Dannyka Manangan

Zanjoe Marudo describes marriage and fatherhood as, ‘ibang kaligayahan’

Article (news)

Rhea Manila Santos

Push Team

<p>After working on his reunion movie with longtime friend and leading lady Angelica Panganiban in the upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry<em> UnMarry,</em> Zanjoe Marudo shared why he did not have to think twice before accepting the project, which also marks Angelica’s return to acting on the big screen after four years. </p><p>“Nung pinitch nila sa akin, unang una ang sinabi nila ang lead ay si Angelica, oo na ako agad dun, kumbaga kampante na agad ako kasi kung tumanggap si Angelica ng isang project, kahit hindi ko pa naririnig, ay sigurado maayos at maganda at gusto niyang gawin. And para i-pitch sa akin, I’m sure na nasabihan naman siya na i-pi-pitch sa akin, and then alam mo yung feeling na gusto mo makatrabaho yung katrabaho mo? Iba yun eh. Kumbaga, one step ahead na yun pagdating sa pagdadaanan niyo sa lahat sa project,” he shared. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRM_ha_kqDh/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A392476.89999999106%2C%22ls%22%3A392008.299999997%2C%22le%22%3A392012.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/11/18/zanjoe-marudo-reunites-with-angelica-panganiban-ito-yung-masarap-na-friendship-walang-katapusan-1907"><strong>READ: Zanjoe Marudo reunites with Angelica Panganiban: ‘Ito yung masarap na friendship, walang katapusan’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-1" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DRUPc2vkQfQ/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A392500.6999999881%2C%22ls%22%3A392008.299999997%2C%22le%22%3A392012.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-1" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Zanjoe first worked together with Angelica on the 2012 MMFF film <em>One More Try</em> and they ended up doing more projects together in ABS-CBN shows like <em>Playhouse </em>and the long-running sketch comedy show <em>Banana Sundae</em> (formerly known as <em>Banana Split</em>). The 43-year-old model and actor admitted there is pressure with the return of their onscreen pairing. </p><p>“Siyempre merong konting pressure dahil ang tagal naming hindi gumawa together and ang tagal ko ding hindi gumawa ng TV. So medyo malaking project. Nakakatuwa dahil tingin ko maayos naman naming natapos and nag-enjoy kami sa pagbuo ng ganitong klaseng storya na alam naming maraming makaka-relate at maraming matututunan talaga. Lalo na yung mga ka-edad namin, nasa generation namin na nasa sitwasyon na ng paghihiwalay or ng nagbubuo ng pamilya o nagiging magulang.</p><p>“So tingin ko, itong pelikulang ito ay sasalamin talaga sa mga realidad na nangyayari sa atin. Hindi siya kumbaga yung fantasy na storya na ibibigay natin sa tao. Realidad ito na talagang tatama,” he explained. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DPn5P3fk2kW/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A392526.6999999881%2C%22ls%22%3A392008.299999997%2C%22le%22%3A392012.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="880" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>In <em>UnMarry, </em>Zanjoe and Angelica play the role of a couple in the process of getting their marriage annulled. When asked about his personal views on annulment and divorce, Zanjoe admitted that those are the farthest things on his mind.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-3" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/C47aQPIPbaf/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A394489.39999999106%2C%22ls%22%3A392008.299999997%2C%22le%22%3A392012.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="870" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-3" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>“Mahirap eh. Mahirap yung annulment. Mahirap magsalita para sa lahat pero kung para sa akin, hindi siya pumapasok sa isip ko ngayon eh. Ngayon pa lang ako mag-iisip ng opinyon ko (laughs). I feel happy talaga. Hindi siya pumapasok sa isip ko. Hindi siya papasok sana sa isip ko at hindi na sana mangyayari ito sa akin at sa amin. Kasi andun ako naka-focus sa kung paano siya pasasayahin at kung mas paano magiging masaya yung pamilya at bahay naming pamilya. Pero kung sa divorce, hindi ako puwede magsalita para sa lahat. Kasi may kanya kanya tayong opinion diyan eh,” he admitted. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGC6gNXPiNl/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A394706.6999999881%2C%22ls%22%3A392008.299999997%2C%22le%22%3A392012.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/11/20/angelica-panganiban-on-returning-to-acting-after-four-years-ang-sarap-pa-rin-sa-pakiramdam-0827"><strong>READ: Angelica Panganiban on returning to acting after four years: ‘Ang sarap pa rin sa pakiramdam!’</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><p>Having gotten married to actress Ria Atayde in a civil ceremony last year, Zanjoe said he never expected married life to be this happy. “No (laughs). Mahirap kasi pag nag-e-expect ka tapos hindi nangyayari. So ang ganda rin ng mga timing ng mga nangyari. Naging husband, naging father. Ibang kaligayahan kaya nagpapasalamat talaga ako,” he added. The couple also enjoyed a their first international trip as a family to London earlier this year.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-5" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DN4-IlzDyrm/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A5%2C%22os%22%3A394768.09999999404%2C%22ls%22%3A392008.299999997%2C%22le%22%3A392012.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="925" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-5" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>As a first time father to his one-year-old son Sabino, Zanjoe shared what new side of himself he discovered after becoming a parent. </p><p>“Marami. Akala ko nun, kuntento na ako sa buhay ko, na okay naman ako sa career ko, okay naman yung personal life ko, Pero nung naging tatay ako at asawa ako, mas nagkaroon ng mas malalim na meaning talaga lahat ng bagay. Siguro yung mga na-realize ko, mahirap siya pero ito yung mga klase ng hirap na gusto mong pagdaanan kasi ito yung magpapatibay eh. Ito rin yung mga puwede ko ipasa sa anak ko balang araw, yung mga experiences na pinagdaanan ko na ipapasa ko sa kanya para matutunan din niya,” he explained. </p>

<p>'UnMarry' star Zanjoe Marudo talks about his honest thoughts on annulment and divorce and what he never expected to happen after finally getting married last year. </p>

'UnMarry' star Zanjoe Marudo talks about his honest thoughts on annulment and divorce and what he never expected to happen after finally getting married last year.