MANILA, Philippines – After separating in 2013, actress Sunshine Cruz has filed an annulment of her marriage to actor Cesar Montano.

Speaking to Kris Aquino on Kris TV on Monday, May 12, Sunshine said she filed the papers before the Holy Week.

“Para naman bago ako mag-40 makahanap ako ng kaligayahan ko,” said the 36-year-old actress. (So that, before I turn 40, I can find happiness.)

She also expressed her disappointment that Cesar had not been regularly visiting their children.

“Mayroon siya everyday visitorial rights. Ang problema nga, nakakatatlong visits pa lang siya sa mga bata, tatlo o apat magmula nang nangyari ‘yung full custody sa akin last year December yata,” she said.

(He has everyday visitorial rights. The problem is, he has only visited the kids 3 or 4 times since I got full custody of them last December.)

She said Cesar had not provided them with financial support despite the court’s order for him to pay the cost of the kids’ education and their house rent.

Sunshine, however, always reminded her daughters to see and love their father despite their separation.

“I always tell the kids to message him every day. Sabi ko, ‘yun lang ang order ko sa inyo (I tell them that’s the only order I’m giving you) – to always say hello to dad and that you love him. Kasi siyempre gusto ko na malaman niya at ma-remind siya may tatlo siyang anak sa akin (Of course I want him to know [they love him] and to remind him that he has 3 children with me),” she said.  

Despite her decision to move on from her failed marriage, Sunshine said that she is willing to be friends with her ex-husband.

“Sinasabi ko nga, any time naman ready ako makipag-friends sa kanya eh. Hindi ko alam bakit ayaw [niya]. Kahit magkokontak sa secretary niya, ‘di nakikipag-coordinate ang secretary when it comes to kids, abogado-to-abogado na lang daw,” Cruz said.

(I’ve always said that any time I am ready to be friends with him. I don’t know why he doesn’t want that. Even when I contact his secretary on behalf of the kids, the secretary doesn’t coordinate. He just wants us to communicate through the lawyers.)

“Basta I’m hoping and praying, even the kids naman, basta ang gusto lang nila ay maging happy ako. Gusto nila mag-date ako. Sabi ko, ‘We are not in a hurry, anak. Madami pa tayong dapat ayusin,'” she added.

(The kids just want me to be happy, they want me to go on dates. I tell them, ‘I am not in a hurry. W have a lot of things to fix first.)

Sunshine and Cesar separated after the actress claimed that he was having an affair with starlet Krista Miller. The two have denied the allegations.

She has since returned to acting, recently appearing in the ABS-CBN show Galema – Rappler.com