Filipino celebrities who got divorced in the US
Photo from mitch_madrigal/Instagram, official_sherylcruz/Instagram, dayanarapr/Instagram
In the Philippines, the proposed divorce bill has sparked considerable debate across various sectors. Recently, religious groups joined together to express staunch opposition to the legislation, arguing that legalizing divorce would lead to the breakdown of families.
In contrast, countries like the United States have long recognized divorce as a legal option. Edcel Lagman, one of the key proponents of the Absolute Divorce Bill in the lower house, asserts that other factors such as marital abuse, infidelity and abandonment – not divorce itself – that often contribute to the dissolution of marriages.
While divorce remains contentious in the Philippines, these Filipino celebrities were able to dissolve their marriages abroad.
Michelle Madrigal and Troy Woolfolk
Michelle Madrigal cited emotional abuse in her divorce from former football player Troy Woolfolk after two years of marriage, describing their relationship as “toxic.” Madrigal left her acting career in 2016 and moved to the US, where she married Woolfolk, who is now her ex-husband.
Sheryl Cruz and Norman Bustos
Sheryl Cruz and Norman Bustos had multiple weddings in Nevada, the Philippines and California in 1996 and 1997 before ultimately divorcing in the US after 12 years of marriage.
Mark Lapid and Yuri Park
In 2007, Mark Lapid was reported to be married to Yuri Park. By September 2009, during his daughter’s birthday celebration with Tanya Garcia, Lapid announced that a Las Vegas court had granted his annulment from Yuri Park.
Dayanara Torres and Marc Anthony
Similarly, international celebrity divorces, such as that of 1993 Miss Universe and Philippines’ beloved actress back then Dayanara Torres and international singer Marc Anthony, underscore broader global attitudes towards marital dissolution. Despite their Las Vegas wedding, Torres and Anthony parted ways in 2004. They had two sons named Cristian and Ryan.
Much like the reasons behind many divorces, the breakdown often arises from couples being trapped in toxic relationships that grow increasingly intolerable over time.
Lagman further noted that this is not contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church, as the Church permits the dissolution of marriage in certain circumstances.
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