Archie Alemania opens up on marital issues with Gee Canlas that led to separation

Trigger warning: Mentions of domestic violence

Archie Alemania opened up about the marital issues with Gee Canlas that ultimately led to their separation.

In an interview on Ogie Diaz’s YouTube channel, the actor said he and Gee are both Christians, and the way he approaches being a husband and father is through his beliefs.

“I should be the king of the home and she is the queen. Wife, submit to your husband. Husband, love your wife. What happened is we were both the kings in one kingdom,” the actor said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“That cannot be. That had been happening for the past how many years. So what is my place?"

Archie admitted this was often the cause of his arguments with Gee.

According to Archie, he had wanted to leave the marriage several times, but Gee would always stop him.

In the end, he decided to stay for the sake of their child, Caleb.

While they still lived in the same home, Archie said Gee got “nothing from me. I mean, you won’t get any emotions.”

“Whatever you want, go. Your decisions for the home, don’t ask me anymore. It’s up to you. All the major decision in our life — things went your way.”

Archie cited an example of wanting to move out of Gee’s family home after living there for five years but Gee and her parents were against it.

“Even though I wanted it, I was never followed. It was always her who was followed. Instead of fighting, instead of whatever... You know, I also take care of my peace so okay. That’s all I kept saying,” he said.

“It was her decision again, not mine.”

'Forcing a reaction'

Archie watched Gee’s interview on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” in March, where Gee said she was the one who left the marriage and should have done so earlier.

“She really should have done that," he agreed, "for the sake of our peace."

Archie admitted to walking out whenever there is a confrontation "because I don’t want to say anything bad, I don’t want to have conflict.”

But Gee would always force a reaction from him, Archie said.

“Tapos pag na-provoke ka, ‘yung reaction mo ‘yung masama, hindi ‘yung provocation na ginawa niya,” he said.

("When you get provoked, your reaction is the bad thing, not the provocation that she did.")

“Saan ka lulugar? Wala kang lulugaran. Ikaw laging may kasalanan. Kahit siya na may kasalanan, ako pa rin may kasalanan. That’s in my point of view ah, kasi ‘yan ‘yung naranasan ko at nakita ko," he said.

(“Where do I stand? I don't know how where to stand. I am always at fault. Even though it’s really her, it’s going to be my fault. This in my point of view ah, because that’s what I experienced and saw.”)

In the interview, Archie admitted to hitting Gee after she forced a reaction from him.

“Nakatahimik ka, hihilahin ka para mag-react ka. Natuktukan ko ng bote sa ulo, alam mo ‘yung tumbler [para] tumahimik ka.”

(I was keeping quiet but she pulled a reaction out of me. I threatened her with a bottle, a tumbler, on her head, just to silence her.)

“If we had stayed together, I think worse things would've happened. It would have been much worse,” he said.

Issues with son's custody

In the interview, Archie expressed hurt that Gee would not allow him to see their son “because she knows that is the only thing that will hurt me, not being able to see my child."

According to Archie he only saw their son after eight months, when he saw their child playing at the park as he was on his way to meet a friend. They hugged and said they missed each other, but Gee arrived after five minutes and pulled their kid away from him.

Caleb also asked Archie why he and Gee would always fight.

“Don’t worry, I’m not gonna fight with mommy anymore. Daddy left because I don’t wanna fight with mommy anymore,” he told Caleb.

“Even though that’s not the story. For the sake of my child, I’ll be the bad guy.”

Gee has also blocked Archie on social media. One time, he emailed Gee so he could meet Caleb but she did not reply.

In March, Gee confirmed her separation from Archie, saying it was a hard decision.

"I really tried to fight to keep my family together because at that time, nasabihan ako na you have to be strong. So ang nangyari was I didn't have time to absorb it right away, ang sa 'kin is how do I save my family? How do I come through for my child?" she said.

Archie is part of the newly premiered film, “HB2ME (Happy Birthday To Me)” starring John Arcilla and Elijah Canlas. —JCB/LA, GMA News