Donita Rose (right) with son JP
For actress-chef Donita Rose, the hardest part of being a single parent is the healing process after the marital separation and “trying to reconcile why something as traumatic as this had to happen” to her and her son.
Donita confided that signing the divorce papers was a life-changing moment for her and her 12-year-old son, JP. “It took over three years of asking God for an answer before I finally had peace,” she said.
“My son and I have made so much progress in terms of how we view our circumstances. We see things differently [now],” she added. “It took a lot of time for us to process things, but as a result, our relationship has blossomed into a very strong and special bond that is evident in the little things we do.”
When asked what the biggest challenge she has faced so far as a single mom, Donita said it had to be the task of introducing the Bible to her son. “I find it difficult to cultivate an interest on his part to love the Word and to obey it the way I know God wants him to. I don’t blame him, though. How can the Bible be made more interesting than his PS4 games and the YouTube videos?”
She disclosed that the breakup of her 12-year marriage had its advantages—she has become stronger, braver and more focused on her achievements as a chef and mother.
“Fortunately, I believe the worst is over. The best part of it is having the privilege of imparting faith and raising an amazing son, who brings me so much joy,” she pointed out.
According to Donita, her son’s greatest role model is his dad. “JP looks [a lot] and even walks like his dad. He listens to his dad’s advice, and they cherish their FaceTime conversations, as well.”
She said that her relationship with her estranged husband now has improved and that she has forgiven him for whatever “unresolved issues” they have. They communicate via e-mail when decisions have to be made involving their son’s welfare.
Being a career woman and raising her son could be quite “a balancing act.” The good thing that she is grateful for is being in the entertainment industry where she can choose her projects.
Donita temporarily left local show biz years ago to pursue a culinary career in the United States. As a chef, she worked in a restaurant in Las Vegas and played a big role in the main kitchen.
The former MTV Asia VJ returned to Manila and is now the new brand ambassador of Jolly Heart Mate Canola Oil. As such, she goes to different fiestas around the country to do cooking demos.
“With all the difficulties I have had to overcome in pursuing my passion for food, I take great pride in knowing that although I may not be the best or most successful chef, it is through everything I’ve been through that I have learned the best lessons,” she said.
She dreams of creating an open-concept kitchen where she can focus on culinary stuff even more. She hopes that this concept will allow her to work from home so that she can be around her son more often.
Aside from cooking, Donita is also open to the idea of doing another teleserye. “Anything, really, but if I could play the role of a chef, that would be a dream come true. Or better still, if it were a cooking show! It would also be nice to do a fantaserye, since I’ve never done one before.”