Sunshine Dizon. Images: Screengrabs from YouTube/GMA Network
Sunshine Dizon revealed that she’s still in the process of learning how to handle her split with estranged husband, businessman Timothy Tan, although it’s been years since their controversial breakup in 2016.
The actress opened up about her separation from Tan in a Feb. 13 episode of “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda”, where she revealed that she still loves her husband out of respect for their children.
“The love, hanggang ngayon, hindi naman mawawala. But it’s a different kind of love now. It’s a love out of respect that he gave me two beautiful children, and I wouldn’t have them if not for him,” she said. “Nakikita ko kung gaano siya kahusay na ama sa mga anak niya… kasi may mga bagay pa rin na, to be honest, I was not able to process, (like) the pain when [our separation] happened. And I’m just learning to process all the pain right now.”
(Until now, my love for him will never fade. But it’s a different kind of love now. It’s a love out of respect that he gave me two beautiful children, and I wouldn’t have them if not for him. I still see him as a good father to our children because to be honest, there are moments where I realize that I was not able to process the pain when [our separation] happened. And I’m just learning to process all the pain right now.)
Reports about Dizon and Tan’s separation first surfaced in 2016 when the actress initially shared a lengthy post, where she identified the latter’s alleged mistress. The day after, the entrepreneur clarified in a statement with ABS-CBN entertainment reporter Mario Dumaual that he and Dizon had been going through marital problems for months.
When Abunda asked Dizon if she’ll ever forgive Tan in the future, she simply replied that she is the type of person who “probably can forgive, but I will never, ever forget.”
The actress then revealed that she “swallowed (her) pride” when Tan begged to remain with their children, adding that they were still living together under the same roof even if they were already separated at that time. She also shared that their children Anton and Doreen were three and four years old, respectively, during the time of their break-up.
“Lumuhod ang asawa ko. Sabi mamamatay daw siya [kapag] hindi niya kasama ‘yung mga anak niya so pinagbigyan ko. I had to swallow my pride because I wanted my kids to see that no matter what, nagkamali man ang tatay nila, pamilya pa rin kami.”
(My husband kneeled down and said that he would die if he wouldn’t be permitted to be with his kids, so I allowed him. I had to swallow my pride because I wanted my kids to see that no matter what, even if their father made a mistake, we’re still a family.)
The “Encantadia” star said she started to process her emotions when the pandemic struck, noting that she chose to dedicate her efforts in her career in hopes of dealing with the effects of their split.
“[Tim] was my best friend. He was my confidante. He was my partner. And then, I just woke up one day and he was totally a different person. And that really hurts… I was not able to deal with it properly. Ngayon lang bumabalik lahat na parang, ah, dapat pala hindi ako nag-refuse ng therapy nun. Dapat pala I dealt with it properly at the time when I had to,” she added.
(Tim was my best friend. He was my confidante. He was my partner. And then, I just woke up one day and he was totally a different person. And that really hurts. I was not able to deal with it properly. Now that everything is coming back, I realize that I shouldn’t have rejected the need to go through therapy. I should have dealt with it properly when I had to.)
Dizon mentioned that she was very emotionally drained at the height of their separation, where it took her eight years to get in touch with her emotions and to realize that she was indeed “hurt and angry”.
“Noon, siguro masasabi ko sobrang tapang ko kasi galit ako… I really had to fight for my kids,” she said. “To this day, I still question myself somehow, saan ako nagkulang?”
(Before, I would say that I was very firm because I was angry. I really had to fight for my kids. To this day, I still question myself somehow, where did I go wrong?)
Dizon and Tan tied the knot in 2010, but separated in 2016 following the latter’s supposed involvement with Sison. The the “Ika-6 na Utos” actress clarified that she would not seek an annulment from her husband, but had faced Tan and Sison in court for violating the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 and alleged concubinage. As of this writing, the ex-partners are co-parenting their two kids.
The actress further shared in an exclusive interview with the Inquirer in September 2021 that she is in favor of the bill aiming to legalize divorce in the Philippines. “Napaka-plastic ko naman if I say marriage is forever because it wasn’t for me. I want divorce legalized here. Why would we stop people from trying to start anew? Do people always have to confess to having psychological problems or something really drastic in order to break up legally,” she was quoted as saying.
The “Marry Me, Marry You” star also opened up about her struggles with abandonment issues, panic attacks, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in December 2022, where she was confined at a hospital. EDV