AJ Raval celebrates daughter's 8th birthday with emotional reflection on early struggles

AJ Raval marked the eighth birthday of her daughter, Ariana, with an emotional social media post reflecting on their journey as mother and child, from hardship to growth.

On Instagram, the actress shared photos of her and the little girl throughout the years.

In her message, AJ looked back on becoming a mother at 17, sharing how she struggled with fear, financial instability, and the challenge of raising a child while still feeling like one herself.

“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 wrote.

AJ said she gave birth in a lying-in clinic, and she was “so broke” that she ended up living in a small apartment, getting by with very little.

“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,” she said.

She credited her daughter for giving her purpose during moments when life felt overwhelming, calling Ariana the reason she learned how to fight, love, and rebuild her life.

“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,” AJ said.

“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.”

Now eight years old, AJ described her daughter as smart, strong, funny, wild, and beautiful, saying she represents not only her child but also her survival and personal growth.

“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,” she said.

AJ first revealed last month that she has five kids now. Ariana’s father is from a “very private” family.

Her three youngest children are with Aljur Abrenica.

AJ and Aljur’s love story began in 2022 after they worked together on the film "Nerisa." They made their relationship public on Valentine’s Day 2023.

Aljur was previously married to Kylie Padilla.

After AJ finally confirmed her children with Aljur, Kylie expressed support for her fellow mom and said that their kids have good sibling relationships.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Aj Raval (@ajravsss)

—Carby Rose Basina/JCB, GMA Integrated News