Valerie Concepcion opens up about feeling she was ‘not enough’ for her daughter

Stephanie Rose Manhit

<p>&ldquo;Teenager pa lang ako, ang dami ko nang pinagdaanan,&rdquo; recalled actress Valerie Concepcion in her interview with Boy Abunda last May 19, 2023. &ldquo;I had to mature right away na hindi ko na-enjoy pagiging teenager ko. I mean, I was able to but I didn&#39;t fully enjoy pagiging teenager ko.&rdquo;</p><p>Valerie was only 16 years old when she got pregnant with her daughter, Heather Fiona. At that time, she was just starting out in showbiz, and was suddenly thrust into a role that demanded she grow up way ahead of her years. Yet, she accepted the role and did everything for her &ldquo;greatest blessing and most precious treasure&rdquo;.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ck0ZnTxLDv9/?utm_source=ig_embed&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:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ck0ZnTxLDv9/?utm_source=ig_embed&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><p 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/Ck0ZnTxLDv9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Valerie Concepcion 🇵🇭🇬🇺 (@v_concepcion)</a></p></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>She admitted that it wasn&rsquo;t easy having to raise a child especially when she was so young herself. Added to that was the fact that she had to do it be herself, without help from Jeremy Carag, her child&rsquo;s biological father.</p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve sacrificed so much for her. I had to make sure na hindi ko na-prioritize ang pagiging teenager ko,&rdquo; said Valerie. &ldquo;Tina-try ko so hard to a mom and dad to her.&rdquo;</p><p>At one point, Heather started looking for her dad. Valerie admitted that it was a painful moment for her as she questioned herself as a parent.</p><p>&ldquo;It pained me noong hinanap niya kasi feeling ko nun, hindi ako enough,&rdquo; she shared. &ldquo;Kumbaga, hindi ko naibigay yung lahat. Hinanap pa niya yung tatay niya.&rdquo;</p><p>Once she took a moment to see it from her daughter&rsquo;s perspective, she realized that it didn&rsquo;t mean she was a bad mother; her daughter simply wanted to know more.</p><p>&ldquo;Na-realize ko rin na it doesn&rsquo;t make her love me less because she looked for her father. She just really wants to know where she came from, her roots, and her full story,&rdquo; she explained. &ldquo;Now I understand.&rdquo;</p><p>Valerie even tried to reach out to Heather&rsquo;s biological dad in the hopes that he could reconnect with Heather.</p><p>&ldquo;We tried. We tried,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I tried telling him, &lsquo;Our daughter is ready to meet you. She told me she&rsquo;s ready to meet you.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p><p>Unfortunately, she didn&rsquo;t get any response. Nevertheless, she would often remind Heather not to bear grudges.</p><p>&ldquo;I always tell her, &lsquo;Don&rsquo;t be mad at your dad,&rsquo;&rdquo; said Valerie. &ldquo;&rsquo;No matter what happens, bali-baliktarin mo man ang mundo, tatay mo yan. You have to respect him.&rdquo;</p><p>Of course, she could also understand how Heather could feel hurt with the lack of response.</p><p>&ldquo;Pero kasi, hindi mo masisisi na hindi mawawala sa bata na nasaktan siya sa mga nangyari at na-disappoint siya,&rdquo; explained Valerie.</p><p>Valerie admitted that she always wished that she was able to provide Heather with a different family set up.</p><p>&ldquo;Siguro ang isu-sorry ko is yung hindi ko nabigay sa kanya yung normal na family dapat,&rdquo; she shared.</p><p>Heather is now 18 years old and is taking up Nursing at the Far Eastern University in Manila. She lives independently in a condo near her school.</p><p>When Heather turned 18, Valerie penned a heartwarming message for her eldest.</p><p>&ldquo;I don&#39;t know what I did to deserve such a kind, sweet and loving daughter,&rdquo; Valerie began. &ldquo;You have a beautiful soul and I wish people can see you for the beautiful person that you are. I hope you know how much I love you and how proud I am of you.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;I am so grateful because I&#39;m lucky and blessed to have you as my daughter and to be your mom,&rdquo; she added. &ldquo;ILYSM!&rdquo;</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cknm6pkP65E/?utm_source=ig_embed&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:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cknm6pkP65E/?utm_source=ig_embed&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><p 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/Cknm6pkP65E/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Valerie Concepcion 🇵🇭🇬🇺 (@v_concepcion)</a></p></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>As a single mom, Valerie hoped to someday find a husband who would also be a father to her child.</p><p>&quot;I really wanted to get married. I think I&#39;m so in love with the idea of being in love, and having a kid at a very young age, of course you want someone to be there for your child,&rdquo; Valerie shared, revealing that she had been wanting to get married since she was 23 years old.</p><p>&ldquo;Being a single mom, I want someone for my daughter,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I want my daughter to have a father figure. I wanted someone to be a father to her kasi wala yung tatay niya.&rdquo;</p><p>She eventually found her life partner in now-husband Francis Sunga, whom she married in 2019. She recently shared the good news that she is now pregnant and expecting an addition to their family soon.</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsKxqGnP11D/?utm_source=ig_embed&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:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsKxqGnP11D/?utm_source=ig_embed&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><p 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/CsKxqGnP11D/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Valerie Concepcion 🇵🇭🇬🇺 (@v_concepcion)</a></p></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Looking back, she had this to say to her younger self: &ldquo;Girl, you&#39;ve got this. Kahit ano pa ang pagdaanan mo, as long as you have your family, you&#39;ve got this.&rdquo;</p><p>While it hasn&rsquo;t been a smooth road, Valerie is still filled with gratitude.</p><p>&ldquo;To be where I am right now &mdash; I&#39;m so happy with my life,&rdquo; she said emotionally. &ldquo;I feel so contented. I feel so grateful.&quot;</p>

