Start 2020 Right With These Words Of Encouragement From Our #Metro30 Cover Girls

Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo

“I don’t please anyone,” she says firmly. “I please myself. But of course, now it’s a different scenario because I have a family. I have my husband, I have my kids. But when it comes to myself, whatever I want to do, I try to do it as much as possible because that’s the only time where I can tell myself na, ‘Deserve natin ‘to.’”

Photo Credit: Dookie Ducay

Lucy Torres-Gomez

"My biggest achievement is also my biggest challenge. I come from a very sheltered home. Everything was set up for me... I was very dependent," Lucy begins. "But having said that, many of the things I ended up doing were some of the things that I said I would never do: join politics, do show business. Wherever life takes us, we really have to breathe into it.. Just breathe into it, however much of it you can take on at the moment, and trust that today is just part of the journey," she adds.

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Dawn Zulueta-Lagdameo

"I came across a quote recently,” Dawn says. “It goes something like: ‘When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people. As I grew, I began to admire kind people.’ When I read that, I thought back to when I was young and it’s true! We always look up to someone who’s smart and strong. And that’s good... [but] as you age, you discover that you also admire people who are kind and I think that is more lasting.”

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Claudine Barretto

"Show business is beautiful, but very cruel," Claudine divulges. "It taught me to be strong. If you're [strong], showbiz is the right playground for you to start with. But if it's not in your heart, just something you're curious about, or something that crosses your mind, don't even try. If it's not your passion or something you really love, don't get into it. I've learned this lesson for myself, so many times," she firmly advises.

Photo Credit: Dookie Ducay

Joey Mead King

“While I was modeling as a young woman,” Joey tells Metro.Style, “Rejection was hard. As a young model, when you weren’t getting the job, you’re not able to pay your rent, these struggling times were a really big hit on my self-esteem. But as the years went by, there was something about rejection that made me feel whole. I was able to look at it as an opportunity to grow from it. I no longer looked at it as, ‘Sayang, I really needed that job.’ I look at it as, ‘It’s their client’s loss for not booking an amazing talent as me. I’ll get the next one.’ These were the challenging times of just growing in your art form and not being side-swept by the noise of it.”

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Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez

“I’m passionate about the lives of my kids,” she tells Metro.Style. “I try my best to be very involved in their lives and supportive of their interests as well because in my desire to pursue my passions, I’d like to think that somehow my husband and I inspire them to do the same, to make the most of their capabilities and to share what gifts they have and be an inspiration to their peers and anyone else that surrounds them.”

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Ruffa Gutierrez

“It’s very tough to be a single mother. It’s very challenging and I’m sure a lot of single mothers out there will actually realize what I’m saying is true,” she says. “There are ups, there are downs, but at the end of the day, I do it for my kids and it’s not an easy journey but it’s something I’m really proud of, because I’ve always chosen love over money, and whatever it is that they have right now and what I have is because I worked hard to attain them so that’s one of my biggest achievements, I can say.”

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Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski

"For me it’s so important to know where you came from, how you started, to be in touch with the people who were there when it began, to appreciate the struggle, the growth, to be able to evolve to a place where everyone who’s involved has that opportunity to make a positive contribution."

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Angel Aquino

"Courage was something I did not have before, or maybe, I did not know I have it but I knew I was kind. As I grew older, I realized it’s harder to be both courageous and kind because there are so many things that are going through in your head," she explains. "You think about mortality, you think about wrinkles and not looking your best anymore. These are things that can break your spirit if you let it. Life is always out to test you and break you, so don’t let it."

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Charlene Gonzalez-Muhlach

"I look at challenges in a different way because I always feel that when you’re comfortable, you’re not growing,” she says, following this realization with a sensible lesson to keep in mind. “Sometimes, for me, I feel that moments of being uncomfortable are healthy so I like that because it helps motivate me; it helps me evolve and improve as a person in all aspects. We really shouldn’t look at challenges as something bad but something good. It’s a door for you to have the opportunity to improve and just take a step forward. The best time to grow is when you’re uncomfortable, so I look forward to challenges.”

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Bea Alonzo

"[My biggest achievement so far is] being able to stand up for myself, and being able to re-gain my power... There were rough patches and trying times, but I feel like it's been a transitional stage for me... Now is when I'm rediscovering my power and strength as a woman."

Photo Credit: Gee

Anne Curtis

"It's very, very important for you to reach your true self and true happiness. You have to take care of and love yourself in order for you to love other people. For you to be passionate about your own life, you have to love yourself, flaws and all."

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KC Concepcion

"People will always have something to say. But it’s your journey, it’s your process, and no one else is gonna live that for you, so I don’t regret anything that I’ve been through. It’s all part of my story and everyone has at least one story to tell, and I have, like, millions. It makes life colorful."

Photo Credit: Gee

Heart Evangelista

"I really do have a childlike faith. I really do dream like a little girl; I believe that anything is possible as long as you put your heart and soul into it, and you pray a lot and work for it... "When it comes to making your dreams come true and dreaming big, I can really relate to that... I'm confident about my flaws, my mistakes. I feel that [they] really made me who I am right now... I'm really confident about my track record—everything I've been through, even my scars. I speak, walk, and decide in my life, because of everything I'd been through."

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Angelica Panganiban

Her no-nonsense take on self-love makes for a great reminder to everyone. “As long as in-accept mo na ‘yung sarili mo, siguro magfo-follow na du’n ‘yung love and ‘yung self-care at self-worth,” says the actress. “Pinaka-importante lang naman is i-accept mo lahat ng flaws, na wala namang mali sa’yo, ganyan ka lang talaga. Siguro kung may kailangan kang gawin, ‘yun eh ‘yung i-adjust lang ‘yung mga hindi magagandang katangian mo.”

