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‘Mother’ Mela bravely confesses her TOTGA story and dating history

Article (news)

Liezel Dela Cruz

Many have admired Mela Habijan for her hosting in the queer dating show &quot;Sparks Camp&quot; from the first to the recently concluded third season, where she dishes out solid real talk and heartfelt advice about love with the campers. With her intelligence and rich life experiences, she seems like that type you’d instantly trust when it comes to navigating the messy, thrilling, and sometimes confusing world of dating. In a fun challenge called “Lowering Expectations” on Kapamilya Chat, Mela had to go through a series of dating-related questions—except there was a twist. If she chose not to answer, the limbo stick would drop lower, and she would have to bend her way under it. <div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABgXPr4T9fzEBM1X"></script></div>Thanks to the challenge, we learned that she isn’t the type to fall for just a pretty face—what she’s really after are great conversations. She recalled a time when she dated a hot model, but the connection didn’t last because of their opposing political views. That’s why she puts intelligence and depth high on her list, and with that, her ideal date could be as simple as a chat over dinner, a walk in the park, or lounging on her apartment couch as long as the conversation flows. She’s also crystal clear about her non-negotiables. Besides the ability to hold a great conversation, her future partner must also be supportive of her advocacies for the LGBTQIA+ community. On a lighter note, she confessed she has a soft spot for people with nice teeth because she loves people who smile a lot. “If you smile at me, it changes my energy,” she shared. “Kasi isa sa mga motto ko in life, if you smile at the world, the world smiles back at you.” When asked about her ultimate celebrity crush, Mela mentioned that it used to be Chris Evans, but with his marriage taking him off the market, she’s now found herself drawn to Pedro Pascal. Still, Evans stays on her list, which also includes British actor Jonathan Bailey. The question had her so giddy that she faced the camera and sent out a cheeky message to Pascal: “If you are watching right now, I am manifesting to the world—when we meet, I will marry you on the spot.” From Pascal to Pascual, she divulged that Piolo Pascual is her local celebrity crush. Jokingly, Mela also left a message for the hunk actor saying that while she knows he’s far richer than she is, she’s rich in life experiences, and that what she can promise him instead are great conversations. The reason she’s more attracted to foreigners is because of their straightforwardness, which she relates to since that’s very much her personality as well. She recalled a funny experience during her time in Madrid, where she took her master’s degree, when a 22-year-old guy asked her out. Surprised, she could only respond, “Do you know I’m 38?” While she usually prefers older men, she still gave that younger admirer, who actually resembled Piolo, a chance because of his boldness to ask her out. It turned into a cute date, but Mela knew that dating younger men just wasn’t for her. &quot;Sparks Camp&quot;&#x27;s Mother Sparker has never been in a relationship, but if there is one mistake in love she openly regrets, it would be not telling the person she liked how she truly felt. From that experience, she realized that what weighs heavier than being directly rejected with a “no” is living with the uncertainty of endless what-ifs. “Maybe it was bound to happen so I can learn that if I like someone, I will tell that person, ‘Hey, I like you.’ Even if he doesn’t like me back, that’s okay,” she mused. Another interesting detail about her dating history is that she has never gone out with a local celebrity, though she once dated an international supermodel. To close the challenge, Mela was dared to share her greatest TOTGA story, prompting her to name theater actor Gio Gahol, her college batchmate. “For four years, I loved him,” she confessed. “Minahal ko siya nang buong puso at kaluluwa, down to my stomach.” They once performed together in a theater production where Gio was the lead, while she played the role of a parrot. The final scene required her to whisper something into his ear, and on the last show, she gathered her courage and whispered, “Mahal kita.” From that moment on, she admitted, things between them turned awkward. Check out the video because Mother Mela&#x27;s dating story is one you’ll definitely want to hear! Can’t get enough of the &quot;Sparks Camp&quot; kilig? You can binge-watch it all over again on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/abscbnentertainment">ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel</a>. And mark your calendars because the campers’ reunion episode drops this Wednesday, September 10!

Never been in a relationship but full of love lessons, “Sparks Camp” host Mela Habijan opens up about regrets, crushes, and her unforgettable TOTGA.

Never been in a relationship but full of love lessons, “Sparks Camp” host Mela Habijan opens up about regrets, crushes, and her unforgettable TOTGA.