</div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>She admitted that it wasn&rsquo;t easy having to raise a child especially when she was so young herself. Added to that was the fact that she had to do it be herself, without help from Jeremy Carag, her child&rsquo;s biological father.<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve sacrificed so much for her. I had to make sure na hindi ko na-prioritize ang pagiging teenager ko,&rdquo; said Valerie. &ldquo;Tina-try ko so hard to a mom and dad to her.&rdquo;<p>At one point, Heather started looking for her dad. Valerie admitted that it was a painful moment for her as she questioned herself as a parent.<p>&ldquo;It pained me noong hinanap niya kasi feeling ko nun, hindi ako enough,&rdquo; she shared. &ldquo;Kumbaga, hindi ko naibigay yung lahat. Hinanap pa niya yung tatay niya.&rdquo;<p>Once she took a moment to see it from her daughter&rsquo;s perspective, she realized that it didn&rsquo;t mean she was a bad mother; her daughter simply wanted to know more.<p>&ldquo;Na-realize ko rin na it doesn&rsquo;t make her love me less because she looked for her father. She just really wants to know where she came from, her roots, and her full story,&rdquo; she explained. &ldquo;Now I understand.&rdquo;<p>Valerie even tried to reach out to Heather&rsquo;s biological dad in the hopes that he could reconnect with Heather.<p>&ldquo;We tried. We tried,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I tried telling him, &lsquo;Our daughter is ready to meet you. She told me she&rsquo;s ready to meet you.&rsquo;&rdquo;<p>Unfortunately, she didn&rsquo;t get any response. Nevertheless, she would often remind Heather not to bear grudges.<p>&ldquo;I always tell her, &lsquo;Don&rsquo;t be mad at your dad,&rsquo;&rdquo; said Valerie. &ldquo;&rsquo;No matter what happens, bali-baliktarin mo man ang mundo, tatay mo yan. You have to respect him.&rdquo;<p>Of course, she could also understand how Heather could feel hurt with the lack of response.<p>&ldquo;Pero kasi, hindi mo masisisi na hindi mawawala sa bata na nasaktan siya sa mga nangyari at na-disappoint siya,&rdquo; explained Valerie.<p>Valerie admitted that she always wished that she was able to provide Heather with a different family set up.<p>&ldquo;Siguro ang isu-sorry ko is yung hindi ko nabigay sa kanya yung normal na family dapat,&rdquo; she shared.<p>Heather is now 18 years old and is taking up Nursing at the Far Eastern University in Manila. She lives independently in a condo near her school.<p>When Heather turned 18, Valerie penned a heartwarming message for her eldest.<p>&ldquo;I don&#39;t know what I did to deserve such a kind, sweet and loving daughter,&rdquo; Valerie began. &ldquo;You have a beautiful soul and I wish people can see you for the beautiful person that you are. I hope you know how much I love you and how proud I am of you.&rdquo;<p>&ldquo;I am so grateful because I&#39;m lucky and blessed to have you as my daughter and to be your mom,&rdquo; she added. &ldquo;ILYSM!&rdquo;<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cknm6pkP65E/?utm_source=ig_embed&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:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cknm6pkP65E/?utm_source=ig_embed&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><p 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/Cknm6pkP65E/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Valerie Concepcion 🇵🇭🇬🇺 (@v_concepcion)</a></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>As a single mom, Valerie hoped to someday find a husband who would also be a father to her child.