Arzen Rose Dulzura

AJ Raval looks back on becoming a mom at 17 years old: ‘I gave birth in a lying-in clinic’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>After officially confirming to the public that she has five children, three with current partner Aljur Abrenica, AJ Raval continues to become more open about her celebrity mom status, as seen in her latest social media post. The sexy actress revealed her personal life in an interview with King of Talk Boy Abunda last month. Last December 12, AJ shared a touching tribute for her her eldest daughter Ariane Eliz’s eighth birthday, along with photos of her and her daughter growing up. </p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765680679317SnapInsta.to_591165835_18526491946071757_5902958293490304633_n.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px;display:block" width="500"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765680696517SnapInsta.to_591152515_18526492129071757_3464099036096760596_n.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="500"/><span class="fr-inner">ajravsss / Instagram</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/11/12/aj-raval-confirms-having-children-with-aljur-abrenica-1742"><strong><u>READ: AJ Raval confirms having children with Aljur Abrenica</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>In her Instagram post, AJ wrote about her days as a first time mom and single parent, “There were days I looked at us and thought ’How are we going to make it?‘ I was 17, scared, broke, and trying to figure out how to be a mom when I still felt like a kid myself. Sometimes it honestly felt like a child raising a child. We argued, we cried, we struggled, and there were moments when life felt too heavy for both of us.”</p><p>“We had no money. No stable income. No home of our own. Just two girls trying to survive in a world that wasn’t built to make it easy for us,” she continued. “We were so broke that we ended up living in a tiny 5,000 peso apartment barely enough space, barely enough anything. I gave birth in a Lying-in Clinic. And there were nights I wished I could run to my parents, crawl back into that safety I used to have. But I didn’t want to be a burden. I didn’t want to feel like I was failing or asking for too much. So I held it all in.”</p><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765680587016SnapInsta.to_587179021_18526491961071757_2285229705444806467_n.jpg" style="width:500px;display:block" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765680604260SnapInsta.to_591171479_18526491973071757_5206332981093758049_n.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">ajravsss / Instagram</span></span></span></div><p>Despite facing early challenges in life and having to raise a child on her own, AJ proudly looked back on how her daughter inspired her to work hard for a better life for the two of them. </p><p>“But we did it. We kept going even when it felt impossible. You were small, but you saved me in big ways. Your tiny hands and loud little voice reminded me that I had something worth fighting for. You’re a blessing I never knew I needed, but the greatest one I ever received,” wrote AJ. “Every challenge we faced made us stronger. Every night we went to sleep unsure of tomorrow, we still woke up and tried again. We didn’t have much, but we had each other and that was enough to carry us this far.”</p><p>“And now here you are… 8 years old. Smart. Strong. Funny. Wild. Beautiful. You’re everything I dreamed you’d be and more,” she said to her daughter. </p><p>”When I look at you, I don’t just see my daughter. I see my survival. I see my growth. I see the reason I learned how to fight, love, and rebuild my life,” she went on. </p><p>“Happy birthday to the girl who turned my struggle into strength. We made it through the hardest parts, and I promise the rest of your story will be filled with warmth, love, and a home built from everything we’ve survived. 💕✨”</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765680430078SnapInsta.to_590917768_18526491994071757_672582538329731519_n.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765680445977SnapInsta.to_591171360_18526491982071757_1342848194627095177_n.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765680458736SnapInsta.to_591159919_18526492021071757_8677159389016540688_n.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765680482657SnapInsta.to_591159973_18526492033071757_4782501600619063207_n.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:500px;display:block" width="500"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765680495469SnapInsta.to_591163179_18526492012071757_6898123979269564112_n.jpg" style="width:500px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="500"/><span class="fr-inner">ajravsss / Instagram</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/11/13/aj-raval-on-third-party-allegations-about-her-napagbintangan-lang-ako-1822"><strong><u>READ: AJ Raval on third party allegations about her: ‘Napagbintangan lang ako’</u></strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Last month, AJ shared in her interview with Boy Abunda how happy she was to be open about her five children as well as her relationship with Aljur Abrenica, putting to rest the persistent rumors that she was the cause of his breakup with actress Kylie Padilla. “Masakit yun para sa akin. Parang tinatanong ko yung sarili ko na bakit ako yung nagsusuffer sa kasalanan na hindi ko naman ginawa? Paulit-ulit,” she recalled. </p><p>In the same interview, AJ also shared her excitement for the holiday season this year, after her revelations to the public. “Actually, sobrang excited ko ngayon parang may mga plans na ako lalo na ngayon mag Christmas, maraming park. Kinalakihan ko kasi yun–– lagi kaming dinadala sa park nung bata. Gusto ko yun ipa-experience sa mga kids.”</p>

<p>Actress and mother of five, AJ Raval celebrates her eldest daughter Ariane Eliz with a heartfelt look into their humble beginnings as a first time parent and teenage mom.</p>

Actress and mother of five, AJ Raval celebrates her eldest daughter Ariane Eliz with a heartfelt look into their humble beginnings as a first time parent and teenage mom.