MANILA, Philippines?On June 4, 2009 at 2:55 a.m., at UERM Hospital, I gave birth to the most handsome baby boy whom we named Xavier Zappa Buencamino. He weighed in at 6.75 lb.

It is the best Father?s Day gift I could give my husband Emil. After giving birth to our daughter, Lia, five years ago, I became very selfish and swore I would never have a second child.

Horrific labor

You can?t really blame me. Lia was born the Lamaze way?no anesthesia for me, just controlled breathing to manage the pain. The labor was so horrific, I felt like I was excreting an electric fan!

Then I had a terrible relapse, since I went back to my hectic schedule of tapings, shootings and hosting corporate events only four days later. Add to that the weight gain that stripped me off my title, ?Sexy Singer Comedienne.? Of course I said no every time my husband asked if I was ready to have a second child, saying Lia needed a playmate.

On the third year, I gave in to his constant nagging. I figured, he had proven to be a good father to Lia, anyway. He brought her everywhere?gymnastics class, shopping, Star City, Red Barn ... and he enjoyed it!

They played a lot, too, and tickled each other, which he also enjoyed. Daddy Emil was in bliss whenever we went abroad with Lia, bound for any of the Disney destinations?Hong Kong, United States ... Yes, I figured, he would do just as well with another child, and why not a son to proudly hoist the Buencamino name?

When I decided to give that to him, it wasn?t easy. The decision to put life on hold again for at least 15 months was major, from any angle, for a bratty wife like me. But I had a miscarriage.

Frozen dad

This year, at last, we made it. Maybe the long wait was the reason I saw tears in Emil?s eyes when he heard Xavier Zappa?s first cry. He could not contain his emotion; he seemed to freeze, and failed to cut the umbilical cord like he did with Lia. Suzanne Salindong of Cordlife Philippines ended up doing it. (CordLife is a company that collects, processes and stores stem cells from a child?s umbilical cord. The stem cells are stored, in case the child or any member of the family develops a life-threatening disease. I?m making only two children, I might as well do everything to insure their health ... from birth.)

I feel so happy giving this extraordinary Father?s Day gift to my husband?blissed-out father of two. All the labor pains, all these sleepless nights breast-feeding the baby, this long wait to heal and get back to performing for OFWs around the world?these are all worthwhile. All it took was seeing Emil?s tears of joy. Papa, Xavier Zappa is our reward, and I will remain in awe of your infinite patience and love

Happy Father?s Day to us!