Cathy Sanchez Babao

Grief Coach at Parting Stone • Author • Columnist • Grief Educator & Counselor • Communications Professional

Cathy S. Babao is Parting Stone’s Grief Coach, bringing decades of experience as a grief educator, counselor, author, and columnist. She writes the widely read “Roots and Wings” column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and is the author of Heaven’s Butterfly and Between Loss and Forever: Filipina Mothers on the Grief Journey. Cathy’s personal advocacy began after the loss of her young son, which led her to establish Migi’s Corner, a project creating reading and play spaces in public hospitals for children.

Cathy holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Management from Ateneo de Manila University and a M.A. in Family Psychology and Education from Miriam College. She has also trained at the Center for Loss & Life Transition under Dr. Alan Wolfelt and at the Center for Prolonged Grief at Columbia University, deepening her expertise in evidence-based grief support. At Parting Stone, she combines her professional knowledge and lived experience to guide families in transforming loss into meaning, memory, and lasting connection.

Professional Profile & Expertise

• Cathy S. Babao serves as the Grief Coach at Parting Stone, where she applies her experience and compassion to guide individuals through profound loss and mourning.
• A highly respected grief educator and counselor, Cathy writes the weekly “Roots and Wings” column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, offering solace, insight, and hope to readers navigating grief and loss.
• Her authorship includes:
  • Heaven’s Butterfly — a children’s book on grief.
  • Between Loss and Forever: Filipina Mothers on the Grief Journey — based on her MA thesis and a finalist for the 2011 National Book Awards.

Videos

Personal Journey & Grief-Informed Mission

• The sudden loss of her son Migi (age 4) from a heart ailment was a pivotal moment that shaped her calling. She transformed that personal tragedy into momentum for helping others—founding Migi’s Corner, which places reading and play spaces in children’s wards of public hospitals
• Her healing journey highlights key coping strategies: connecting with other bereaved parents, creating rituals of mourning, journaling, and turning to faith and writing—approaches she often shares in talks and workshops.

Communications & Leadership Background

• Cathy has a robust career in corporate communications, including roles at:
  • Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) (2015–2016)
  • Johnson & Johnson Asia Pacific (2014), where she received several awards, including a Diversity Leadership Award and a James Burke Award
  • GlaxoSmithKline (2013–2014), where she earned a special citation for leadership during relief efforts after Typhoon Yolanda
• She also served on the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) from 2011 to 2013
• Cathy earned her B.S. in Business Management from Ateneo de Manila University in 1986, and an M.A. in Family Psychology and Education from Miriam College in 2012

Education & Training

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Administration and Management, Ateneo de Manila University
• Master of Arts (M.A.) in Family Psychology and Education, Miriam College
• Trained at the Center for Loss & Life Transition under Dr. Alan Wolfelt (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Trained at the Center for Prolonged Grief, Columbia University (New York)

Creative & Community Outreach

• Beyond her healing work, Cathy embraces art as personal therapy and creative expression. In 2019, she launched a pastel painting exhibit titled “Road to 55”, featuring soft florals and seascapes—what she describes as a “visual hug” and a form of uplifting therapy.

Advocacy & Living Example

• Cathy courageously spoke publicly about her mother, veteran actress Caridad Sanchez, and her battle with dementia (diagnosed circa late 2015). She framed it as anticipatory grief, calling it “a long goodbye,” and using her platform to reduce stigma and encourage awareness of dementia.
• In deeply moving family moments, she shared how her mother, amid dementia, still called her “love.” Cathy interpreted this as a tender reminder: “the mind may malfunction—but never the heart.”

Summary of Notable Accomplishments

Final Thoughts

Cathy S. Babao combines professional rigor with heartfelt empathy. Her journey—marked by poignant personal loss, creative renewal, and public advocacy—makes her an especially authentic and credible guide in grief coaching. As Grief Coach at Parting Stone, she brings insight, resilience, and warmth to her role, helping others discover purpose and healing beyond their sorrow.