Sunshine Cruz Reflects on Marriage to Cesar Montano: “I Thought It Was a Fairytale, But It Wasn’t”

“I thought when you get married, it’s a fairytale, and you live happily ever after. You have kids, and everything is perfect. That’s what I believed back then,” Sunshine Cruz says as she smiles wistfully, reminiscing about her early days with Cesar Montano.

On September 18, 2018, a beaming Sunshine Cruz opened the doors of her Paranaque home to PEP.ph, not just for an exclusive pictorial of the home she built for herself and her children, but also on the emotional day she received news that would change her life. The court had ruled in her favor, granting her annulment from Cesar after a lengthy, four-year legal battle.

“Annulled na ako!” Sunshine exclaims, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and joy as she descends the stairs to greet the PEP team.

What began as a simple interview turned into a heartfelt conversation about her journey as a mother, an actress, and, finally, a single woman after her 13-year marriage to Cesar came to an end.

A Dream Wedding

At 23, Sunshine was in the midst of a whirlwind romance with Cesar Montano, who was 38 at the time. The couple’s wedding in 2000 was nothing short of spectacular—a grand affair attended by celebrities and politicians alike, set against the backdrop of the breathtaking Manila Bay sunset.

Sunshine looked every bit the princess in her Eric Pineda gown, a stunning creation that cost an estimated half a million pesos. But beyond the glitz and glamour, there was a genuine love story unfolding.

“I knew he really loved me,” Sunshine reflects. “He wouldn’t have married me if he didn’t love me. I really fell for him, and I was charmed by him, especially when he showed me Jose Rizal.”

But as the fairytale began to unfold, Sunshine’s dreams of a perfect marriage were quickly shattered.

Honeymoon Nightmares

“Honestly, the honeymoon was where I realized things were far from perfect,” Sunshine admits, her voice tinged with sadness. “He threw our wedding ring overboard during our Caribbean cruise.”

That was just the beginning. As early as their honeymoon, Cesar began questioning her past roles as a sexy actress. He demanded that she admit to having real sex with her co-stars. It was a painful confrontation that left Sunshine both frightened and confused.

“I stood my ground. I told him, ‘No, I won’t admit to anything that isn’t true!’” she recalls.

The bitter memory of those days still haunts her. “It should’ve been a happy time, but instead, it was filled with accusations and distrust.”

Struggling with the Truth

Despite Sunshine’s early hopes, the reality of married life with Cesar was much different than she had imagined. Throughout their 13 years together, she tried to stay strong, often enduring emotional and mental abuse in silence. Sunshine had hoped she could change him, a mindset influenced by her own parents’ long and happy marriage.

“I looked up to my parents,” she says. “They married young, and they stayed together. I thought I could do the same. I left showbiz to take care of my family. I wanted a happy family, just like my parents had.”

But as years passed, the cracks in their relationship began to widen. “He had a temper. I thought it was just his upbringing, but it got worse. And even though I walked away several times, I always came back.”

Leaving for Good

The breaking point came in December 2007 when Sunshine left their Quezon City home after a major argument with Cesar. Rumors of his affair with a young Brazilian model, combined with cruel accusations, finally pushed her to walk out with her daughters in tow.

“I just wanted respect,” Sunshine recalls. “I left, but I came back, many times. But I knew I couldn’t live like that anymore.”

Sunshine spent years trying to hold the marriage together, but in the end, she had to choose herself and her daughters’ well-being over a broken promise of happiness.

“I’m proud of myself for finally leaving,” Sunshine says with a sense of relief. “It wasn’t easy, but it was the right decision.”

Now, as a single mother, Sunshine is focused on raising her three daughters—Angelina Isabelle, 17; Samantha, 14; and Chesca, 12—with love and strength, despite the challenges she has faced. She has found peace, knowing that the fairytale she once dreamed of will be her own, in her own terms.

A New Chapter

As Sunshine moves forward, she has one simple message for her daughters: “You deserve respect. Never settle for less.”

And as for her own happiness, she says with a smile, “Ngayon, masaya ako. Ang mga problema, patatawarin ko na lang. Hindi na ako magpapadala sa mga negatibo. I’m free, and I’m looking forward to a new beginning.”