<p>&quot;I really wanted to get married. I think I&#39;m so in love with the idea of being in love, and having a kid at a very young age, of course you want someone to be there for your child,&rdquo; Valerie shared, revealing that she had been wanting to get married since she was 23 years old.<p>&ldquo;Being a single mom, I want someone for my daughter,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I want my daughter to have a father figure. I wanted someone to be a father to her kasi wala yung tatay niya.&rdquo;<p>She eventually found her life partner in now-husband Francis Sunga, whom she married in 2019. She recently shared the good news that she is now pregnant and expecting an addition to their family soon.<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsKxqGnP11D/?utm_source=ig_embed&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:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CsKxqGnP11D/?utm_source=ig_embed&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><p 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/CsKxqGnP11D/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Valerie Concepcion 🇵🇭🇬🇺 (@v_concepcion)</a></div></blockquote><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Looking back, she had this to say to her younger self: &ldquo;Girl, you&#39;ve got this. Kahit ano pa ang pagdaanan mo, as long as you have your family, you&#39;ve got this.&rdquo;<p>While it hasn&rsquo;t been a smooth road, Valerie is still filled with gratitude.<p>&ldquo;To be where I am right now &mdash; I&#39;m so happy with my life,&rdquo; she said emotionally. &ldquo;I feel so contented. I feel so grateful.&quot;

<p>&ldquo;Teenager pa lang ako, ang dami ko nang pinagdaanan,&rdquo; recalled actress Valerie Concepcion in her interview with Boy Abunda last May 19, 2023. &ldquo;I had to mature right away na hindi ko na-enjoy pagiging teenager ko. I mean, I was able to but I didn&#39;t fully enjoy pagiging teenager ko.&rdquo;<p>Valerie was only 16 years old when she got pregnant with her daughter, Heather Fiona. At that time, she was just starting out in showbiz, and was suddenly thrust into a role that demanded she grow up way ahead of her years. Yet, she accepted the role and did everything for her &ldquo;greatest blessing and most precious treasure&rdquo;.<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ck0ZnTxLDv9/?utm_source=ig_embed&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:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ck0ZnTxLDv9/?utm_source=ig_embed&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><p 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/Ck0ZnTxLDv9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Valerie Concepcion 🇵🇭🇬🇺 (@v_concepcion)</a>

<p><i>Valerie Concepcion took a look back on her journey as a single teenage mom and where life has brought her now.</i></p>

Valerie Concepcion took a look back on her journey as a single teenage mom and where life has brought her now.

Valerie Concepcion opens up about feeling she was ‘not enough’ for her daughter | PUSH.COM.PH