MANILA -- Prior to finally deciding to separate from husband Cesar Montano, Sunshine Cruz said she had endured for 13 years a constant cycle of fighting and reconciliation.
"I got tired, and I thought I wouldn't give up, because I wanted to grow old with him," the 35-year-old actress said in an interview on "Showbiz Inside Report" aired Saturday.
The last straw for the "Dugong Buhay" star was the alleged romantic ties of Montano with model Krista Miller, who recently appeared in a film alongside the 50-year-old actor.
Before the controversial break-up involving Miller, the celebrity couple, by Cruz's admission, had gone through several rough patches due to Montano's questionable relationship with his co-workers.
"Nang-aaway ako before," Cruz said. "Dumating 'yung point na pag may nababalitaan tayong may ganito sa set, merong hindi magandang nangyayari, nagkakaligawan, punta ako sa set, gusto ko hilahin ang buhok ng girl, pero hindi naman umabot sa ganoon. Si Buboy lang aawayin ko," she said.
Storming set
Asked what she considers to be the "worst" confrontation between her and her husband over other women, Cruz recalled an incident when she stormed the set of Montano's show, forcing the production to pack up.
"Pumunta ako sa set, sinugod ko si Buboy, na-pack up ang shooting nila kasi galit na galit ako... Sumugod ako pero hindi ko naman nakita si girl. Si Buboy nalang ang inaway ko," she said.
Cruz said a make-up artist who worked with both her and her husband had told her about Montano's supposed affair.
"I was three months pregnant that time with my eldest," said Cruz, who has three daughters with Montano.
"Umuwi ako sa mom ko that time, [pero] inamo ako ni Buboy, bumalik ulit ako. Love mo eh," she said.
Cycle
Although they eventually reconciled, Cruz said several other instances when she had to confront her husband followed.
"It didn't stop there. Marami kasi talaga, hanggang dumating na 'yung point sakin na naging motto ko in life, 'What you don't know won't hurt'," she said.
But Cruz couldn't keep up her conscious effort to simply shrug off rumors of her husband's affairs.
"I'd peek pag naliligo 'yung asawa ko, 'yung phone nandiyan. 'Oh my god, meron na naman!' Nanginginig ako," she said.
She added: "Alam mo 'yung gusto mo maging tahimik, pero siyempre hindi mo mapigilan sarili mo, 'Sino si ganito? Sino na naman 'yan?'"
While Montano would always manage to appease Cruz, the actress said the cycle never stopped.
"Iiyak ka na naman, aamuhin ka nanaman and then after a few weeks or months, meron na namang iba," she said.
Living apart
Until finally, in January this year, Cruz announced that she has decided to live apart from her husband of 13 years for good.
"Gusto ko makalimot, e, kasi pag nakikita ko si Buboy, mahal mo 'yung tao, lalambot at lalambot ang puso mo sa kanya. So gusto mo 'yung talagang back to zero ba," she said.
Although they are no longer a couple, Cruz said she has managed to become friends with Montano. She related that the actor recently joined her and her daughters, who live with her, to have a belated celebration of Mothers' Day.
"Minsan nagbibiruan kami... kasi nararamdaman ko naman na, nandoon naman 'yung... Sabi ko nga sa kanya, 'Mahal mo parin ako 'no?' Sabi niya, 'Oo naman.'
"'Ako rin naman eh, mahal rin naman kita, kaya lang babaero ka eh, hindi ko na kaya!'" she said, laughing.
Asked if she is now set on "finalizing" her separation from Montano by filing for annulment, Cruz said, "For now wala pa. Hiwalay lang kami ng bahay, pero sa papel kami parin, pero yeah, I'm thinking about it, I'm praying for it."
"I cannot say kung magkakaroon ng reconciliation o hindi magkakaroon, pero I can honestly say right now that I'm very, very happy."
