MANILA, Philippines — It wasn’t easy for Mika Dela Cruz to find and love herself, but she eventually did.
As the teen actress turned 20 on Sunday, Dec. 9, she shared in her Instagram account how she made 2018 a year to know and understand herself more.
Dela Cruz revealed how badly she started her year: “Nagsimula yung taon na sobrang wasak at nasa pinakailalim ako. Sobrang damaged ang self-esteem ko.”
“Naging malabo sa akin ang salitang self worth at self love. Basta tungkol sa sarili ko, sobrang ‘lost’ ako at di ko alam kung papaano,” she added.
Although she focused on improving herself, she still found it hard to do it: “Dahil sa pressure, negativity, at kung ano-anong maling mindset at pag-o-overthink, umabot sa point na kung saan saan ko na lang hinahanap, kung kani kanino ko na lang binabase at talagang nalito na ako kung sino ba talaga yung totoong ako.”
Nonetheless, she learned how to love herself with the help of God and the people around her.
“Dahil sa pagmamahal ni God at ng mga mahahalagang taong nakapaligid sa akin, natutunan kong mahalin at ma-appreciate ang sarili ko,” she said.
She said she also learned how to accept the different situations that she faced in her life.
“Sobrang dami kong natutunan. Sobrang daming lungkot na napalitan ng saya. Sobrang daming masasayang alaala,” she added.
Dela Cruz then thanked her family and friends for surprising her with a party on her 20th birthday. /cbb