Photo Credit: Gee

Erich Gonzales

She quotes the greatest lesson she has learned in life so far which serves as a constant reminder to live a grateful life: “Life has its ups and downs—you just have to keep moving forward. Everything that we have here on earth is temporary and what we have is borrowed time. Let us use this time that we have here on earth to build meaningful relationships, create beautiful memories, and let’s just do our best to live a purposeful life [and] focus on what’s eternal.”

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Maricar Reyes-Poon

“Having a business has always been my goal, my passion. I have had a weird life—I went to med school, became a doctor, a model, then became an actress and now finally, I have my own business. Those professions may not seem connected at all, but looking back, I was always about saving money to start my own business. And now finally, my dream to have my own business has come true.”

Photo Credit: Gee

Solenn Heussaff

"I've been asked before what I would choose to do if I had to choose to do just one thing, but I can't. As long as I can do everything that I'm doing, why not? You can find time to do everything if you manage your time. That's what motivates me as a person," Solenn shares.

Toni Gonzaga-Soriano

“For so long I kept latching onto other people’s successes, other people’s journeys, other people’s paths,” she adds, her voice growing more empowered with each word. “I always say na ‘yan ang gusto kong sundan, ‘yan ang gusto kong gawin. And then I realized that each and everyone of us is destined for a different path, a different journey. You just have to make your own mark in the industry. You can’t be the next somebody. So if there’s somebody that I admire, to this day, I’d like to say, myself.”

Photo Credit: Gee

Iza Calzado

“The fact is, one day, I will be gone and if I didn’t love myself enough and I didn’t live my life to the fullest, then it is a waste of a blessing and of this life force that was given to me,” she tells Metro.Style. “I think loving myself is acknowledging I am this energy that I would like to believe can bring light to the world. But in order for me to do that, I have to love and embrace myself. 'Yung mga pinagdaanan ko, kasama siya sa package so I have to embrace it fully—and there lies the secret to success.”

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Kim Chiu

“Kapag toxic na, stop. Huwag mo i-push ‘yung self mo into something that you’re not happy doing,” she continues. “You have to be happy with everything that you do, on where you are right now. Don’t let people command you on what you have to do.”

Photo Credit: Seven Barretto

Kathryn Bernardo

As she works on bringing out the best version of herself, Kathryn focuses on embracing her flaws and imperfections. “It’s a process. Every person may timing about self-love and self-acceptance, and recently ko lang din 'yun nakuha so for me, don’t rush kasi kailangan mong madaanan ‘yung process na ‘yun para ma-accept mo ang sarili mo nang buo. ‘Yun ‘yung nangyari sa akin eh. Once you accept yourself fully and wholeheartedly, I think that’s the best reward you can give to yourself. I’m happier now,” she says.

Photo Credit: Seven Barretto

Maja Salvador

“Sa life, hindi lahat ng gusto mo, makukuha mo. Saka 'yung mga bagay-bagay, hindi mo madali makukuha. May ibang tao na swerte lang talaga. May ibang tao naman na kailangan gumapang, kailangan unti-unti pagdaanan ‘yung challenges bago nila marating ‘yung goals nila. But at the end of the day, just don’t give up.”

Photo Credit: Seven Barretto

Pia Wurtzbach

"[Focusing on only the important things] is so liberating! Do you know how good that feels? It feels like freedom! You feel like you can enjoy more, you can live, you can be yourself, you can laugh harder, you can cry harder, you can feel more, and it's a great way to mature. It's really easier said than done, but some women will one day know what I mean."

Photo Credit: Seven Barretto

Nadine Lustre

"It is hard when you feel like you have no creative exhaust... I decided to take a break and focus on taking care of my creative energies. I believe when you get to relax, your creativity just comes out naturally."

Photo Credit: Seven Barretto

Julia Barretto

“It’s so much easier to forgive other people,” she says. “It’s so much harder to forgive yourself. When certain things happen in your life, it’s easier to focus on those things that sometimes you tend to forget the good things that are happening in your life. I think in 2019 I would rather focus on the good things that have happened in my life. I’m thankful for the things I went through this year because I know that there’s perseverance at the end of the day. You’re only on the winning end if you choose to come out of anything better and more improved and wiser and stronger.”

Photo Credit: Seven Barretto

Lovi Poe

She says, "You shouldn’t be embarrassed about knowing what you want. You have to choose what makes you happy but of course, not be rude about it. Because at the end of the day, you have no one else to please but yourself and you should be happy about yourself."

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Megan Young

Taking a risk and embracing that decision is one of the life lessons that phase in her life taught her. It’s also an experience that reminded her that things don’t just fall on one’s lap. “You have to work really, really hard for what you want,” she emphasizes. “It’s about surpassing people’s expectations, surpassing your own expectations, doing things that are scary, doing things that you don’t know what the outcome is going to be.”

Photo Credit: Seven Barretto

Sarah Lahbati

Social media is fun, yes, but we must not let it affect the way we live; let not the negativity from the cyberworld bleed into the real world. Sarah expresses, “I think people are more aware of themselves because of social media, on how many likes they get, or if this post is okay—I think it’s important to know that you are worth it, amazing, lovable, and smart. Do not compare yourself to others because once you love yourself, it’s easier to live a joyful life and be more loving towards other people.”

Photo Credit: Seven Barretto

Maymay Entrata

“Ako kasi ‘pag alam kong kaya ko, gagawin ko. Pero kapag feeling ko hindi ko kaya, sinusubukan ko parin na gawin para mapakita ko sa kanila at sa sarili ko na kinakaya ko,” she says.

Photo Credit: Seven Barretto