Jodi Sta. Maria can't believe her unico hijo Panfilo Lacson III, nicknamed Thirdy, is all grown up and has graduated from high school.
"I closed my eyes for a moment and suddenly a man stood where a baby I carried in my arms used to be," the actress said in her May 14, 2023 post, showing photos taken from her 17-year-old son's graduation day at De La Salle Santiago Zobel school.
Jodi then told Thirdy in her post: "You have given us so many reasons to be proud of the man you have become, but the proudest moment for me is telling the whole world that you are my son.
"Congratulations, anak! Dream big. Soar high. We will always be here cheering for you. May our good Lord continue to bless you, keep you, and make His face shine on you. You are loved, anak!"
Among those whom Jodi taggedin her post are her ex-husband Panfilo Lacson Jr., nicknamed Pampi, Pampi's current partner Iwa Moto, and Pampi and Iwa's daughter Hiromi Aiko Eve Lacson. Jodi also shared photos taken with them, along with the couple's 2-year-old son CJ Lacson.
Congratulations for Thirdy, as well as for Jodi, poured in Jodi's post. These included her colleagues and fellow parents Sunshine Cruz, Eula Valdes, Coney Reyes, Angeline Quinto, Richard Yap, Nikki Valdez, Baron Geisler, and Iwa. The former GMA-7 actress commented with a red heart and then she wrote, "I love you both."
Jodi's current relationship, Raymart Santiago, also extended his congratulations to Thirdy, whom he called by the boy's more intimate nickname, Muy.
Iwa herself had a congratulatory post with the same photos as Jodi's. "May college na kami!" she announced, tagging Thirdy and congratulating him. "Ang bilis sobra. We love you so much."
Blended family
Jodi and Pampi took years after separating in 2010 to finally reach peace and harmony.
Jodi recalled what she went through in an interview with Karen Davila's vlog. "At first, I wouldn’t say na after the separation, ’yung ‘Sige na, let’s be friends.’ Walang gano’n. Siyempre, a heartbreak is a heartbreak. You have to go through all these feelings of grief and loss, di ba? And it’s not and it will never be easy.
"But I guess darating ka sa time na maiisip mo, ‘Ano ba ang mas importante?’ ’Yung nararamdaman ko every day na punong-puno ng anger and resentment ’yung heart ko? Or does my soul deserve peace?"
Jodi confessed that Thirdy played a big part for her to forgive her son's father Pampi. She explained, "And at that time, naawa din talaga ako anak ko. Naipit talaga siya sa dalawang nagu-umpugang bato. Ang parang hindi na nga namin siya nabigyan ng pamilya na buo, iipitin pa ba namin siya doon sa gulo namin? Because hindi kami magkasundo?"
Fast-forward to 2023: Jodi has become part of Thirdy's blended family with Pampi, Iwa, and their kids Hiromi and CJ. She has also joined in their gatherings (read here) and everything's well.
Read on co-parenting tips here.
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