No one – not even the entertainment press -- can make TV5 actor-host Derek Ramsay say bad things about estranged wife Mary Christine Jolly, the mother of his 11-year-old son. That’s because the host of ‘The Amazing Race Philippines – Season 2’ has the boy's welfare on top of his mind.
“I want to be peaceful with her (Jolly) for the sake of my son,” Derek said.
Not that he will put up a front when he faces her again, after all the charges of physical and financial abuse she filed against him in court.
The best for son
It's just that Derek wants to see his son and give him the best, the way his parents did.
“I want to shoulder expenses for his education. That’s the best way to give back, to secure his future with a good education. That’s what my parents did to me. They sent me to the best schools they can afford.”
Derek wants a trust fund for his son. But even that has become a problem.
“Bakit kailangan sila ang may hawak ng pera, kung talagang ang bata ang interest nila?” he asks.
Derek recalls a touching moment with his son, whom he got to see only “four times in three years” since 2011.
‘We had fun’
“He called me Dad and we had fun.”
The actor also recalled having dinner with his son, his (Derek’s) parents and sister, and seeing the boy playing with his iPad for an hour .
That’s why Derek admitted he and his family were totally surprised after the boy said “Dad, I hate you” when they last saw each other in a closed-door meeting a few days ago at the Makati City Prosecutor's Office.
Derek refuses to say if the boy has been brainwashed.
“I strongly believe my son was not putting up an act when he was with me and we had fun.”
Introduction to family
The Kapatid artist added that he gets to talk to the boy only once a week. It was during one of those times that Derek introduced his son to his family.
“They’re blasting me (for that). Am I a bad father because I introduced him (his son) to my nephews and nieces? What’s wrong with that? They’re my family.”
Derek added that his affidavit said he has all the deposit slips, email and text messages from his estranged wife’s camp as pieces of evidence.
Very cooperative
He stresses that he has been ‘very cooperative’ when he found he has a son back in 2011.
“We (he and Jolly) sat down together to find out what’s best for my son. We did have a contract they drafted and notarized. I thought everything was smooth-sailing from there.”
He spoke too soon. Jolly has accused Derek of being remiss in his financial obligations to their son, and of allegedly violating Republic Act No. 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act.
“I don’t care how much she’s (Jolly) is asking for. What I’m saying is I let my affidavit speak for itself. Like in the past, pag babae ang kalaban, hindi ako nagsasalita.”
Ex-girlfriend’s support
As for charges of marital rape, Derek asked the press, “Do you believe I’m a rapist? Do you guys believe I do Ecstasy and drown her (Jolly) with Ecstasy to have sex with her? That I demand anal sex?”
He added that his ex-girlfriend, Colette Centeno, whom Jolly said he kicked out of the apartment so she (Jolly) can move in, has given an affidavit to vouch for Derek's character as a boyfriend.
“It’s so easy to fill up a piece of paper saying this and that. It’s very hard to fill up a piece of paper with facts, evidence and witnesses. I hope we can settle this,” Derek relates.
Gabay Guro
TV5 executives and participants of “The Amazing Race Philippines (which airs Monday to Friday, 9 p.m starting Monday, October 6)” which Derek is hosting for the second time, noted that he never let personal problems affect his work.
Derek says he draws strength from TV 5 and the support of the 11 pairs of race participants, who are aiming for the P2 million grand prize and a house and lot.
Meanwhile, Derek will join PLDT’s annual Gabay Guro grand gathering on Sunday, October 5 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, where a brand-new house and lot and a vehicle will be given away to teachers.
Gabay Guro Chair Chaye Cabal-Revilla said they have partnered with Vista Land, Camella, AutoItalia, Honda Phils. Inc. and PR Savings Bank for the event where Regine Velasquez, Pops Fernandez, Ryzza Mae Dizon and Alice Dixson will also attend.
Gabay Guro also holds teacher trainings and donates computers to schools around the country.
By Maridol Rañoa-Bismark | Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom
