'Some mothers are called ‘Mum.’ Mine is called ‘Ate.’: How a family secret led to healing

For many people, motherhood is easy to define. It is the person who raised you, cared for you, and stood beside you through life’s challenges. But for Filipino content creator Rovie Peralta, known online as The Mommy Roves, the story of motherhood came with an unexpected truth, one that changed her understanding of family, identity, and love.

Key Points

• Growing up, Rovie believed the woman she called “Ate” was simply her older sister.But behind that bond was a secret quietly carried for years.
• Determined to recognise her biological mother legally and truthfully, Rovie went through the difficult process of changing documents that had identified her mother differently for most of her life.
• But beyond family revelations, Rovie also faced deeply personal struggles with mental health.
• Today, Rovie uses her platform not only to entertain, but also to raise awareness about mental health, ADHD, healing, and self-acceptance.

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