High Denzity

Aspiring singer Danita Paner accused her mother, former actress Daisy Romualdez, of verbally and physically abusing her.

The 18-year-old Paner gave an interview on Friday to ABS-CBN’s “The Buzz” to end speculation about her decision to leave her family home and stay with friends. That interview was aired Sunday.

“Hindi ko lang talaga kaya lahat ng nangyayari sa loob ng bahay. Verbal abuse talaga. Impyerno eh. Sobrang impyerno.Kasi nga mahilig siya manakot eh. Pag hindi ko siya sinunod hindi ako makakapasok sa school, hindi ako makakalabas ng gate,” said Paner.

(I can’t take what’s happening in our house anymore. It’s really verbal abuse. It’s hell. Too much hell. She keeps threatening me. If I don’t do what she says I won’t be able to go to school, I’m not allowed to leave the house.)

Paner complained that her mother is too domineering. She also said that she only wishes for enough freedom to be herself, and has had enough of her mother’s efforts to control her life.

According to Paner, her worst argument with her mom ended up with the latter beating her up. The young singer also said that Romualdez is much too aggressive in pushing her into a showbiz career.

Paner said that it came to a point where she was no longer allowed by Romualdez to refuse any project, whether it was a commercial, a guesting or a film project.

“One time before may tinanggihan ako tapos binugbog niya ako kasi hindi, ayoko talaga, pinanindigan kong ayoko,” she said.

(One time before I turned down an offer so she beat me up because I didn’t, I didn’t want to do it, I stood my ground.)

“Ang sabi pa niya ako daw ang nagwawala, ako daw ang nananakot, siya yon eh. Siya yung ganun, hindi ako. Good provider yan kaso dinadaan niya lahat sa materyal na bagay na kung tutuusin hindi ko naman talaga kailangan yon eh. Ayoko nang umiyak. Ayoko nang minumura ako. Ayoko nang laging walang choice.”

(She keeps telling people that I’m the one who goes berserk, that I’m the one who makes threats, but that’s really her. She’s the one who’s like that, not me. She’s a good provider but she always tries to reach out to me by giving me material things that, really, I don’t need. I’m tired of crying. I’m tired of being called names. I’ve had enough of always not having a choice.)

Paner said that she felt hurt the most by her mother’s refusal to send her to college.

“Sinabi niya sa akin tama na raw yung high school and sobrang nung sinabi niya yon sobrang mali talaga. Hindi dapat nanggaling sa kanya yon. Siyempre mommy ko siya tapos sasabihin niya sa akin yon. Ang hirap tanggapin.”

(She told me that it was enough that I finish high school and it was too much. What she said was so wrong. It should not have come from her. Of course she’s my mommy and then she’ll say something like that to me. It’s so hard to accept.)

Mother’s side

Romualdez had the chance to answer her daughter’s accusations also through an interview with “The Buzz”. She denied abusing her daughter and denied that she refused to send her to college.

In fact, Romualdez said, Danita had been enrolled in an OB Montessori school and at the Ridley International School but it was Danita who had a problem completing her studies. Romualdez said that Danita kept deliberately missing her classes.

Looking squarely at the camera, Romualdez gave this message to her daughter:

“Ako yata ang nasa impyerno dahil napakasama nang ugali mo. Alangan namang anak ang masusunod. Syempre nanay. Eh lagi naman mali ang mga desisyon niya.

“Hindi kita pinilit na mag-showbiz dahil sinabihan na kita ilang beses na kung ayaw mo Danita mag-aral ka na lang sa Amerika o sa Spain kay Tina. Ikaw Boy (Abunda) ikaw ang manager suko ka na rin, diba? Suko na rin ang Viva. Kung ayaw mo di wag na lang. Wag na lang. Mag-aral ka na lang!”

(I think I’m the one in hell because you have such a bad attitude. And why should the child be the one who has her way. It should be the mother. [Danita] has been making all the wrong decisions. I didn’t force you to go into showbiz. Danita, I already told you over and over again that if you didn’t want showbiz you could study in America or in Spain with Tina. You, Boy (Abunda, “The Buzz” host) as her manager you’ve given up on her. Even Viva has given up. If you don’t want showbiz just go to school.)

Romualdez also said that those with whom Danita is staying have no legal right to keep her in their custody. She also said that she knows who those people are and that she will be taking appropriate action.

“Nakakahiya kayo. Patay na patay kayo diyan sa anak ko ni hindi kayo napagod diyan. Kilala ko na kayo (You all should be ashamed. You’re all so smitten with my daughter even though you never suffered in raising her. I know who you are.).

“Huwag kang magmalaki na 18 years old ka na. Akin ka pa rin, Danita. Walang pwedeng makialam sa iyo. Akin ka, legally akin ka.”

(Don’t be too proud that you’re already 18 years old. You’re still mine, Danita. No one else can meddle with your life. You’re mine, legally you’re mine.)

Romualdez said that she regrets loving Danita too much to the point where she became a spoiled brat.

“Sobrang pagmamahal sa kanya. Pag ako nagmahal nang tao buhos. Buhos talaga. Talagang minahal ko siya (I loved her too much. Whenever I love someone I pour it all out. I really pour it on. I really loved her.),” said Romualdez.

ABS-CBN.News