Ellen Adarna opens up about challenges of co-parenting with John Lloyd Cruz

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Ellen Adarna candidly opened up about the realities of co-parenting with actor John Lloyd Cruz, sharing that while challenges are inevitable, both have learned to put their son, Elias, first.

Speaking during the second part of her guest appearance on Kuan On One, hosted by Melai Cantiveros-Francisco, Adarna admitted that their co-parenting journey has not always been smooth sailing.

“Naa juy challenges ang co-parenting (Co-parenting can be challenging at times) ,” she said.

READ: Why Ellen Adarna prefers Cebuano when disciplining son Elias

According to Adarna, disagreements are bound to happen when two people have different ideas on how things should be done.

“Usahay maglagot ka nga, dili kay gusto niya mao ning mahitabo, ikaw gusto nimo nga mao ning mahitabo,” she explained.

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(Sometimes you start to feel angry because what he wants to happen is different from what you want to happen.)

Keeping disagreements from escalating

Despite these differences, Adarna said she and Cruz have always made a conscious effort not to let misunderstandings turn into fights.

READ: Ellen Adarna, John Lloyd Cruz reunite to celebrate son Elias’ birthday

“But dili na namo paabton nga mag-away mi, kami ni JL,” she said.

(But JL and I do not allow these situations to escalate into fights.)

The actress added that they have long been on good terms, even before she married actor Derek Ramsay in 2021.

“Karon okay na mi. Dugay na ming okay. Before pa ko naminyo okay na mi,” she shared.

(We are now okay. We have been okay for a long time now—long before I got married.)

Raising a well-behaved child

Adarna also spoke fondly of their seven-year-old son, Elias, whom she described as a remarkably well-behaved child.

“Buyag-buyag, si Elias no, wa juy problema nga bata,” she said.

(Elias is a very good boy, we don’t have a problem with him.)

“Kami ni John Lloyd makaingon jud mi nga unsay gibuhat nato nga buotan man kaayo ni.”

(Sometimes, John Lloyd and I find ourselves wondering what we did right to deserve such a good boy.)

She recalled that she had only scolded Elias three times in his life, joking that speaking to him in Bisaya proved to be the most effective.

“Bisaya ra gyud diay ang tambal (Speaking in Bisaya is the best way to do it),” she quipped.

Maintaining a healthy relationship

Earlier in the interview, Adarna clarified that she never viewed Cruz as financially responsible for her personal expenses, emphasizing that his obligations were limited to supporting their son.

“Di man ko obligation niya. Di man mi minyo ni JL. Wa man siyay labot nako,” she said.

(I am not part of his obligation. I am not married to JL. He has nothing to do with me.)

According to Adarna, the actor himself even volunteered to increase the financial support he was providing when Elias was younger.

Looking back, the actress said she is grateful that she and Cruz have managed to maintain a healthy co-parenting relationship, one that keeps their son at the center despite the challenges that come with raising a child separately.