Dannyka Manangan

AJ Raval recalls fear and shock upon discovering she was pregnant at 17: ‘Takot na takot ako’

Article (news)

Alyana De Guzman

Push Team

<p>Actress AJ Raval revisited one of the most difficult yet rewarding chapters of her life as she opened up about becoming pregnant with her first child, Ariana, at the age of 17. </p><p>Ariana is AJ’s firstborn daughter with her previous partner.  </p><p>During her interview on <em>Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,</em> AJ admitted that becoming a mom at 17 years old was unplanned. The actress shared how unexpected the pregnancy was and how fear immediately consumed her after learning she was about to become a mother at a young age. </p><p>“That time, takot na takot ako nung nakita ko yung pregnancy test. Nasa isang supermarket ako nito [nung nakita ko]. Takot na takot ako. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko io-open up sa magulang ko. Siyempre, bilang isang bata na nabuntis nang maaga, nandoon yung ‘Paano yung pangarap ko? Paano yung buhay ko? Paano yung future ko?’” </p><div><br/></div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DSK5VHikohN/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DSK5VHikohN/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DSK5VHikohN/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Aj Raval (@ajravsss)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>According to AJ, her mother reacted quietly and emotionally upon learning about her pregnancy, while her father, action star Jeric Raval, sensed what she was going through even before she could openly admit it to him. </p><p>“Ang nanay ko, reaction ng isang nanay na alam mo yun, tahimik lang, umiyak lang. Pero ang tatay ko naman, Tito Boy, hindi ko sinabi sa kaniya. Wala akong inamin. Basta nakikita niya lang ako. Pero makikita mo sa kaniya yung malungkot siya para sa amin,” she said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/12/14/aj-raval-looks-back-on-becoming-a-mom-at-17-years-old-i-gave-birth-in-a-lying-in-clinic-1053"><strong>READ: AJ Raval looks back on becoming a mom at 17 years old: ‘I gave birth in a lying-in clinic’</strong></a></div><p>Looking back, AJ admitted that her first pregnancy became one of the most challenging experiences of her life, especially while trying to pursue her dreams in show business. </p><p>“Siguro po makaka-relate po sa akin lahat ng mga mama dito kapag first baby, pinaka-difficult po. That time, yun po yung time na nagwo-workshop po ako sa artist center. I got pregnant. Then bigla na lang po akong hindi uma-attend sa mga workshop.” </p><p>AJ admitted that everything about her pregnancy was hidden back then. But as the years passed, she slowly learned to embrace and understand her journey more deeply, especially now that she has become more open about her story. </p><p>“Siyempre kapag po nanganak ka na...mahirap, lahat ng paghihirap nandoon. Pero at the same time, once na nakita mo na yung anak mo, nandoon na yung lahat ng love. Mahal mo na agad [siya].” </p><div><br/></div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYJw4e8CfJO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYJw4e8CfJO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYJw4e8CfJO/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Aj Raval (@ajravsss)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>“Nagtatanong ako sa sarili ko, ‘Paano na yung pangarap ko? Paano yung baby?’ And then naisip ko po na ito na po yung buhay ko, ito na po yung plano for me. Ie-embrace ko na lang po yung nangyari,” she added.  </p><p>Eventually, AJ realized that becoming a mother did not mean giving up on her aspirations, but instead pursuing them alongside her child. </p><p>“Naisip ko rin po na never stop chasing your dreams. You chase your dream with your child.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/1/30/aj-raval-shares-how-faith-carried-her-through-the-premature-birth-of-her-son-aljur-jr-2157"><strong>READ: AJ Raval shares how faith carried her through the premature birth of her son Aljur Jr.</strong></a></div><p>After giving birth, AJ said life became even more difficult financially and emotionally as she struggled to provide for her daughter. She said that while her former partner was hardworking and kind, they were both still young. After their separation, AJ and Ariana lived together in a small apartment, while the mother of her former partner also helped take care of her daughter. </p><p>Despite the hardships, AJ recalled doing different jobs just to make ends meet and support Ariana. </p><p>“Masaya po kami ni Ariana, okay naman po. Kung ano-ano pong ginawa ko. Nagtrabaho po ako, hindi po alam ng parents ko pero na-kwento ko naman na po [sa kanila]. Nag-networking po ako before ng mga sabon. Fun experience naman po siya, natuto po talaga