“Idolo ko sa pagiging ina si Mama Mary. Pareho kaming nawalan ng anak [na]ginawa kong inspirasyon.”

This was what Pokwang revealed when honored on Dec. 9 as recipient of the Readers’ Choice’s “Triumph over Tragedy,” a category in the 2009 Working Mom Balance Awards.

She recalled: “Ang nanay ko talaga ang inspirasyon ko kung bakit ako naging komedyante. Nililibang n’ya kaming magkakapatid kasi wala kaming makain.”

Pokwang is the ninth child in a brood of 12. Her struggles as a single mother to two kids – the eldest of whom died of brain tumor while she was abroad working – motivated her to succeed in showbiz.

Other honorees included National Bookstore founder Socorro Ramos, restaurateur Margarita Fores, educator Mary Joy Canon-Abaquin, breastfeeding advocate Anna Lisa Dee, and ABS Gen Herbs International owner Grace Galindez-Gupana with Nini Veloso winning another Readers’ Choice Award for “Self for Others” category.

The late former Pres. Corazon Aquino was also given the posthumous Lifetime Achievement award, which was accepted by her daughter Pinky Abellada. The political icon's eldest daughter, Ballsy Cruz, was present at the event as well.

Prior to the program, Pokwang told Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online that she didn’t believe at first that she was being recognized as an exemplary mother.

“Very thankful ako na nare-recognize ang mga kagaya ko na comedian. Ibang-iba ito sa mga award na natanggap ko kasi madalas sa acting or hosting, pero ito, akong-ako talaga ito,” she enthused.

Pokwang said the worst tragedy she’s experienced was not being able to be by her dying son because she was away working in Abu Dhabi.

“Tapusin ko na lang daw ang kontrata ko or else idedemanda ako,” she remembered her employer telling her back in 1998. “Eh six months ang kontrata ko. Nakaka-three months pa lang ako nang mamatay ang anak ko. Ayaw sagutin ang pamasahe ko. Sa’n ako kukuha ng pera? Ano ko, lalangoy?”

Since then, Pokwang had decided to stay home for good. She worked as a choreographer and then tried her luck in a comedy bar. She was starting to make a name for herself as a standup comedian at Music Box in Timog when ABS-CBN’s now defunct program “Yes, Yes, Show” held a talent search called “Clown in a Million” in 2004.

“Nag-try akong mag-join although ayokong sumali,” she shared. “May mga kaibigan akong binigay ang pangalan ko sa talent coordinator. Naloka na lang ako na tinawagan ako nang bonggang-bongga. Ayun na!”

Pokwang added: “Ako naniniwala talaga na ‘pag destiny mo, destiny mo talaga, kahit ano’ng gawin mong iwas. Ayoko talagang sumali kasi sobrang nahihiya ako nang bonggang-bongga. Pero plano ni God ‘yan so hindi p’wedeng ilihis.”

Aside from her busy showbiz career, Pokwang has also branched out into a few businesses like a salon and a restaurant. She’s likewise preoccupied with raising single-handedly her 13-year-old daughter Riemae.

“'Yong mga nangyari sa akin...nakita ko na walang tutulong sa anak ko kundi ako lang. 'Yong tatay wala ng silbi, ‘di ba? Mga magulang ko naman matatanda na, wala ng trabaho. 'Yong mga kapatid ko, sa akin pa rin umaasa. So wala talaga akong magagawa kundi magsikap talaga, na kahit ano’ng trabaho basta legal, papasukin ko,” she reflected on how her past tragedies have helped her become who she is now.

Pokwang admitted, though, that she is still not immune to heartache.

“May mga moment. Pero oo, ibang reason na. Hindi na sa boyfriend, hindi na sa pamilya. Sa pera hindi na rin kasi alam ko na kung pa’no i-manage ang pinaghihirapan ko.”