By Candy Feliciano
For Variety
THIS year, Carla Camille S. Flores of Gualo Rai celebrates a Valentine’s Day that feels like a dream she once thought was out of reach. For a long time, Carla lived with the quiet belief that children might not be part of her life. She reached a point where she did not think about it too much because she simply felt she could not have kids. Even when she did try to conceive in the past, nothing happened. During that period of her life, she eventually reached a state of peace by letting go of the pressure. The answer came in 2024 when Carla parked her car in front of Kristo Rai Parish and decided to have a direct conversation with God. She spoke the words exactly as they came to her heart: “Lord, I accept that maybe I might not have kids, I accept the fact that maybe you have other plans for me, but God if I’m wrong with my thinking, I will wait for your timing. I know that you have my path paved for me.” After she finished speaking, she felt a physical weight leave her body. She entered the next year with a sense of calm and looked forward to what 2025 would bring.
The shift from acceptance to a new reality happened faster than she ever expected. In January 2025, Carla discovered she was six weeks pregnant. When she looked back at the calendar, she realized she was already one week pregnant during Christmas time. This realization turned her daughter into a gift from God. When she found out she was going to have Mireya, her mindset shifted instantly from that quiet acceptance to a state of pure disbelief. She felt immediate excitement and could not believe it after years of trying. She accepted the news readily and whole heartedly. When it came time to name her daughter, she chose Mireya Zyon. The name Mireya means Miracle to her. She chose Zyon because it means holy place.
Together, the name represents her miracle from the holy place. Her partner, Ck Herrera, gave the baby the nickname Sweet Peach or Baby Peach because he is obsessed with peaches.
New motherhood is often described as hectic, yet Carla credits Mireya with bringing her a sense of peace and patience. She admits that motherhood is super hectic, but she finds that every moment with Mireya is peace. Every learning moment with her comes with patience. Her daughter has taught her to be patient with all things, including bedtimes, feeding, and crying. To Carla, the smile and energy of her daughter represent her peace. She previously wrote that perfect does not exist, but to her, Mireya is perfection personified. Even with all the daily hardships and imperfect moments of parenting, Carla looks at her and sees perfection in her eyes. She feels Mireya is everything she could ask for and more.
The journey has changed Carla on a personal level and made her wonder how one little human can change a whole perspective on life. If she had to answer that now, the biggest change she sees in herself is the shift in her priorities and her whole outlook on herself. Her daughter and Ck are now her top priorities. She wants to better herself in all aspects so that Mireya grows up seeing her mother as a strong figure. She wants Mireya to say that her mom is a boss and a queen. It felt amazing for Carla to have her personal tribute to your daughter recognized and chosen as a winner by Variety. She does not usually enter competitions, but she simply wanted to make a small tribute to her baby girl because her life would not be the same without her.
It was important for Carla to be so vulnerable and honest about her journey in that video caption because she simply wanted to tell the truth and share raw emotions. She recalls a specific hard moment that was made all worth it just by seeing her daughter happy and healthy. She remembers being two weeks postpartum in the 3 a.m. darkness while in a difficult mental state. As she rocked her daughter to sleep and stared at her face, she began to tear up. She told the baby, “You are worth it. Every sleepless night, every frustrating moment. I hope in every life I am blessed enough to be your mother.”
For other women who might be in the same position she was in a year ago, Carla shares the promise of Jeremiah 29:11, which says “For I know the plans I have for you.” She speaks from the heart when she tells them that their time will come. She encourages them to have faith and trust that what is meant for them will be provided. Carla now walks into this new chapter with Ck and their sweet miracle, knowing that the most beautiful plans are often the ones we never saw coming.
