CinemaBravo

Beauty entrepreneur and Brilliant Skin Essentials founder Glenda Dela Cruz, widely known as “Miss Glenda,” opened up about her life-threatening health crisis last year and addressed the accusations circulating about her during an interview with Ogie Diaz.

The skincare mogul revealed that she was once on the brink of death after being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to pneumonia that later led to a stroke. During the interview, she recalled the emotional moments she experienced while fighting for her life.

“Last year po nasa ICU ako, nag-aagaw buhay. Iyong mga anak ko umiiyak po sa akin. And I almost gave up. Nasabi ko ayoko na po, ayaw ko na po talaga,” she shared.

(Last year I was in the ICU, fighting for my life. My children were crying for me. And I almost gave up. I said I didn’t want to go on anymore, I really didn’t want to.)

“Nagsimula siya sa pneumonia. So yung lungs ko po, napapalibutan siya ng phlegm. And then after four days, na-stroke po ako. Then iyon na po, nag-worsen po iyong condition ko,” she added.

(It started with pneumonia. My lungs were surrounded by phlegm. Then after four days, I had a stroke. After that, my condition worsened.)

At one point, she even wrote a note to her cousin expressing her desire to give up the fight.

But when her children visited her in the hospital, her will to live was renewed.

“So the moment na pag-alis ng mga anak ko, nagsabi na po ako na ilipat niyo po ako sa mas malaking hospital,” she said, adding that her transfer was delayed as her relatives had to sign several documents acknowledging the risks since moving her to another hospital was considered dangerous.

(So the moment my children left, I said that I wanted to be transferred to a bigger hospital.)

Now that she has been given what she calls a second life, Miss Glenda said the experience made her realize she still has a greater purpose.

“I think, after everything that happened to me, parang siguro po sinasabi Niya sa akin na hindi ka pa pwedeng mag-give up kasi ang dami pang umaasa sa iyo,” she said, referring to her loved ones and the more than 1,000 workers at Brilliant Skin Essentials, the company she built from the ground up—from being an ordinary worker to becoming a successful entrepreneur.

(I think after everything that happened to me, maybe He was telling me that I cannot give up yet because many people still depend on me.)

“I have 1000 employees, can you imagine kung sumuko ako? Pag na-down ako? Maraming family na maaapektuhan. Meron po ako mga empleyado na mga hindi nakakapagsalita, hindi nakakarinig. May mga kapansanan na sinabi nila sa akin noon na ako lang yung tumanggap sa kanila. So, kung mawawala po yung Brilliant Skin Essentials, parang mawawala na din yung purpose ko,” she said.

(I have 1,000 employees—can you imagine if I gave up? If I broke down? Many families would be affected. I have employees who cannot speak or hear. Some have disabilities and they told me before that I was the only one who accepted them. So if Brilliant Skin Essentials disappears, it would feel like my purpose would disappear as well.)

She is also determined to face the challenges and controversies head-on, answering all the accusations thrown at her, including rumors that she launders money for former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.

Miss Glenda said she does not know and has never met Co, adding she earned her billionaire status through years of hard work and building her business.

“Ilang taon na po yung paratang sa akin. Kasi ayaw po nilang maniwala na possible na sa isang skincare pwede ka talagang kumita nang malaki. So sinasabi nila na kaya ako nakaka-afford ng ganitong lifestyle kasi money launderer na po ako,” she said, referring to the accusations hurled by her online bashers.

(The accusations against me have been going on for years. They refuse to believe that it’s possible to earn a lot from skincare. That’s why they say I can afford this lifestyle because I’m a money launderer.)

As she continues her recovery, Miss Glenda said her focus is on her health, family, and her business ventures, saying her decision to fight for her life was worth it.