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Fresh from the 'kilig' and success of "Sparks Camp" Season 3, Mela Habijan graced the latest episode of Kapamilya Chat with stories about the queer dating show that’s now catching global attention.
But before she talked about the campers and their journeys, she first opened up about her own milestone, which is recently completing not just 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.
For her, the whole Madrid chapter was an eye-opener. “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 said. Mela initially wanted to take her master’s in New York, but a soul-searching phase in 2022 rerouted her to Spain, which turned out to be the best choice as she was trying "to find a place that accepts me and embraces me for who I am."
And that’s exactly what she’s shown the campers of “Sparks Camp” from the very beginning—acceptance. Mela shared how her heart lights up whenever someone, campers or not, comes to her and asks if she can be their “mother.” To her, that’s the ultimate compliment and her proudest achievement as a host, as it only means people trust her enough to open up and see her as a safe space.
"I don't just want to run the show. I want the audience to feel like they're part of the show because it is the show that represents and involves the LGBTQIA+ community," she explained. Creating a safe space for the queer community has always been their goal, and she’s grateful that she herself has become one of the safe spaces the community can turn to.
What excites her even more is how "Sparks Camp" has expanded its reach globally. Mela recalled being in Amsterdam when a Spanish guy approached her and said he’s been watching. After the finale aired two days ago, she also gushed to director Theodore Boborol about how "Sparks Camp" has grown into a "massive movement."
There’s no denying the success of "Sparks Camp," especially Season 3. Just the fact that it produced four couples with “mutual sparks” already proves that the show served its purpose. Looking back at the journey, Mela described Season 1 as sweet and lighthearted, Season 2 as full of drama, and the latest one as the most authentic yet, where true connection unfolded through real, mature interaction.
As she put it, love goes beyond physical attraction, but it’s about that soul connection that grows when two people spend time really talking and getting to know each other. And there was plenty of that in Season 3.
But more than the kilig, what Mela truly hopes for is that the Season 3 participants preserve the bond they built inside the camp as a barkada or even as a family. In fact, they’ve got a group chat that’s literally buzzing with non-stop messages every day, which she finds so heartwarming. If you ask her, the most rewarding part of hosting "Sparks Camp" has always been listening to the campers’ stories. That’s why her favorite segment is the “Moment of Truth” challenge where the campers shed their walls and reveal parts of themselves they sometimes fear showing to others.
Mela quipped that she sometimes feels like a "psychologist" on the show, as she ends up helping the campers sort through their thoughts and emotions. “I’m not just a host but I’m also someone who hears and listens to them,” she explained. Jokes aside, she said listening is her favorite thing because it builds her empathy, which she believes is the key quality needed to truly understand other people and the world around us.
While interactions are what she enjoys most as the show’s ‘Mother Sparker,’ Mela admitted that the hardest part is making sure the campers feel they’re not being judged. She knows how tough it can be for anyone to speak up when they don’t feel safe, and sometimes gauging a camper's level of comfort can be tricky too. But one thing she's learned for sure is that listening without judgment creates the trust and courage needed for campers to truly pour their hearts out.
Hosting, for Mela, also requires inner preparation. She readies her heart and mind, making sure they’re open enough to receive the campers' stories. She compared it to how counseling sessions leave a psychologist feeling drained from absorbing so much of their patients’ emotions. "Kaya napakahalaga ng preparation—the mindset, the heart, the ears, everything. Your senses must be prepared so that even if it is the heaviest of stories, you can still catch them," she mused.
What really makes Mela her generation’s ‘Mother Sparker’ is how she communicates. She has this knack for stringing words together so beautifully and with grace and intention, which she credits to her background as a writer for ABS-CBN programs such as “Simply KC,” “The Buzz,” “Gandang Gabi Vice,” and “Your Face Sounds Familiar.” Having started in production, she learned early on how to express herself well and respond with meaning, which now shines through in her hosting. So, her tip for anyone who wants to excel as a host is to read, and read a lot.
When asked which story resonated with her the most, Mela mentioned that of Julio, whom she already knew from high school. She’d seen first-hand how he struggled with self-doubt, so watching him on "Sparks Camp" slowly embrace his queerness felt extra special. Mela knows that Julio's story of growing up believing he was a mistake is also a painful reality for too many in the LGBTQIA+ community. She stressed that the LGBTQIA+ members are not mistakes, which is why it felt deeply moving to see Julio push past the judgment and finally accept himself inside the show’s safe space.
And she hopes there will be more Julios out there who will find that same kind of acceptance within themselves. As for her, the “Mother Sparker” will always be ready to listen, whether in future seasons or outside the camp.
Can’t get enough of the "Sparks Camp" kilig? You can binge-watch it all over again on the ABS-CBN Entertainment YouTube channel. And mark your calendars because the campers’ reunion episode drops this Wednesday, September 10!