Angeli Khang. Image: screengrab from YouTube/GMA Network
Angeli Khang opened up about the physical abuse she experienced while living with her Korean father, saying she endured such because she thought it was “normal parenting.”
The actress spoke about this in a “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” interview on Friday, Aug. 9, recalling how she and her older brother moved to Saipan with their military officer dad when she was just 7 years old.
“A father’s love is uptight… Since military discipline ‘yung dad ko, mas naging uptight pa siya,” she said. “It became too much for us to handle. [We were] physically abused.”
Khang’s brother later ran away and returned to the Philippines, leaving the actress alone with their father. Khang did not tell her dad where her brother went, which prompted his anger.
“Nginudngod niya ko sa hugasan ng plato at one week niya akong hindi pinakain. Since may farm kami do’n, every time na pinapakain ko ‘yung aso, pumipitas ako ng avocado, orange at apple,” she recounted.
“Umabot ako sa time na pumapasok ako sa school nang may pasa…dumudugo ‘yung kamay ko. Ang lagi lang sinasabi sa akin ni Daddy to comfort me, ‘I want the best of you,'” she said.
When Abunda asked how long she suffered from these, Khang answered, “Three to five years.”
“I actually thought that was a normal [parenting], na pag nagkamali ka, normal lang na saktan ka ng tatay mo o ng parents mo,” she said.
A classmate of Khang told their teacher about the actress’ situation, which was immediately reported to the school’s guidance counselor. Khang said that when her dad learned that the guidance counselor wanted to talk to him, they immediately flew to the Philippines.
“Nung nakita nung mom ko kung gaano ako kalantay, walang buhay; nung nalaman ng mom ko [‘yung physical abuse], ni-file na agad niya [‘yung case against] sa dad ko,” she stated, although she noted that he left the country when the case was filed.
While she did not elaborate on the case, Khang disclosed that they already have a warrant of arrest for him and that he will immediately be arrested should he return to the Philippines.
Despite this, Khang said she is ready to forgive her dad if he asks for forgiveness.