A mother to three, a mentor to many, and a mover of hearts.
Motherhood is a journey of commitment and selfless sacrifice. For this upcoming Mother’s Day, we feature Ms. Gazelle Dalisay-Siason, who is affectionately known as “Mamai” to many of her students and adopted children. She is a proud mother of three talented dancers, a mentor to dozens more, and the founder of OFFBEAT.
In 2024, she was awarded the “Philippines' Woman of Influence, Most Outstanding Educator and Empowered Humanitarian Hero and Leadership Award" by the Gintong Parangal. In the same year, the International Golden Globe Achievers Awards awarded her as “Asia’s Educational Visionary and Leadership Luminary in Service”.
OFFBEAT is a non-profit organization that has changed the lives of over 50 children. It is an organization that has become a safe space for street children of the Bacolod City Plaza. Starting as a passing interaction with children she met at the Plaza, OFFBEAT is a prominent organization that nurtures talents in dancing, singing, graphic design, and more. Over the years, the initiative has grown beyond the plaza, reaching schools around Bacolod, and even expanding its presence as far as Iloilo City.
By involving schools in the organization, OFFBEAT was able to expand and now has over 200 volunteers from the schools mentioned. Students from these different schools participate in the outreach programs and talent training segments, which shows that when passion meets purpose, the ripple effect can go far beyond what one heart ever imagined. Mamai often invites professionals in the field to train the students involved in the OFFBEAT, who then help the children at the plaza to develop their own skills.
To Mamai, OFFBEAT doesn’t just nurture talents but also develops character. She hopes to instill the values of kindness, love, and humility into every child that OFFBEAT has reached. Through these values, she hopes that these children will grow up to be kind to others, choose compassion, and know that they are worthy and seen.
When asked to recall a moment that keeps her going, she does not mention her national and international awards instead, she recalls the smile of a young boy whose only wish for his birthday was scrambled eggs and dried fish. She stated that, “This experience served as a powerful reminder of the importance of our work and the profound impact even small gestures can have on the lives of these vulnerable children.” Moments like these are what keep her going.
In her daytime job as a P.E. teacher at the University, dance is her forte. To her, it is more than moving to the rhythm, it is her language of connection and healing. She guides her students to see themselves not as performers but as persons of worth.
.jpg)
It comes as no surprise that her three children have inherited her love for dance. Behind the children’s success is a Mamai who knows when to cheer and when to pause the music. She understands that the weight of academic responsibilities necessitates a difficult decision, asking her passionate children to put a pause on their dance pursuits. Her decision is “a choice driven by the desire to see them thrive academically.”
In every role that she takes up, from sewing costumes for her adopted kids at the plaza, to choreographing a school performance or hugging her children at the end of a rough day, Mamai leads with her heart.
This Mother’s Day, she is celebrating resilience, growth, and the beautiful chaos of loving many, mentoring more.
To mothers who are second-guessing themselves, Mamai has a message for you: “Balancing passion, family, and community: you are not alone, and what you’re doing matters deeply,” she adds, “Your presence, even in the smallest moments, leaves a legacy.?”
If you’re lucky, you might be able to catch her at the Bacolod City Plaza, every 3rd Saturday of the month, leading with laughter and passion in purpose.