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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider LJ Reyes explains split with partner Paolo Contis to eldest child

LJ Reyes explains split with partner Paolo Contis to eldest child

Published Sep 2, 2021 01:59 pm
LJ Reyes and son Aki

Actress LJ Reyes recalled apologizing to her eldest child Aki following her break up with her partner Paolo Contis.

According to LJ, her 11-year-old son with former boyfriend Paulo Avelino asked her the "real reason" behind their split.

"May one time lang po, nagtanong siya sa akin kung ano daw po talaga yung dahilan (ng hiwalayan.) Parang feeling niya meron pang ibang isyu… Napakasakit po ng tanong sa akin," LJ said in an interview with Boy Abunda.

LJ noted that she actually wasn't able to answer immediately.

"I needed time. Di ko masagot on the spot."

Later, she told Aki why things happened.

The Kapuso star also apologized to her child for "everything," relating how she wanted a complete family.

But Aki cut her off and said: "You complete us, mom!"

"Di ko po alam, grabe yung kirot sa puso ko. Na touch po ako bata. Napaka sweet na bata ni Aki… Yun po yung pinoprotektahan ko."

"Tito Boy, tinarato po siya ng anak ko na parang totoong tatay niya…"

Though, LJ noted it went both ways as Paolo was very close with Aki too.

Prior, King of Talk asked LJ about her two cents after Paolo deleted photos of her and Aki on his Instagram feed.

"Sobrang nagulat po ako dun. And I felt disprected not just for myself, but also for my kids. Because sinasabi ko naman po sa kanya na aalis kami (papuntang New York). Sinasabi ko po sa kanya na hindi ko kaya mag-rebuild ng pamilya ko ng nasa Pilipinas kami after everything…

"Nasaktan ako. Yun lang hinihiling ko. Makaalis kami ng mga bata peacefully. Na kung gusto man niyang sabihin in public, okay lang. Pero sana po yung wala na kami dito. Kasi malaki na po si Aki. He's 11. He goes to school, he talks to his friends. Nag-i-Internet po yan… Nagtatanong po yan sa akin."

As to why she did not unfollow Paolo at that time, LJ related she didn't want to do anything drastic before their departure.

But why break her silence now?

"I don't really talk about my personal life. As much as I can, I separate work and my private life. If ako lang involved, I could have kept my silence. Kaya kong manahimik. But lagi kong sinasabi, first and foremost I am a mother of two beautful kids. And kapag sila na yung apektado, I think kahit sinong nanay will stand up and defend yung mga anak nila and yung pamilya nila.

"Ayokong magsalita. But siyempre, there are stories out there, medyo twisted na yung facts. Ayoko pong umabot sa punto na parang pinabayaan ko lang na nasa public na hindi totoo. Especially we live in a time na very open na ang information, easily accessed."

So LJ wants to put an end to speculations.

"I will no longer go into particular details. Ayokong may masabing hindi maganda. Gusto ko lang wag magamit ang mga anak ko. Gusto ko lang po maintindihan ng publiko bakit ako umalis. Wag na gumawa ng iba't-ibang kwento."

LJ said they left because she felt she really need to get herself and her kids out of the situation physically.

"Para kahit papaano po matulungan din kami emotionally and physically to recover and rebuild as a small family."

So was there a third party; did she and Paolo outgrow each other, the host asked.

"Tito boy, it was so difficult, it was so painful, siguro kung hindi malakas yung pananampalataya ko sa Panginoon hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupulitin. Kung hindi matibay pagmamahal ko sa mga anak ko para maging motivation sila sa akin to stand up and wake up everyday, hindi ko po alam saan ako pupulitin.

"Kung ano man yung third party na sinasabi nila, it's actually the least of my concern. Kaya po ako nag-decide to speak up, is because pag anak niyo na po yung nagagawan ng mali, I think kailangan mong sabihin na hanggang dito lang.

"Somehow kailangan ko pong ilayo yung mga bata kasi kailangan pong ma protektahan ko sila, kailangan magkaroon kami ng healthy and safe environment para po sa mga bata."

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