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Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic changed lives across the world in ways no one expected. Families faced uncertainty, children experienced emotional challenges, and parents searched for ways to provide comfort and reassurance. For Mona Liza Santos, what began as a mother’s heartfelt desire to support and guide her son during difficult times eventually transformed into a larger mission—one focused on empowering children, strengthening families, and building stronger communities through storytelling and emotional connection.
Today, Mona Liza Santos is recognized as an award-winning children’s author, publisher, advocate, and founder of World Love Press. However, her journey was never solely about publishing books; it evolved into a mission dedicated to creating meaningful change and helping future generations grow with confidence, empathy, and emotional understanding.
The Beginning of a Meaningful Journey
During the pandemic, Mona found herself reflecting deeply on the world around her and the emotional experiences children were facing. Like many parents, she wanted her son to understand values that would guide him throughout life—kindness, resilience, confidence, belonging, empathy, and emotional strength.
Initially, these thoughts became simple words written from the heart. Over time, those words transformed into stories designed not only for her son but for children everywhere. Mona realized that many young readers were struggling with similar emotions and challenges, creating a greater need for stories that could help children better understand themselves and the world around them.
What started as a personal project soon became a growing collection of children’s literature with a meaningful purpose.
Creating Stories That Inspire and Empower
Today, Mona Liza Santos has published more than forty children’s books, each designed to encourage meaningful conversations between children, parents, educators, and communities.
Her books focus on important themes such as:
- Kindness and empathy
- Emotional literacy
- Confidence and self-worth
- Cultural identity
- Belonging and inclusion
- Emotional resilience
- Personal growth
Through her writing, Mona aims to ensure that every child feels seen, valued, and understood.
Among her most recognized works is Mama, I Love You, an award-winning children’s book that has touched many families through its heartfelt message celebrating love, appreciation, and the unique relationship between parents and children.
In 2026, she also introduced The Filipino in Me, her first book dedicated to celebrating Filipino culture, traditions, and identity. The book holds personal significance for Mona because it allowed her to share her heritage while encouraging children to take pride in their roots and personal stories.
Moving Beyond Books
As Mona’s work expanded, she began recognizing that the messages within her books extended beyond children. During interactions with parents, educators, and communities, she observed a common need for stronger human connection, understanding, kindness, and belonging.
This realization inspired her to broaden her mission beyond storytelling and create initiatives capable of impacting people of all ages.
Mona strongly believes that stories possess the power to accomplish much more than entertainment. Stories can help children and adults understand emotions, build empathy, strengthen confidence, and create a sense of belonging.
Creating National Observances for Social Impact
Driven by her growing vision, Mona established two annual observances designed to promote positive values and meaningful conversations.
National Intentional Kindness Day
Observed annually on August 24, National Intentional Kindness Day encourages individuals to practice kindness through intentional actions, thoughtful words, empathy, patience, and everyday interactions.
The purpose of this observance is to remind people that kindness should not be accidental; instead, it should become a conscious daily choice.
Heritage & Heart Day
Celebrated every year on October 15, Heritage & Heart Day encourages people to embrace their cultural roots, learn family stories, celebrate heritage, and appreciate diverse experiences that shape communities.
This initiative emphasizes the importance of understanding and valuing different cultures while strengthening human connection.
Both initiatives received official support through a proclamation from Mayor Ron Morrison and the City of National City, California.
To make participation easier, Mona also created educational toolkits, informational videos, and free resources for schools, workplaces, families, libraries, and community organizations.
Recognition and Global Impact
Mona’s dedication and growing influence have received international recognition.
In 2026, she received:
- TITAN Women in Business Gold Award
- CREA Global Award presented by Brainz Magazine
These honors recognized her contributions to:
- Children’s literature
- Emotional literacy advocacy
- Community development
- Positive social impact
Additionally, she was featured by CIO Think Magazine as one of the Iconic Female Leaders of 2026, recognizing both her achievements as an entrepreneur and her commitment to creating change through education and storytelling.
A Global Perspective Through Travel
Another important aspect of Mona’s journey is her extensive travel experience. Having visited nearly eighty countries, she has gained valuable insights into different cultures and societies.
These experiences strengthened her belief that despite differences in language, culture, and geography, people around the world share similar emotions, hopes, and human experiences.
Her travels continue to shape her work and deepen her understanding of connection and belonging.
The Core Philosophy Behind Her Mission
At the center of everything Mona Liza Santos creates is a simple yet powerful belief:
“Every child deserves to feel seen, valued, understood, and loved.”
Whether through books, educational resources, observances, articles, or community initiatives, Mona remains dedicated to helping individuals feel less isolated and more connected with others.
Conclusion
Mona Liza Santos’ journey demonstrates how one personal desire—to comfort a child during uncertain times—can evolve into a movement that positively impacts countless lives.
Her mission extends beyond writing stories. Through advocacy, education, cultural awareness, and emotional literacy, she is helping build a world where kindness, empathy, and human connection remain essential values.
For Mona Liza Santos, success has never simply been about creating books; it has always been about building a kinder, more compassionate, and emotionally connected future for generations to come.
