Cai Cortez opens up on failed marriage, solo parenting, divorce 

Cai Cortez opened up about the painful collapse of her marriage and how her parents, veteran actor Rez Cortez and his wife Candy, became her support system as she rebuilt her life as a solo parent.

She appeared on “Fast Talk With Boy Abunda” Friday with her dad and promptly said raising her two children would have been nearly impossible without the help of her family.

"I'm a solo parent na with my two kids," Cai began. "Hindi ko kaya mag-isa. And thank God mayroon akong parents, who accepted us and talagang really took on the role as my co-parents sa pagpapalaki ng dalawa kong anak," she said.

Rez said that when Cai first decided to get married, he reminded her to carefully know the man she was choosing.

"Ginawa mo ba 'yung homework? Chineck mo ba kung sino siya?" he recalled asking his daughter, before ultimately respecting her decision. "Malaki na siya. Alam niya na ang kaniyang ginagawa."

Looking back, Cai admitted she was drawn to her former husband, Wissem Rkhami, because of the kind and gentle image he initially showed her.

"During that time, ang pinakita niya sa akin, sobrang perfect. Super perfect," she said, adding how he even reminded her of her Spanish-looking grandfather, whom she found physically attractive.

But everything changed after they got married.

"The day we got married — let's just say who he was, wasn't who I thought he was," she said.

Asked whether she had followed her father's advice to thoroughly know the person she was marrying, Cai replied she did her best, but realized only in hindsight that people can hide their true selves.

Despite the painful experience, she said she chooses to focus on the lessons it taught her.

"I wouldn't have my kids kung hindi ko siya nakilala. Kailangan mo maging bobo, para maging matalino," she said.

The father-daughter pair also shared their opposing views in divorce, where Cai expressed support for giving people the option to leave marriages that have become abusive or disrespectful.

"Ang tao nagbabago," she said. "Hindi naman imposible na sa kalagitnaan — may magbago. Hindi mo nagustuhan ang pagtrato sa'yo, lalong-lalo na kung wala nang respeto sa'yo, naniniwala akong you can stand for yourself, you can say no, you can say I deserve better."

Rez, however, shared that he and his wife Candy, remain opposed to divorce because of their Catholic faith.

"Kami ni Candy, we are members of a Catholic renewal group at naniniwala kami na kapag nag-asawa ka, whatever God put together, let no one put asunder," he said.

Despite their opposing views, Cai said she respects her parents’ understanding of marriage but despite their differing views, her parents ultimately respected her decision to leave the marriage when she told them she could no longer endure the situation.

"Noong time na sabi kong hindi ko na kaya, tinatanong pa rin niya [Rex] baka maayos pa. Pero when I decided na no, enough is enough, tinanggap niya 'yung decision ko," Cai said.

According to Rez, their family did more than simply support her emotionally.

"Kami na ang gumawa ng paraan para palayasin 'yung lalaki sa bahay," he said.

Cai expressed gratitude to her parents for standing by her and her children despite their personal beliefs.

Cai and Wissem got married in 2016. They have two kids, Bibo and Carmen. — LA,GMA News