ako.” </p><div><br/></div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVC2G-sElOs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style="background:#FFF;border:0;border-radius:3px;box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15);margin:1px;max-width:540px;min-width:326px;padding:0;width:calc(100% - 2px)"><div style="padding:16px"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVC2G-sElOs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="background:#FFFFFF;line-height:0;padding:0 0;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;width:100%" target="_blank"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;align-items:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:40px;margin-right:14px;width:40px"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:100px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:60px"><br/></div></div></div><div style="padding:19% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:block;height:50px;margin:0 auto 12px;width:50px"><br/></div><div style="padding-top:8px"><div style="color:#3897f0;line-height:18px">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding:12.5% 0"><br/></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;margin-bottom:14px;align-items:center"><div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(0px) translateY(7px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;height:12.5px;transform:rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px);width:12.5px;flex-grow:0;margin-right:14px;margin-left:2px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;height:12.5px;width:12.5px;transform:translateX(9px) translateY(-18px)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:8px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:50%;flex-grow:0;height:20px;width:20px"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:2px solid transparent;border-left:6px solid #f4f4f4;border-bottom:2px solid transparent;transform:translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"><br/></div></div><div style="margin-left:auto"><div style="width:0px;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-right:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(16px)"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;flex-grow:0;height:12px;width:16px;transform:translateY(-4px)"><br/></div><div style="width:0;height:0;border-top:8px solid #F4F4F4;border-left:8px solid transparent;transform:translateY(-4px) translateX(8px)"><br/></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;flex-grow:1;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:24px"><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;margin-bottom:6px;width:224px"><br/></div><div style="background-color:#F4F4F4;border-radius:4px;flex-grow:0;height:14px;width:144px"><br/></div></div></a><div style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:8px;overflow:hidden;padding:8px 0 7px;text-align:center;text-overflow:ellipsis;white-space:nowrap"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVC2G-sElOs/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style="color:#c9c8cd;line-height:17px;text-decoration:none" target="_blank">A post shared by Aj Raval (@ajravsss)</a></div></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>The actress said the experience taught her gratitude and appreciation for even the simplest blessings they had during those difficult years. </p><p>The interview later turned emotional as AJ opened up about the heartbreaking loss of her second baby, Aaron. </p><p>“Sobrang sakit. Bilang isang ina, napakasakit. Parang wala pong tamang word kung paano i-describe yung nararamdaman ko noon. Pero hindi po siya nawala sa isip ko, ever since.” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/1/9/aj-raval-shares-lighthearted-take-on-10-year-age-gap-with-aljur-abrenica-1813"><strong>READ: AJ Raval shares lighthearted take on 10-year age gap with Aljur Abrenica</strong></a></div><p>Fighting back tears, AJ shared her message for her late son, saying that Aaron continues to live in their hearts despite the short time they had with him. </p><p>“Mahal na mahal ko siya. Hindi siya nawala sa isip namin, sa puso [namin] kahit sandaling panahon lang namin siya nakasama. Pagdating ng araw, Tito Boy, magkikita rin kami.” </p><p>Apart from Ariana and Aaron, AJ now has three more children with actor Aljur Abrenica: Alkina, Aljur Junior, and Abraham.</p>

<p>Actress AJ Raval turns emotional as she looks back on her first pregnancy with daughter Ariana, opening up about fear, uncertainty, motherhood, and the painful loss of her second baby during her conversation with Boy Abunda.</p>

Actress AJ Raval turns emotional as she looks back on her first pregnancy with daughter Ariana, opening up about fear, uncertainty, motherhood, and the painful loss of her second baby during her conversation with Boy Abunda.