October 27, 2025 | 8:55am
Trigger warning: Mentions of sexual abuse
MANILA, Philippines — Singer Jona shared that she experienced sexual abuse from her father when she was 10 years old.
In an interview with Toni Gonzaga, Jona said that her childhood was “good at first” until her parents separated.
She added that after her mother left their home, the abuse from her father began.
“Ngayon ko na-realize kung bakit ako tinawag na Fearless Diva. Kasi natutunan kong tumayo at harapin ang mga sakit ng nakaraan. Hindi ko na kailangang itago. Isa itong bahagi ng kung sino ako ngayon,” she said.
“Noong bata ako, at 10 years old, naging biktima rin ako ng molestiya… from my father,” Jona said.
“Sa pagkakaalam ko, daytime nangyari ‘yun, pinapasok ako sa kuwarto, tapos du’n na nagsimula yung mga horrific na nangyari. And that time frozen lang ako kasi hindi ko alam, e,” the singer continued.
“Hindi ko alam kung sisigaw ba ako, o tama ba ‘to? Pero wala, e. Even pagkatapos mangyari ‘yung mga bagay na ‘yun, all those years, magkasama pa rin kami ng Papa ko,” she added.
Jona said that her relationship with her father has remained the same.
“As if parang walang nangyari, okay pa rin kami ng father ko. Sinusuportahan pa rin niya kami, nagtatrabaho pa rin siya. Ako naman tuloy lang pagsali ko sa mga contest,” Jona said.
“Walang nakakaalam, sa mga kapatid ko, hindi ko talaga sinabi sa kanila kasi hindi ko alam kung paano nila mare-receive, hanggang sa mga ka-close ko na kamag-anak, wala talaga akong pinagsabihan,” she added.
Toni then asked Jona when she realized that it was wrong.
“Kasi sobrang late bloomer ako. Kasi lahat ng pangit na nangyari in the past, may tendency akong kalimutan,” Jona shared.
“Kumbaga kung computer memory ako, delete, delete, kasi masakit alalahanin di ba, kaya kapag dumarating na yung moments na nagkakaroon ka na ng deeper realization sa life, nagkaka-knowledge ka na sa mga bagay na di dapat gawin (sa isang babae), du’n ko talaga na-realize na, ‘My God, grabe pala yung napagdaanan ko as a child, unimaginable,'” she added.
“After those things happened from my childhood, parang unconsciously, hindi mo napapansin sa sarili mo, pagdating mo ng adolescent stage, as as woman, para kang nagsi-seek ng validation from other people na ang gusto mo lang naman to feel loved, to feel secured, to be worthy and to be adored,” Jona said.
“Kasi yun pala yung na-take away sa yo nu’ng bata ka. So, may mga time na nu’ng teenager ako naliligaw ng landas nang konti, kasi ng naghahanap ako ng validation from other people na dapat sa bahay pa lang du’n na ibinibigay sa yo yung security and safety. Yun ang hinahanap ko,” the singer shared.
Despite her experience, Jona said that she is willing to forgive her father. —Video from Toni Gonzaga YouTube channel
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