Jan Angelo Batongbakal

Ana Roces celebrates daughter’s college graduation: 'Today, all of your hard work has paid off'

Article (news)

Nikka Avegail Sabio

Push Team

<p>Actress Ana Roces is one proud mom after her daughter, Mela, graduated Cum Laude from the University of Santo Tomas.</p><p>On her Instagram page, Ana celebrated the milestone with a heartfelt message, reflecting on her daughter&#x27;s journey from childhood to college graduation.</p><p>“There are not enough words to describe the joy in my heart or how proud I am of this moment. The little girl I used to bring to school and eagerly wait for at dismissal has now graduated from college,” Ana said.</p><div> </div><div><strong></strong></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-11" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaPJsfrGsqj/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=432&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A11%2C%22os%22%3A6072681.800000012%2C%22ls%22%3A651430.8000000119%2C%22le%22%3A651433.6999999881%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="858" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-11" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><div><strong> </strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></div><p><strong></strong>She went on: “The journey wasn’t easy. There were many sleepless nights spent studying and missing out on events of family and friends. But your determination, discipline, and diligence prevailed.”</p><div><br/></div><p>Expressing her pride, Ana congratulated her daughter for graduating with honors, saying:</p><div><br/></div><p>“Today, all of your hard work has paid off, and you have earned the honor of graduating Cum Laude. Congratulations my dearest Mela. I am beyond proud 💛💙 @mela_montenegro.”</p><div><br/></div><p>Celebrity friends also extended their congratulatory messages to the family in the comments section.</p><div><br/></div><p>“Wow! 😊 Congrats to Mela, and to you, your husband and the whole family, Ela @ana_roces ! 💓💓💓,” actress Manilyn Reynes said.</p><div><br/></div><p>Actress G Tongi also said, “What a milestone Ana! I have 2 and 4 years to go before my babes graduate!”</p><div><br/></div><p>Ruffa Gutierrez also wrote, “Proud tita!! 😍😍 congratulations!!🎉”<strong></strong></p><div><strong> </strong></div><div><strong><strong></strong></strong></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-13" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DaPF0_-qBzT/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=432&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A13%2C%22os%22%3A6119949%2C%22ls%22%3A651430.8000000119%2C%22le%22%3A651433.6999999881%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-13" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><div><strong><strong> </strong></strong></div><p><strong><strong></strong></strong>Mela is Ana’s daughter with ex-partner Greg Montenegro. She is now married to corporate lawyer Trandy Baterina with whom she shares a son named Mateo. Mateo also completed Junior High School this year.</p><div><br/></div><p>“Congratulations Mateo on completing Junior High School with flying colors! We are so proud of you. Continue to aim for excellence and to be a man for others💙</p><p>Subject Excellence Award, Mathematics</p><p>St. Robert Bellarmine Award for Academic Excellence</p><p>AJHS Batch 2026,” she wrote in another post.<strong><strong></strong></strong></p><div><strong><strong> </strong></strong></div><div><strong><strong><strong></strong></strong></strong></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-15" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DYWhfgoGtGM/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=432&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A15%2C%22os%22%3A6146537.199999988%2C%22ls%22%3A651430.8000000119%2C%22le%22%3A651433.6999999881%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="924" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-15" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><div><strong><strong></strong></strong><strong><strong><strong><br/></strong></strong></strong></div><div><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></strong></div><p><strong><strong></strong></strong>Ana was part of films such as <em>Sunny</em> (2024) and <em>Pakboys Takusa</em> (2020).</p><p>In a previous interview with<strong><strong> <strong></strong></strong></strong><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><strong><strong>PUSH ABS-CBN</strong></strong></strong></a><strong><strong><strong></strong></strong></strong>, Ana reacted to how she was described as a “vampire” in the showbiz industry with her timeless beauty.</p><div> <strong><strong></strong></strong></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/2020/1/30/fresh-scoops/ana-roces-reveals-secrets-of-being-a-vampire-13972" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><strong><strong>READ: EXCLUSIVE: Ana Roces reveals secrets of being a ‘vampire’</strong></strong></strong><br/></a></div><div><strong><strong><strong> </strong></strong></strong></div><p><strong><strong></strong></strong>“Of course, nakakakilig naman na… siyempre,I would take that as a compliment, di ba, so nakakakilig naman but of course I don’t feel like a ‘vampire’ every day,” Ana said. “Kasi siyempre, parang when you have kids, hindi mo naman naiisip yon all the time, kasi you prioritize them more than yourself. di ba? I don’t really… something na lagi kong iniisip, but now nga that I’m in my 40s, mas nag-effort ako to take care of my skin talaga than in my younger years.”<strong><strong></strong></strong><strong></strong><br/></p>