Janice de Belen on falling in love again: ‘I have been broken enough’

Janice de Belen | Image: YouTube/Fast Talk with Boy Abunda

Janice de Belen said she is no longer willing to go down the path of romance again, given her share of a few heartbreaks in the past as she stressed she is now focused on herself and family. 

Sitting down on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda on Friday, Feb. 2, the actress was asked if she’s too broken to fall in love again, and she honestly replied, “I have really never thought of that, ‘yung broken. But now that you have brought it up, I think I’ve been broken enough,”

The “Queen of Horror-Drama” noted that everyone has a subjective experience in heartaches, saying, “Alam ko naman that everybody who wants to say na, ‘No, don’t be broken’ means well. But this is my story. This is how I felt, and I’m done with that,”

De Belen shared that she didn’t have a specific view on men during her prime, when she got to be partnered up with different leading men, and right now only the important men in her life are her family members.

“Wala akong view. I never had a very deep view on those things. Ngayon ang lalaki na lang na importante sakin ay tatay ko, at mga anak kong lalaki, at ‘yung apo kong lalaki,” she said. 

The “Dirty Linen” star noted that even though she had a great time in relationships, her perspective changed when she got married, and it failed.

“And then, when it fails, then you try again, and then it fails. And OK, maybe I should stop doing this. Kasi fail ka nang fail eh. Baka hindi ‘yan para sa’yo,” said the actress. 

The award-winning actress said that “Love yourself” is her favorite quotation right now, as she also showed a tattoo of the phrase in her arms. She said it’s the only thing that will save one person when they get to be alone.

“I think when we go through life, we forget ourselves, it doesn’t matter what, kapag parent ka, minsan ang sentro ng buhay mo are your children. Then you forget yourself because when your children leave home, paano ka na, ma-dedepress ka kasi malalaki na sila,” she said. 

“Tapos boyfriends, you tend to give everything to your boyfriends, or whoever you’re with nakakalimutan mo ‘yung sarili mo. Kapag nagbreak kayo, paano na? Madedevastate ka. You’ll be left in pieces,” concluded the actress.

In the early ’80s, de Belen was in a brief relationship with Gabby Conception, after which she got in another relationship with Aga Muhlach, with whom she has one son. In 1992, she married John Estrada, which ended in an annulment after 12 years.