Here’s The Reason Why Matet De Leon Is Frustrated About Mom Nora Aunor’s New Business

As Matet airs her sentiment against her mother, we are reminded of why we should stop using the word ‘ampon’ negatively
For context: Matet De Leon has been in the gourmet tuyo business for quite a while together with her husband Mickey Estrada. However, the mom of three was shocked to know that her business has a new competitor – her very own mother, Nora Aunor.

On Instagram last December 3, in disbelief, Matet shared photos of her mom’s new products, which she said were sent by her mom to her.

“Would you do this to your children? HONOR THY FATHER AND MOTHER. HOW? How can I do that now? Ay, AMPON PALA AKO,” she said.

She added, “Nung isang gabi, sinabihan ako na na mag resell na lang ng products ng nanay ko. Pinaghihirapan namin ang pagtitinda. Bakit all of a sudden, nagulat na lang ako, naglabas ang nanay ko ng direktang kumpitensya ng produkto ko. Alam niyang may produkto akong ganyan. Marami naman daw akong taping.”

Although she turned off the comment section on her post, she left this question for her followers to reflect on: “Ano sa tingin niyo gagawin ko ngayon? Ano magandang gawin? Kung may anak kayo, GAGAWIN NIYO BA SA MGA ANAK NIYO TO?”

Nora hasn’t shared her side of the story, but in a series of Instagram stories on December 5, Matet clarified, there’s one thing that makes her feel betrayed.

“Again, I will clear this out for the blind ones. It’s not about the products. May Neri’s Gourmet tuyo naman, yung kay Neri, diba masarap din ‘yun? Hindi naman nagalit sa akin si Neri eh, pwede naman yun eh.”

She stressed, “Kaso hindi mo gagawin sa sarili mong anak na alam mong may ganung produkto, na hindi ka nagsabi, na tinago niyo habang binubuo ninyo. You don’t, bakit nila tinago?”

She said she will release screenshots of her chat with her mom, “Para makita niyong alam niyang may ganun ako at wala siyang paki kasi marami naman daw akong taping. Guys, wala na kong taping, kaya nga nagtitinda nalang eh.”

She revealed, “Ang hirap, lahat kaming magkakapatid, sinasabi ko sa inyo, hirap na hirap ang buhay naming lahat, hindi lang ako. Sa totoo lang.”

Matet then warned those who were bashing her and her siblings, “Kaya kung ako sa inyo, kung gusto niyong tumigil na yung paglabas ko ng kung anu-ano, tigilan na rin ninyo yung pananalita ng hindi maganda tungkol sa kin tsaka sa mga kapatid ko, sa ate ko, sa kuya ko, kasi alam niyo tuwing may gagawing sablay si mommy kahit di kami nagsasalita, kami yung binabanatan niyo. Bakit ganun?”

She also shared a screenshot of a message sent to her. It reads, “Papansin ka lang eh. Laos is real! Yeah! Ampon ka sabi mo kaya dapat tumanaw ka ng utang na loob sa nagpalaki sayo!”

To which she replied, “Hindi po nalalaos ang supporting actors. Mga bida lang po. Labyu.”

A word about using the word ‘ampon’

Her followers expressed their support and even suggested that they resolve this issue within their family.

Meanwhile, we felt that this issue is also a good opportunity for us to educate more people to be careful about how we use the word ‘ampon.’ Here are three reasons why.

1. The word ‘ampon’ is tainted despite its true meaning

Adoption advocate Chrina Cuna Henson said, “Unfortunately in the Philippines, the term ampon is already been colored by our culture. It’s used very often in bullying. It’s almost like a degrading term in its use. Even though you go back to the very meaning of it, it’s a wonderful thing to be adopted.”

Instead of using the term to differentiate a child from others, she said we should just say, “This is my child.”

2. Don’t use it as a means to alienate others

Biologically, Cuna-Henson said, there are already so many differences that an adopted child experiences, and to call them ‘ampon’ all the more makes them feel alienated.

“We have to evaluate why we even distinguish when my child is my child regardless of how they came into our family. We don’t need to make that a distinguishing factor to make them feel even more different from us,” the member of Smart Parenting Board of Experts said.

3. It shouldn’t define a person’s identity

Cuna-Henson emphasized, “The word ‘ampon’ shouldn’t be used to become a state of identity for the child. It’s very hurtful. In the adoption community, we encourage families to be careful not to say “Oh, this is my adopted child,” we say, “This is the child who we adopted.” She’s just my daughter, [adoption] was just the way that she came to my family,” she said.

As Matet and Nora fix their rift, may we also reflect on how we use this word moving forward. Instead of using this word to cause hurt or to discriminate, why not help out in spreading the word about adoption as an option for more families?