Just in time for Mother’s Day, Candy Pangilinan opened up on what life is like for a single mom like her raising a child with special needs.
In an interview with Toni Gonzaga, the actress-comedian shared her journey towards motherhood.
She first spoke about her ex-husband Gilbert Alvarado was unfaithful to her, even during her pregnancy. Candy admitted that way before their marriage, she had already felt something was off in their relationship.
“Feeling ko a baby will save it kaya ako nag-decide mag buntis,” she shared.
“But no. Before I gave birth, andyan pa naman siya, pero sinasabi naman niya na iiwanan niya ako. Oo, sinasabi naman niya sa akin. At least nag-aabiso,” she managed to joke.
“Ini-inform ako, ‘pag lumabas yan, at least meron na akong, ang term pa niya, souvenir.”
A month after she gave birth to their son Quentin, her then-husband left her to care for their son.
“Nagpaalam naman siya akin, sinabi niya mag-go-golf siya… tapos yun, di na siya umuwi.”
Candy found out her son was on the spectrum when her mother suggested that Quentin should get checked, since he was cross-eyed at times.
Her son was only nine months old and could not get diagnosed since it was too early to tell but the doctor had already mentioned attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.
“Kung hindi katulad ni Quentin ang anak ko, baka nandoon pa ako sa dati kong buhay,” she said.
Today, Candy realized that her son was never a challenge but her ticket to heaven.
“Kasi grabe yung tinuro niya sa akin, yung pasensya, yung tolerance, tsaka yung to live simply. Yung ang simple na buhay sobrang siyang grateful and appreciative of simple things,” she said.
Watch their interview here:
