Jona opens up about experiencing sexual abuse from her father when she was 10

Warning: This article includes an account of child sexual abuse.

Singer Jona Viray revealed that she experienced sexual abuse at the hands of her late father when she was 10 years old.

In the Oct. 26 episode of Toni Talks, the Pusong Ligaw artist shared that she felt "fearless and strong enough" to share her story, referring to her nickname as the "Fearless Diva."

She recounted that the abuse began when her mother left their home. One morning, her father allegedly led 10-year-old Jona into a room to molest her.

“That time frozen lang ako kasi hindi ko alam kung sisigaw ba ako o tama ba ‘to,” she said.

“Even pagkatapos mangyari 'yung mga bagay na 'yun, all those years growing up, magkasama pa rin kami ng papa ko."

The singer added that she never disclosed the abuse to her siblings or close relatives.

When asked when she realized what happened was wrong, Jona said she was a “late bloomer” and had a tendency to suppress painful memories.

“Kapag dumarating na 'yung moments na nagkakaroon ka na ng deeper realization sa life, nagkaka-knowledge ka na sa mga bagay na 'di dapat gawin, doon ko talaga na-realize na grabe pala 'yung napagdaanan ko as a child,'" she said.

The abuse happened more than once, according to Jona, and stopped the following year.