'Mothering' is serious business for Mela.
If the country's first queer dating reality show "Sparks Camp" has taught us anything, it's that finding spark can get messy. Feelings change, hearts get broken, and sometimes you just need someone who can listen and remind you that you'll be okay. For the campers, that person is Mela Habijan, also known as Mother Sparker. With her warmth, wisdom, and her own journey as a proud transgender woman, Mela is the icon who guides the campers as they navigate connections, heartbreaks, and everything in between. She celebrates their joy just as wholeheartedly as she makes space for their most vulnerable moments, showing us what it truly means to “mother.”
Ahead, let's look at the qualities that make her the ultimate Mother Sparker.
She proudly represents her community
Mela uses her voice to make the LGBTQIA+ community feel seen and heard.
In 2020, she made history as the first-ever titleholder of Miss Trans Global, a pageant that gives its winner the responsibility of advocating for the transgender community on an international platform. She became the organization’s first-ever spokesperson.
But Mela believes that representation and activism aren't limited to the world of glam and entertainment. Vocal about LGBTQIA+ rights and SOGIE education, she continually spearheads queer advocacies such as the #MakePHSchoolsInclusive campaign dedicated to creating gender-responsive environments for LGBTQIA+ students and teachers.
She never stops learning
Mother Sparker knows that there's always room to learn something new. A Communication graduate of Ateneo de Manila University, Mela has built a colorful career in media. She started behind the scenes as a writer for ABS-CBN shows such as "Gandang Gabi Vice," "The Buzz," and "Your Face Sounds Familiar," before stepping in front of the camera.
But even with years of experience under her belt, Mela remains an avid learner. In 2025, she reached an impressive academic milestone when she completed not one but two master's degrees at IE University in Madrid, Spain, earning both a Master of Business Administration and a Master in Creative Direction.
Her Madrid journey also became an education beyond academics. “Living there as a transwoman myself allowed me to see what it’s like to live if laws are in place that protect me,” she shared in a past episode of Kapamilya Chat.
She listens with an open heart
You know you're doing something right as Mother Sparker when people actually come up to you and ask, “Can you be my mother?” In an episode of Kapamilya Chat, Mela shared that her heart lights up whenever a camper, or even a viewer, asks her that question. For her, it's the best compliment and one of her proudest achievements as a host because it means people trust her enough to open up and see her as a safe space.
WATCH: Mela Habijan on her favorite and most challenging parts of hosting “Sparks Camp”
That trust also explains why she thinks listening to the campers' stories is the most rewarding part of hosting "Sparks Camp.” It's also why her favorite segment is the “Moment of Truth” sessions where campers let their walls down and reveal parts of themselves they may be afraid to show others. She loves to listen, believing that doing so builds the empathy we need to better understand other people and the world around us.
She knows the courage it takes to be vulnerable
Telling someone how you really feel is easier said than done, and Mother Sparker knows that from experience. Despite all the solid real talk and heartfelt love advice she gives the campers, Mela has had her own share of romantic what-ifs. In fact, she told Kapamilya Chat that one mistake in love she openly regrets is keeping her feelings to herself. The experience taught her that sometimes, hearing a direct “no” hurts less than being left wondering what could have been.
Perhaps that's why Mother Sparker understands the courage it takes for campers to put their hearts on the line. She knows that being honest about how you feel doesn't guarantee they'll be returned, but sometimes, simply having the guts to say them out loud is already its own kind of win.
WATCH: ‘Mother’ Mela bravely confesses her TOTGA story and dating history
"Sparks Camp" truly wouldn't be the same without its Mother Sparker. So, Mela is back for Season 4, ready to welcome a new batch of campers as they open their hearts to new connections and possibilities.
"Sparks Camp" Season 4, directed by Theodore Boborol, premieres September 16 on iWant.
Queer dating show “Sparks Camp” heats up with Season 4, introduces new campers in quest for love
Mela Habijan on her favorite and most challenging parts of hosting “Sparks Camp”
‘Mother’ Mela bravely confesses her TOTGA story and dating history
EXCLUSIVE: How has life been for Mela Habijan after moving to Spain?
Mela Habijan earns two masters degrees in Spain, dedicates achievement to the queer community