"I'm very fortunate enough that I have a mom who's really the best talaga."
— Dani Ravena on her mom, Mozzy
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(Part 3 of 3) Despite having a former UAAP standout as a mom and an ex-PBA star as a dad, Dani Ravena was actually not forced to tread the very same path.
The Ravenas' only girl could be strutting her stuff on a different stage, and her mom, Mozzy, would still support her.
University of Santo Tomas product Mozzy wanted to discover the talents of her three kids, Kiefer, Thirdy and Dani.
In her quest, she enrolled them in different activities — from finding out if they were musically inclined, or, in Dani's case, if she was born to be a thespian.
"Actually, noong mga bata sila, even the boys, 'pag summer, I enroll them in different activities. Like singing," said Mozzy.
She laughed from the memory: "Nakakahiya! Mga guitar."
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For Dani, it was theater.
"Si Dani, theater, ABS-CBN, mga ganiyan. Just to look for the talent. Kasi it doesn't have to be the same naman with the parents, 'di ba?," added Mozzy.
Mozzy and her husband, Bong, who was once Rookie of the Year and Most Improved Player of the PBA in the 90s, were open to what their children would love to do.
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In the end, it turned out to be sports — basketball for Kiefer and Thirdy, just like their father, and volleyball for Dani, same with her mom.
"Parang gusto ko lang din makita. Baka naman iba ang talent nito. Saan ba 'yong talent nito? So, we explore," said Mozzy.
"Every summer, 'yon ang [ipinapagawa] ko sa kanila. Pero, well, they still ended up with sports, so it's really, siyempre, a dream also for us."
Fast forward to today, all her children have made sports their profession.
Former Ateneo stars Kiefer and Thirdy took their basketball talents abroad, with Kiefer playing for Yokohama in the Japan B.LEAGUE and Thirdy suiting up for the Dubai Basketball Club in Europe's ABA League.
Dani, meanwhile, is currently with the Akari Chargers in the Premier Volleyball League as a libero.
While Dani is already living her dream as a professional volleyball player, Mozzy reminds her daughter, as well as her two boys, to plan ahead, knowing that sports is not forever.
"I would tell din the two boys, 'yong sports, siyempre diyan naman kami tumanda, 'yan din 'yong bread and butter, 'di ba? [But] it's not forever. So, even if you're in sports, 'yong playing, sandali lang 'yan. Suwerte na 'yong mahaba ang career," said Mozzy.
"You also have to look at the future. Ano ba 'yong gusto mong gawin? Mag-business ka ba? Mag-sports ka pa rin? Ano naman ang work? What type of work naman? So, kailangan may direksyon lang. There's always a direction, 'After I play, let's say after five years, what will I do?' Or while in five years, business ka, 'yong ganiyan. Hindi puwedeng doon ka lang kasi medyo short 'yong career, 'di ba?"
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That is Mozzy's other dream for Dani — for her to still live a good life beyond volleyball.
Dani has one for her mother, too.
She wants her mom, Mozzy, to fulfill the personal dreams she set aside, at the young age of 21, as she built and cared for their family.
"'Yong dream ko sa kanya... 'yong adventure in life. I know she wants to be outgoing, she wants to explore the world. Sa pagiging calculated niya, sometimes, there's that fear of exploring," said Dani, briefly holding the hands of her mother.
"Also, she has us, so she always puts us first. And by doing that, may mga dreams na siyang hindi niyang nagawa," she added.
Mozzy, fanning her eyes as she tried her best not to cry, chimed in, "Wala naman!"
Dani believes that Mozzy deserves it after all the sacrifices she made as a mother.
"To travel, to really do whatever fun, what will make her happy. And to surround herself with people who love her until the very end of time," said Dani, as both mother and daughter were driven to tears.
"I feel like that's the dream, as a child, to see your mom, your parents, live the life that they deserve after all the sacrifices they've made for us. It's really to let her live the life that she has always dreamed of living before we happened."
Mozzy, wiping the tears in her eyes, assured Dani that she was already OK: "OK naman na ako. Thank you, Dani."
Asked to express her thank you, sorry and I love you to her mom, Dani had these to say.
"Thank you, Mom, for everything. I feel like no words can describe how grateful I am, not just as a player, as a volleyball player, but more so ever as a daughter. I'm able to live a good life because of you. I'm grateful for everything.
"I'm sorry, Mom, for the times that I didn't listen when I thought that I knew better, and I didn't. So, sorry.
"I love you, Mom, because you're the best gift that God has given me. I'm really blessed to have you as a mom. And no matter what people say, if I do have a choice, ikaw pa rin 'yong pipiliin kong mom," said Dani.
With reports from Kiko Demigillo; Photos by RM Chua, assisted by Xander Cipriano and Kiko Demigillo; Hair and makeup by Maria Becar Austria; Produced by Kristina Villanueva