When my childhood friend Corinna Vistan-Takahashi , or Coline , sent me a message inviting to the biggest Marvel movie premiere , I didn ’ t think twice . I was ready to fly all the way to LA to be her date . I thought it would also be a great way to catch up .

Coline and I have been friends since the fifth grade in Assumption College . For as long as I can remember she has always been into movies . She knew the actors , directors , and producers . She would even skip school to watch the Oscars live telecast . “ I was a twelve-year-old that watched films like The Godfather and Out Of Africa . When I was a lot younger , I was obsessed with movies like Indiana Jones and Back to the Future ,” she says .

I was really excited for her when she decided to study film in the states after college . Eventually , she landed a job at Disney Studios . Today , she is the Director of Franchise for Marvel , which means she is in charge of creating content to sell Marvel films . “ Just thinking about how I ’ m able to be involved in the Marvel films that means so much to kids — the way the movies I watched as a kid meant to me — is so amazing ,” Coline shares . “ I ’ ve been working for marvel for eight years , and I ’ ve learned and grown so much since then . I have the opportunity to learn from and work with the most talented filmmakers . It ’ s a dream come true .”

She is also married to Ian Takahashi

, a sought out cinematographer who specializes in underwater filming . They have an adorable 7-yearold son named Roman . “ My son was an Avengers baby ; I was 7months pregnant waddling down the red carpet at the premiere . Now I take him with me to work , and everyone knows him . He knows where we keep the chocolate and he reads the comic books in the library ,” she says . It ’ s amazing how Coline still manages to create cute Avengers-inspired bento boxes to make Roman ’ s lunch more interesting and fun .

“ Juggling work and motherhood can be tough a lot of the times especially here in the US . I ’ m lucky that I ’ ve been working at the studio for a while and they believe in prioritizing work-life balance ,” Coline says .“ My son comes to the office sometimes

and he does his homework sitting next to me . Everyone loves him and he somehow always brings home a marvel toy every time he comes to the office . My coworkers keep giving him toys !”

She also recently added another feather to her cap when she finished writing a children ’ s book about the Philippine ’ s first female president , Corazon Aquino . The book will be sold on Amazon soon . She says she wrote the book for Roman so that he ’ ll learn more about the history of where his mom is from . I really admire Coline for her accomplishments . It must be doubly challenging since most of her family is back here and yet she is able to accomplish so much on her own .

My jaw dropped during the premiere of Infinity War , seeing all the

actors in one place and getting to mingle with themat the after party . I ’ m so proud of Coline for not giving up on her dreams . It gave me goosebumps seeing her name at the end credits of the film and also for being able to do her duties as a wife and a hands-on mother .

And her being both a mom and a Marvel woman is the same thing for Roman . “ The funniest thing is I took my son to Atlanta in October . We had a big shoot happening , it was a class photo . All the actors and directors that have ever been in a Marvel film was going to be in that class photo . I asked my son if he wanted to come and meet Ant Man , or Captain America . Funnily enough he said no ! He ’ d rather spend the day at the aquarium . One day he may regret that decision ,” she laughs . “ He loves that I work at Marvel and I think he will be mad at me the mostif I ever leave . Let ’ s just say , for my son , it ’ s mandatory that I keep working there .” ●

- Keri Zamora , MB

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