theAsianparent Philippines, a role that calls for creativity, leadership, and heart. To the mom community, she’s known as the Resident Mama of theAsianparent, creating videos filled with tips on relationships, pregnancy, and parenting. Beyond work, she’s “The Corporate Mumshie” on her own social platforms—sharing the raw, funny, and heartfelt truths of motherhood.
“I Am Not a Supermom”
To the outside world, Hazel’s résumé might look like the blueprint of a “supermom.” But she is quick to reject the label.
“I don’t believe in being a supermom,” she says. “I believe in being a supported mom.”
She also acknowledges the reality of mothers who don’t share her circle of help: single moms, widows, and women who must shoulder everything on their own. “I salute them deeply,” she adds.
“Even if they seem to do it all, they still need and deserve support. No mother should feel she has to carry the world by herself.”
The Husband Who Holds the Fort: The Modern Dad’s Role
“My husband also works full-time (WFH) but he is equally hands-on.”
One of Hazel’s strongest pillars of support is her husband Chaps. With a hybrid work setup, Hazel often spends days in the office, and on those days, her husband seamlessly takes charge at home.
“I am so blessed that he is equally as hands-on with the kids as I am, not just physically, but also mentally,” Hazel shares. “I don’t have to remind him about the simplest details: what vitamins to give, what the kids will eat, or when it’s bath time. He does it so naturally, while working full-time from home and being fully present at his own job.”
It’s a dynamic that doesn’t just lighten her load. It gives Hazel peace of mind. “I fully trust him. He has supported my career from the beginning, and he’s such a wonderful girl dad. I really hope more fathers out there can learn a thing or two from him.”
The Discipline Behind the Balance
Hazel thrives not because she does it all alone, but because she knows how to balance. Her husband shares the daily load, her family cheers her on, and her employer embraces empathy. But Hazel also credits her own discipline and gratitude.
From lactation breaks to empathy in meetings, The Parentinc goes beyond compliance. Here, pumping is normalized, and culture, not just policy, makes the difference.
“Even if I have to pump every now and then in the office, I still hit my KPIs, and often go beyond them. I don’t use motherhood as an excuse. Instead, I treat my work as an act of gratitude for my company’s trust in me. I am confident my boss will attest to that.”
Her secret? A genuine love for her work.
“It doesn’t feel like a job that’s just a source of income. I find fulfillment and purpose in it. That makes it easier to thrive in both worlds.”
When Employers Choose Empathy
Her manager, Carla Perlas, VP-Communications at The Parentinc, recalls in her LinkedIn post,when such support was almost unimaginable: “The ‘lactation room’ at my previous work was a dusty meeting space that doubled as storage. Broken lock, uncovered windows, even dead cockroaches. It was isolating and demoralizing,” Carla admits.
Her boss, Carla Perlas, VP-Communications at The Parentinc, recalls when such support was almost unimaginable: ““That’s why I feel a pang of envy for Hazel”
It was these challenges that the Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act of 2009 (Republic Act 10028) aimed to resolve, mandating proper lactation stations and paid lactation breaks. Yet as Carla notes, compliance has been uneven, and true support goes far beyond legislation.
“That’s why I feel a pang of envy for Hazel,” Carla says. “She gets to continue her breastfeeding journey with ease and comfort. Here, no one bats an eye when she steps out to pump or uses a wearable breast pump at her desk. We’ve gone beyond compliance—we’ve built a culture of empathy.”
At work, Hazel has a safe space to pump and a manager who advocates for her, not just as an efficient employee, but also as a breastfeeding mom.
Beyond Sacrifice, Toward Fulfillment
Hazel’s story isn’t framed by exhaustion or sacrifice, rather it’s defined by balance and joy. She speaks of dance sessions and art projects with her daughter, content deadlines met with her team, and milk stored for tomorrow’s feeding:
“The real strength of motherhood isn’t being superhuman, for me, it’s having community and support.”
Why Support Matters for All Mothers
Her story reflects a broader truth. According to data on Philippine Statistics Authority, only 60% of mothers begin breastfeeding after giving birth. By six months, fewer than half continue exclusively. Experts say the missing link isn’t awareness, but emotional and social support—from partners to employers.
“When mothers are cared for holistically, both they and their babies thrive,” Hazel emphasizes.
This Breastfeeding Month, her message is clear:
The future doesn’t belong to “supermoms” who do it all. It belongs to supported moms—empowered to do enough, with love, rest, and purpose. Because when a mother is supported by her husband, her family, her employer, and her community, both her children and society flourish.
