Janella breaks silence

Keeping distance, growing apart.

With those four words, Janella Salvador summed up her relationship with Elmo Magalona in an interview with Funfare, one month after that incident in which she sustained bruises in her arm and leg (photos shown during the interview).

“It was not an accident,” Janelle finally broke her silence letting her mom, Jenine Desiderio, initially speak for her (mostly on social media), answering what “the other camp” (Janella’s words) was posting against her. “I decided to speak up now because I want to stop the lies,” added Janella with conviction.

That “incident” happened when Janella and Elmo got into an argument after attending a party hosted by Janella’s friend. Elmo reportedly had one drink too many and Janella admitted that she did drink, too… “Social drinking,” she qualified, recalling that she fought back by slapping Elmo because she felt “disrespected.”

“It was not the first time that he hurt me,” confessed Janella. “The first time happened months earlier. He claimed that he didn’t remember what he did, maybe because he had a drink, and he asked for forgiveness and I gave him a chance. I told him, ‘Next time, don’t bring yourself to the point that you will hurt someone.’ He promised naman that he wouldn’t do it again.”  

Janella Salvador and Elmo Magalona then, happy together...

Putting no label to their relationship, all Janella said was that they were “exclusively dating” and “going out,” although she dismissed rumors that “sleeping over” was involved. Janella has been living independently at a house that mom Jenine bought from Janella’s savings. Known as ElNella, the loveteam has done a TV show and a movie together but after that incident, they were told during a meeting with Star Magic’s Mariolle Alberto that from now on, they would have to work separately (after a project in November that was closed before that incident).

Janella admitted that she has stopped seeing a psychiatrist who had told her that she’s “feeling well,” but she decided to resume the session two weeks after that incident. Nothing “mental” about that, she clarified.

“I know that Elmo has also been seeing a psychiatrist,” added Janella. “He’s seeking professional help. I support him on that. It’s good that he recognized the problem and he’s addressing it.”

In the next breath, she explained, “My purpose in speaking now is not to shame him or to put him down; I just want to correct the lies being spread against me and my mom, and to let the truth out. I thought long and hard before I decided to speak out. I gave (Elmo) the chance to speak up and own up to what he did but it seems that somebody is stopping him from doing it.”

During the interview, Janella said that she has stopped wearing the “friendship necklace” given to her by Elmo. 

...now, keeping distance, growing apart

“For two years,” she continued, “I focused on Elmo and myself. This time, I am giving more attention to myself. He hurt me and I cannot, can never tolerate that.”

She said that she’s happy that her relationship with her mom is improving. They used to bump heads…that is, if you believe Jenine’s soc-med postings to heart.

“We are fixing things,” assured Janella. “We are talking. I may not agree with the extreme way she expresses her feelings but I realized that her intentions are good. At the end of the day, I now know that my mom is there for me.”

Asked pointblank if she still loves Elmo, Janella was quiet for a while and said, “I did say na love ko siya. Hindi naman ganoon kabilis mawawala ‘yon.”

(Note: Funfare texted Elmo Magalona’s mom Pia Arroyo on her two phone numbers if she wanted to air Elmo’s side but she hadn’t replied as of presstime Monday afternoon, Oct. 22. This space is open for whatever she or Elmo wants to say.)

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare. or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)