Gee Canlas opens up on alleged abuse from Archie Alemania
Warning: This article includes an account of abuse.
Actress Gee Canlas has opened up about her rocky marriage with her estranged husband, Archie Alemania, who she said allegedly physically abused her in their past fights.
Alemania previously gave an interview to showbiz columnist Ogie Diaz, where he said he and Canlas had different views on marriage, which led to disagreements and conflict in their relationship. While he admitted that he hit her with a tumbler during one fight, he claimed that he felt that she provoked him.
Also speaking with Diaz, Canlas had the chance to clarify the nature of her marriage with the actor.
"Everything I say in this interview is backed with evidence," she stressed. "What happened in that situation was, he wanted me to talk. He was forcing me to agree with him about something. And he was telling me, 'Magbabago ka ba? Magbago ka. Sumagot ka. Magbago ka.'"
"I didn't even know what he wanted me to change. Sabi ko, 'Magbabago ako, magbago ka din. Kasi hindi pwedeng ako lang yung gagawa ng paraan and carry the marriage alone. It's never gonna work.' And he didn't like that, so nanggigigil siya and kept telling me, 'Nagbabago naman ako,'" she continued.
Canlas said that Alemania grabbed a tumbler and allegedly hit her on the side of her head behind her ear.
"Malakas. Tumunog 'yung skull ko. Hindi siya 'yung [mahina lang]. Tumunog 'yung buto ko. I heard it inside my head kasi 'yung pinalo niya sa'kin, stainless tumbler," she said.
Canlas shared that she couldn't help but cry as she told Alemania to leave, but he eventually returned the following day.
Another source of their arguments was Canlas choosing to still stay in her parents' home. However, she explained that she ended up living with her parents because of Alemania's alleged abuse towards her.
"The time that we got married, nagsarili kami. May sarili kaming bahay. The reason why we ended up in my parents' house is because he broke my ribs. Two fractured ribs," she said.
The actress recalled a fight which led to Alemania supposedly threatening to leave.
"When he went to the door, I wrapped my whole body around him to stop him from leaving. He pushed me. Pagka-push niya sa'kin, pinuruhan niya ako. Na-punch, na parang boxing. Nawala 'yung hininga ko, and then, the next thing I know, nagising ako na naka-curl up," she continued.
But things didn't stop there as she also claimed that there another incident where Alemania allegedly strangled her after a supposed argument about his interactions with other women and comments he had made publicly.
"In the course of our marriage, he did that twice," she said.
Reflecting on their past, Canlas acknowledged that she wasn't the perfect partner to Alemania, but stressed that it doesn't give him the right to abuse her.
"I'm sure I've had situations na baka nairita ako rin siya. Being human, I'm sure meron. Kaso, I can only take responsibility for my own actions. I can't take responsibility for someone hurting me," she said.
Alemania on their marriage
For his part, Alemania also talked about their marital issues in his interview with Diaz.
"Lahat ng pinanghahawakan ko tungkol sa pagiging maging magkarelasyon 'pag pareho kayong Kristiyano, 'yung ikaw 'yung hari ng tahanan at siya 'yung reyna. Wife submit to your husband, husband love your wife. Ang nangyayari pareho kaming hari sa iisang kaharian—hindi pwede 'yun," he said.
He then claimed he did what he could to appease Canlas. "Pero walang nagbago eh. I'm still holding on. May mga times na ayoko na talaga—pinipigilan niya ako, always."
The actor added that Canlas would allegedly provoke him. "Tapos 'pag na-provoke ka, 'yung reaction mo 'yung masama, hindi 'yung provocation na ginawa niya. Saan ka lulugar? [...] Ikaw laging may kasalanan. Kahit siya na may kasalanan, ako pa rin may kasalanan. That's in my point of view ah, kasi 'yan 'yung naranasan ko at nakita ko.'"
Canlas and Alemania tied the knot in 2019. They share one child, a son named Caleb.
Alemania previously made headlines after he was sued by his Widows' War co-star Rita Daniela for acts of lasciviousness after she accused him of making unwanted advances toward her during a ride home. While he denied the accusations, he was later found guilty.
PhilSTAR L!fe has reached out to Alemania for comment but has yet to receive a reply.
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If you are, or if you personally know someone experiencing domestic violence, don’t hesitate to seek help to stop the abuse.
The Philippine Commission on Women has shared important contact details if such abuses were to occur:
POLICE/INVESTIGATION ASSISTANCE
PNP Hotline: 177
Aleng Pulis Hotline: 0919 777 7377
PNP Women and Children Protection Center
24/7 AVAWCD Office: (02) 8532-6690
Email address: wcpc_pnp@yahoo.com / wcpc_vawcd@yahoo.com / avawcd.wcpc@pnp.gov.ph
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Public Attorney’s Office (PAO)
Hotline: (02) 8929-9436 local 106, 107, or 159 (local “0” for operator)
(+62) 9393233665
Email address: pao_executive@yahoo.com
REFERRAL SERVICES
Inter-Agency Council on Violence Against Women and their
Children
Mobile numbers: 09178671907 | 09178748961
Email address: iacvawc@pcw.gov.ph
