Angelu de Leon happily celebrated her 40th birthday with family and friends on August 21, Wednesday.
"Ang wish ko really is good health for the family. Sabi ko nga, I’m blessed beyond my imagination,” Angelu said during her celebration at Ametta Place Club House, Pasig City.
"Kaya rin talaga ako nag-celebrate, at first, sabi ko, 'Wag na, wag na lang.'
"I really prayed if mag-birthday ako and then I really felt it in my spirit na I wanna celebrate because I wanna give glory to God, all the years, sabi ko, may mga parte man ng buhay ko that did not start right, I wanted it to end right.
"Yung 40th ko actually, birthday ko siya physically, pero spiritual birthday ko rin kasi, 12 years ago, saktong August din."
By her spiritual birthday, Angelu meant the day that she became a born-again Christian.
She added, "Actually, na-realize ko, ang daming nangyari nang August. Naalala ko, nag-start ang Ang TV, August. Birthday ni Peachy (her character in TV show T.G.I.S.), August."
Angelu continued, "Birthday ko, August. Anniversary ng T.G.I.S., August. When I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, August din.
"These are all for Him dahil nanggagaling sa Kanya ang lahat ng ito."
Angelu is a good example of someone who failed and made mistakes in her youth, but decided to turn her life around, especially the lives of her children. Today, she has a happy and beautiful family.
"Hindi ko yun kakayanin if not for the grace of God. Pero, makikita mo rin na He’s so good. He’s so good!" the actress exclaimed.
"Kahit noong mga panahon na wala pa ako sa Kanya, mabuti na Siya. What more now that I’m with Him. Sabi ko nga, isa ako sa makakapagpatunay na there’s always hope."
As the saying goes, "Life begins at 40."
"I know, right," Angelu replied with a laugh.
“Hindi ko talaga alam. Kasi sabi ko, I don’t feel like 40. I don't feel the numbers pero yung mawi-wish ko lang talaga for me, lahat ng gagawin ko will give glory to God.
"Yun lang talaga, me and my family. Sabi ko nga, isa sa mga answered prayer ko noong maging born again ako, that He would not allow my kids to go through what I’ve been through.
"It's true enough, I have three children. I have a husband who loves me. Kaya sabi ko nga, wala na akong mahihiling sa Kanya. It’s just all pagpapasalamat.
"It's just the grateful heart."
Her daughters Nicole and Louise are now teenagers, but Angelu does not see either of them following in her footsteps.
"Wala pa, hindi ko alam kung kanino sila nagmana," Angelu laughed.
"Kasi, gusto nilang makapagtapos ng pag-aaral. Pati ako, namamangha. Kasi sabi ko, noong panahon ko, hindi ‘yan ang gusto ko. Gusto ko talagang mag-artista, period.
"Pero sa kanila, they want to be who they want to be and now who I want them to be."
Angelu was twelve years old when she began her showbiz career in ABS-CBN's Ang TV. Having started at a young age, Angelu is grateful that she is still able to pursue her showbiz career today.
"I'm still grateful na kahit paano, hindi ako nawawalan ng trabaho. Nagpapahinga, oo, pero hindi nawawalan,” she said.
"Ever since naman, hangga’t may mga tumatangkilik, I will still be there because at the end of the day, it would be my first love."
"Marami lang talagang may trabaho," she explained.
“At saka, walang holiday naman sa mga artista, Holy Week lang.
"Siyempre, naiintindihan ko yun dahil kahit ako, I would rather work than celebrate my birthday.
"Sabi ko nga rin, it’s not important kung hindi kami masyadong nagkikita. I will treasure them, everyone I've worked with, I’m at peace with everyone, okay na ako."