IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Celebs who found love again after unsuccessful marriage

Love can be found anew even after an insufferable heartbreak from a highly publicized annulment or divorce—an occurrence a handful of celebrities can attest to.

From friends-turned-lovers to unexpected matches, these celebrities’ stories of second chances have been an open book that have stood proud amid the scrutinizing eyes of spectators. Let’s revisit some of them. 

Jodi Sta. Maria 

Jodi Sta. Maria’s petition for nullity of marriage with Pampi Lacson was granted by the court in June 2024, 13 years after the pair separated. 

The former couple, who got married in 2005, share not only a good co-parenting setup with their son Thirdy, but also an admirable blended family with Lacson’s current partner Iwa Moto and their kids. 

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In spite of this, Sta. Maria admitted that awaiting the court decision on their annulment petition for several years was “never easy nor comfortable,” but rather “frustrating, discouraging, and even heartbreaking.”

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“Looking back it was His grace that sustained and carried me. He had a purpose for the waiting. And that was made clear to me by the Lord,” she said.

Sta. Maria has been very lowkey about her personal life, opting to keep private as well her relationship with actor Raymart Santiago. The pair’s relationship was confirmed to the public in 2020 by the actor, who is also processing his annulment with actress Claudine Barretto.

 

Ruffa Gutierrez 

After years of speculation, Ruffa Gutierrez confirmed her relationship with Herbert Bautista in June 2024. Gutierrez said of her romance with Bautista: “I think now it’s just better that a quiet personal life leads to more happiness. I’ll never go into a relationship that’s not serious. I’m always the serious type.”

Gutierrez was previously married to Turkish businessman Yilmaz Bektas. They tied the knot in 2003, welcomed two daughters namely Lorin and Venice, then separated in 2007. Their union was officially annulled in 2012. 

 

Michelle Madrigal

Two years after her divorce from former football player Troy Woolfolk, Michelle Madrigal happily announced in June 2024 that she is set to get married to her new beau, whose identity she opted not to disclose. 

Madrigal described her current boyfriend as her “partner in Christ, business partner” and the “best step dad to Anika,” her daughter with Woolfolk. 

Cristine Reyes with Marco Gumabao after Ali

Cristine Reyes was married to mixed martial arts fighter Ali Khatibi in 2016, a year after they welcomed their daughter Amara. The actress confirmed their separation in 2019, then revealed in February 2024 that they had been annulled for over a year.

Despite their marriage ending, Reyes and Khatibi, who is also currently in a relationship, appear to share a good co-parenting setup as they have been frequently present together in Amara’s school events. 

Meanwhile, Reyes has been in a relationship with actor Marco Gumabao, with their romance making a buzz since early 2023. The couple made their relationship public in April of the same year.

“Aside from my daughter who gives color to my life, Marco gives ‘yung ngiti. ‘Yung puso ko nakangiti,” Reyes said. 

Carmina Villarroel

Prior to being married to Zoren Legaspi, Carmina Villarroel had tied the knot with then Rustom Padilla in 1994. Villarroel and Rustom, who would later transition into a woman as BB Gandanghari, separated in 1997 and were granted annulment in 2002.  

Villarroel had been in a relationship with Legaspi for 12 years before they got married in a surprise wedding organized by the actor in 2012. They share two children together, twins Cassy and Mavy Legaspi. 

Robin Padilla 

Actor-turned-senator Robin Padilla was previously married to Liezl Sicangco, with whom he shares four children namely Queenie, Kylie, Zhen-Zhen and Ali. 

Robin and Sicangco’s divorce was finalized in 2007, and both of them have since remarried. Robin has been married to actress-TV host Mariel Padilla since 2010. They have two daughters together named Isabella and Gabriela. 

Cesar Montano 

Cesar Montano was married to actress Sunshine Cruz from 2000 until their separation in 2013. The marriage of the pair, who have three daughters named Angelina, Sam and Chesca, was annulled in 2018. 

After being estranged for years, Cesar and Sunshine reunited and reconciled, with the actress building a friendship as well with the actor’s current partner Kath Angeles.

Although Cesar and Angeles have been lowkey about their relationship, the couple and their three kids have been frequently seen bonding with Sunshine and her daughters during family events. 

Kristine Hermosa 

Kristine Hermosa secretly married Diether Ocampo in 2004 then filed for an annulment in 2005, not even a year after tying the knot. Four years later, the marriage was annulled.

Hermosa would then find love again, this time in Oyo Sotto to whom she has been married since 2011. The couple have five children together, namely Kiel, Ondrea, Kaleb, Marvic and Vittorio, and are currently expecting their sixth one.

“Our life together has never been easy. Challenges were never absent but despite being in a fallen world, having you and our children made life extraordinary—a taste of heaven on earth,” the actress addressed Sotto on their 13th anniversary. 

Sharon Cuneta 

Sharon Cuneta had a highly publicized relationship with Gabby Concepcion in the 1980s with their reel to real love story. They got married in 1984 then welcomed their daughter KC Concepcion in the succeeding year. 

The pair’s romance did not last as they separated in 1987, and was granted their petition for annulment in 1994. 

In 1996, Cuneta tied the knot with Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and eventually welcomed their three children Frankie, Miel and Miguel. 

“Though we’ve experienced some ‘turbulence’ in our marriage, and it hasn’t always been easy being married to each other, we both know that WE are always worth fighting for,” Cuneta told Pangilinan on their 28th anniversary. “Thank you for loving me, loving us the way you do. I love you so very much.”

Meanwhile, Cuneta reunited with Gabby in 2023 for a concert which was also attended by KC.

Amy Perez 

Prior to her current marriage with news anchor Carlo Castillo, Amy Perez was married to her estranged ex-husband, musician Brix Ferraris. Perez and Ferraris tied the knot in 1995, then she filed for an annulment in 2000. Her first attempt was denied by the Supreme Court, but was eventually granted in October 2014.

In the same year the annulment was granted, Perez and Castillo, who were already together for eight years then, made their relationship official by exchanging “I dos.” They were also blessed with two children together, Kyle and Isaiah. 

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